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Campus Notes
Campus Notes is your one-stop shop for news and notes related to Triangle universities and community colleges. We'll cover it all here, from policy discussions to the silly things those crazy college kids are doing. Got an idea? Request? Criticism? Let us know. eric.ferreri@newsobserver.com.
Mukasey choice sparks outcry at UNC-CH
The selection of a former Bush administration official as commencement speaker at UNC Chapel Hill’s law school has sparked a furor.
Some faculty and students are condemning the selection of Michael Mukasey, who served as U.S. Attorney General from 2007 to earlier this year. A petition is circulating decrying the choice.
The law school's commencement is Sunday, May 10.
Mukasey was a controversial figure from the outset of his time as the nation's top lawyer. During his confirmation hearings in 2007, Mukasey declined to say whether waterboarding, an interrogation technique, amounted to torture.
The petition reads in part: "We believe a commencement speaker should reflect the collective values of the UNC Law community, including compliance with domestic law, international law and basic human rights. By refusing to condemn waterboarding as torture, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey has demonstrated that he does not represent those values."
The commencement speaker slot is a pulpit of sorts, said Travis Packer, a third-year law student. The views of the speaker should be fairly broadly accepted, he said.
“I feel like we’ve endorsed this person,” Packer said. “But I would never give him my endorsement.”
Packer conceded it would be difficult to find a speaker with views that everyone agrees with, and said Mukasey would be a good addition to a law forum, panel or other sort of round-table discussion.
But a commencement speech is different, he said.
“When you invite someone to come and speak, you’re bestowing an honor upon him,” Packer said. “He’s going to come in and give whatever speech he wants, and we’re going to have to take it.”
The UNC Student Bar Association made the selection.The group's president, Matthew Modell, said Friday politics did not factor into his group's decision.
"We suspected some students would not be please simply because he was nominated to the office by President Bush, and I have been told by some students that any conservative would have been unacceptable," Modell said in an e-mail to the News & Observer.
He later added:
"I believe Mr. Mukasey can educate students on the value of public service and hard work. He had to work hard to be successful and that is exactly what he did, eventually attending Columbia for undergrad and Yale Law School.
He is a man who has devoted about 25 years of his adult life to public service and has taught for 15 years, as well as working in private practice. What more should a law school stand for than everything he has stood for in his career?"
Last year, Mukasey drew criticism when he spoke at Boston College’s law school graduation.
Jack Boger, the school's dean, said the student group makes the speaker decision each year and it isn't his role to get involved. He added that the law school has a history of bringing in speakers of all sorts.
"The school really has been open to speakers of a wide variety of views," he said. "They're never accepted by everyone."
Eric Ferreri
Eric Ferreri covers higher education and general news.
Comments
Miami Herald, June 29. Sen.
Tue, 07/07/2009 - 02:52 — alexdenipaulMiami Herald, June 29. Sen. Bill Nelson has called for authorities to halt the deportation of a Miami man whose immigration story has inspired protests and riled up immigration activists throughout South Florida. domain name registration In a letter last week addressed to a top federal immigration official, Nelson praised Walter Lara, a 23-year-old who is to be deported July 6. He called him ''exactly the type of person'' a new immigration bill is ''trying to help.'' Lara's story ''vividly illustrates'' the need for Congress to pass the DREAM Act, Nelson, a Democrat, said. The bill would grant certain immigrants who graduate from U.S. high schools conditional permanent residency.
To Esquire2011...
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 08:17 — NatarajasanaEsquire 2011...you are all over this comment board insulting people, but you have yet to answer my question to you, so I will repeat it:
I am trying to do a little more research as you suggested, but I cannot
find a record of Mr. Modell's projects. Is there a publicly available
record, and if so, will you please send me the link and/or instructions
on how to obtain a paper copy?
Thank you.
