Washington University refuses to back down on Schlafly award.
Washington University refuses to back down on Schlafly award.
Today, Washington University chancellor Mark Wrighton finally responded to the intense criticism the school has been receiving over its decision to award anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly an honorary degree. In a letter to the “Washington University Community,” Wrighton wrote:
Following the public announcement of the honorary degrees, many in the University community have called for the University to rescind that offer, stating that Mrs. Schlafly is associated with some views, opinions and statements that are inconsistent with the tolerant and inclusive values of the Washington University community. Personally, I do not endorse her views or opinions, and in many instances, I strongly disagree with them.
However, after further consultation with members of the University’s Board of Trustees, the University has concluded that it will fulfill its commitment to award the degree to Mrs. Schlafly. I apologize for the anguish this decision has caused to many members of our community.
Read the full letter below:
Dear Members of the Washington University Community,
I write to address the controversy surrounding the decision to award Phyllis Schlafly an honorary degree at Commencement this Friday, May 16, 2008. I am sorry that this controversy may detract from Commencement.
However, the Trustees, the University administration and I fully support the rights of our students and others within this community to express their concerns on this issue.
Our long-standing process for awarding the honorary degree was followed:
Mrs. Schlafly was nominated by a member of the community and was reviewed by the Board’s Honorary Degree Committee. The Committee included faculty, students, trustees and administrators. After two meetings, Mrs. Schlafly and other nominees were recommended unanimously for consideration at the full Board meeting. The full Board voted to award the honorary degree at the May 2007 meeting.
Following the public announcement of the honorary degrees, many in the University community have called for the University to rescind that offer, stating that Mrs. Schlafly is associated with some views, opinions and statements that are inconsistent with the tolerant and inclusive values of the Washington University community. