Do you believe a public college president should immediately expel students lead

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   brakel2posted 10 years ago

   Do you believe a public college president should immediately expel students leading a racial song?
   
   This incident happened off campus and was not directed at any individual and did not threaten anyone.

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2. 70

   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   Every school, employer, or organization has a right to decide what conduct is unbecoming of those they are connected with.
   People have been denied jobs or fired from them based upon things they posted on their personal Facebook pages. Having said that I probably would not have expelled the students but I would have shut down the fraternity charter.
   Ray Rice was let go from the Baltimore Ravens for hitting his fiancé during his off hours which was caught on video.
   More and more in our society one has to behave as if they're on camera or there is a microphone on them at all times.
   Odds are there is!
   Clearly these students had been taught this song over the years and the elderly "house mother" Beauton Gilbow can be seen on the bus singing along as well. Odds are they were taught the song on campus while they pledged. She said "This has been my life for 15 years."
   I believe the college president's goal was to announce to the world that he was not going to allow acts of racial bigotry within the student body. The football team also did a silent protest to show solidarity.

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      brakel2posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Good answer. Sometimes people act too hastily when they are under pressure to take action. I hope the people who are fired for what they said on Facebook and students who are expelled are given due process. They probably need to consult attorneys.

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   retief2000posted 10 years ago

   No. The stupidity of people is enshrined in the Constitution. People have a natural right and a protected civil right to say stupid things.

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   B. Leekleyposted 10 years ago

   No, he or she should not.  Whatever the institution and whatever the circumstances, guilt or innocence for committing an infraction should not be decided by one person and certainly not on the spur of the moment. A due process procedure should be followed.
   
   Does the college have a covenant in which all administrators, faculty, staff, and students agree upon norms of behavior? Are grounds for expulsion clear and does the expulsion procedure include an opportunity to refute accusations?

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5. 85

   jansharesposted 10 years ago

   No, I do not think the president of the college should have expelled the students. Although the chant was vile and repulsive, expulsion does not address the problem which is the proliferation of bigoted thinking and racial intolerance by old guard predominantly White fraternity members on college campuses.
   The president did what he felt was the best way to send a clear message of zero tolerance. It was politically correct to do so. But I would like to have seen the school make examples of those students by letting them engage in some kind of redeeming activity. For example, writing a paper on the contributions of African-Americans and people of color to our society, along with a public presentation on campus.
   I think they should be allowed to finish their schooling, get their degrees and graduate after completing a mandatory sensitivity workshop about the damaging effects of using the "N' word.

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      brakel2posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer. OU needs you on their staff to contribute great ideas on diversity. I wish they had meted out a productive punishment for degrading a productive race.

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   Kathleen Cochranposted 10 years ago

   I think their fraternity had the right to say, no, you may not use our logo, name, and organization because you did not live up to our standards.  But I don't think the president should have expelled them.  We shouldn't start punishing people for their thoughts and speech.

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7. 84

   M. T. Dremerposted 10 years ago

   From a business standpoint, yes. Having that kind of behavior on campus, and knowing about it, will reflect poorly on future enrollment and donations. From a freedom of speech standpoint, no. It wasn't a direct assault on an individual, it was just talk.
   
   Since the college president had to approach it from the business side of things, he didn't really have a choice.

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      brakel2posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You are on the side of everyone and I appreciate your good answer to this question.

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   Marie Flintposted 10 years ago

   I personally would have been offended if asked to participate in such a song. The people that did are stuck in a quagmire of ignorance. The freedom-of-speech right has been misunderstood and abused. Why do people feel the need to criticize, judge, and put others down, especially without any specific reason or evidence? You say the song did not threaten anyone. Are you sure about that? Was a poll taken after the incident to learn how many people felt put down or hurt by that particular demonstration?
   
   As to outright expulsion, I think that is a bit harsh. I think each participant should account for his or her action and have the opportunity to atone. Forgiveness still ranks high in my book. If, upon questioning, the attitude upon the part of the individual is still poor and without any spark of understanding the repercussions of his action, then, yes, expulsion would be necessary as a last resort. The investigative process and its outcome should be made plain to the student body. ~~~

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