Waterboarding
Mon, 02/23/2009 - 11:13 — s196322I am disgusted with the one sided liberal students at UNC law school. This man will make a great speaker and should not be treated in this manner. I hope he withdraws and doesn't come. I am in favor of doing WHATEVER it takes to save American lives WHENEVER it becomes necessary. There should be ZERO limits if it means saving lives. Just get yourself caught up in 24 and you will see what happens when Jack Bauer follows the law. People die. What continent are you liberal morons living on? Idiots.
In case you didn't know...
Mon, 02/23/2009 - 16:58 — Natarajasana...24 is a TV show. This is real life.
law school commencement speaker
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 07:48 — chillheelAs a UNC graduate I am disgusted! Mukasey represents the flouting of law and should NEVER have even been considered!
they love to talk about free
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 22:41 — deacsthey love to talk about free speech at chapel hill -- they are so open minded -- they want to hear the views from all sides-----unreal
they love to talk about free
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 22:41 — deacsthey love to talk about free speech at chapel hill -- they are so open minded -- they want to hear the views from all sides-----unreal
Cutoff Federal Funds to UNC
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 20:55 — vraptorIf UNC will not allow a conservative to speak, then all federal funds should be cut off to UNC.
I support torture. Water boarding is not torture. Listening to liberals is torture. Maybe will need to pipe Chris Mathews into jail cells of terrorists to break them.
Q1: Liberals, answer the nuke question. A nuke bomb is in CH and it is going to go off in one hour. If you break a terrorist, you can stop the bomb from going off. What do you do?
Q2: Liberals, a rapist murderer killed your wife and kidnapped your child. You have this person in your custody. Torture him to save your child or turn over to the police and child is dead.
So what do you do??? I know what I would do...
vraptor, nobody cares what
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 20:04 — fournaughtvraptor, nobody cares what you think is or is not torture, or about your inane hypothetical scenarios. You think torture should be legal because someone, somewhere, may be in a situation where torture might save lives? How about murder? Should murder be legal because someday, you might have to kill one person to save another? Don't be ridiculous. Waterboarding has been defined as torture by one legal authority after another, including the Mississippi Supreme Court in 1936, not exactly the most progressive institution of the day. After WWII, the US convicted Japanese soldiers of torture -- for waterboarding American soldiers. And, not least, it's not waterboarding that has been killing people held in US custody, it's your more medieval type of torture that breaks bones and causes permanent physical damage. Being conservative doesn't have anything to do with being pro-torture, if you want to conflate them that's fine, but I don't think you're going to find many allies, even among people who do identify themselves as conservative.
Petition signers are pro-terrorist
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 20:53 — tangozlooks like I can lump everyone who opposes Mukasey into the pile of people who would rather see Americans die than terrorist waterboarded.
Poor choice
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 19:21 — fournaughtA little research reveals that Matt Modell was Deputy Regional Political Director, Southeast, for Bush-Cheney '04; and he worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs in 2002. I'm very skeptical of his statement that "politics did not factor into his group's decision." Bush and Mukasey's shameful, tarnished legacy doesn't need any polishing from UNC.
do some more research
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 19:30 — Esquire2011A little more research and you would find that SBA President Matt Modell has encouraged bipartisan projects on campus and fostered bipartisanship during the Presidential elections.
Everyone is entitled to their own political views. Just because Mr. Modell has his own views outside of his duties as SBA President does not mean he has a political agenda in the boardroom. The decision to choose Mr. Mukasey was not only his, his vote only counts for 1 out of 12.
And honestly, what are the odds that there is a conservative lean in any board on Chapel Hill's campus? None.
do some more research
Sat, 02/21/2009 - 09:48 — NatarajasanaI am trying to do a little more research as you suggested, but I cannot find a record of Mr. Modell's projects. Is there a publicly available record, and if so, will you please send me the link and/or instructions on how to obtain a paper copy?
Get Over Yourselves
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 19:09 — Esquire2011Seriously? Is this what this university has come to? We are a PUBLIC university. Our law school is amazing because of the diversity we possess. We have liberals, conservatives, moderates- and we all (for the most part) get along. Healthy debate is what DRIVES this university and what keeps us alive. There is absolutely nothing wrong with bringing in a speaker who thinks differently than YOU.
Mukasey is an honorable attorney, whether you agree with his political views or not. He served as a judge on the US District Court of NY for 18 years, upholding the values of the Constitution (even when they were not favorable to the Republican party!!!!).
His commencement speech will NOT be about his political views. It will be about the honorable duties graduating law students have to the legal community and our duties to uphold the Constitution. Mukasey is a reputable lawyer who can speak of the struggles and duties that come along with a Juris Doctorate- he is more than qualified to speak at our graduation.
GET OVER YOURSELVES AND QUIT FINDING THINGS TO BITCH ABOUT.
Torture is neither trivial nor negotiable
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 17:57 — danbesseMichael Mukasey is an unsuitable choice for commencement speaker. His failure to acknowledge the illegality of what has been plainly seen to be a torture technique was both significant and recent. Either he failed to personally recognize that reality, or he obsfucated his position in order to be selected for Attorney General. Either is unacceptable. This was not a mere political side note, but a central question during his personal Senate confirmation hearing, less than two years ago. The Student Bar Association at my law school alma mater has made an extremely unwise decision. I applaud the protest of that choice by other students and faculty there.
Um...let me think...
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 17:26 — NatarajasanaModell asks "What more should a law school stand for than everything he has stood for in his career?" For starters, how about basic human rights and international law?
The world isn't as black and white as you imagine
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 19:15 — Esquire2011SBA President Matt Modell is right. Mukasey devoted his life to public service and was an honorable judge in New York for 18 years. Just because you can't agree with him over political issues does not mean you can't learn something from him about the honor of serving your nation, dedicating your life to public service, and devoting your time to teaching the future lawyers of America.
Maybe if you stepped back from your water bong and started reading more than one newsource you would see that the world isn't as black and white as you imagine.
And the ever unbiased N&O
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 15:47 — TheBigGuyAnd the ever unbiased N&O decides it's it's job to pass the petition out to the world so that people from everywhere can perpetuate it's agenda. Nice.
mukasey
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 15:45 — george32many republicans do not endorse torture and i am sure the law school would love to here them speak. should the med school invite followers of mengele to speak?
Valuable Insight
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 15:10 — humbleopinionWithout question, he provides valuable insight to graduates. This "outcry" exemplifies Chapel Hill's capacity for divisive, partisan, and isolating views.
Oh brother
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 15:10 — Dadof3That a university protests a republican is as newsworthy as a fish that lives in water. They're only open-minded about their own ideas.
Liberals have never been
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 16:16 — wsphutchLiberals have never been known for being open-minded ... the double standard is alive and well in Chapel Hill!
Why is this conservative allowed to speak?
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 15:08 — jhmd2000SILENCE THE OPPOSITION! If his views are permitted to be aired, he may win converts. I don't know where this supposed "Attorney General" went to law school, but if he thinks he's going to be allowed to waltz right into a public forum and give a speech freely, he's got another thing coming.
Also, I like how you say
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 19:36 — Esquire2011Also, I like how you say "supposed Attorney General" as if it questionable whether or not he actually WAS Attorney General.
"Silence the Opposition" ---> who the hell are you? Hitler?
Did you get the memo. . . ?
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 19:33 — Esquire2011There's this little thing called "freedom of speech". . .
Did you not get the memo?
JHMD2000 -
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 15:12 — humbleopinionI know - the nerve! Ah, I believe he went to a little place call Columbia Law School... not too shabby.
[removes tongue from cheek]
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 15:18 — jhmd2000Is that the same Columbia who hosted the current President of Iran as a speaker last year? That Columbia? It is amazing/repulsive what is and what is not acceptable to academia these days. The short-sighted, selfish and childish jihad against the Bush Administration would be funny if it weren't so hurtful to our country.
The selection process is
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 15:01 — ncsu66The selection process is unclear but it is difficult to understand why UNC Law could not attract a better graduation speaker. This is a tacit endorsement of Bush Administration policies!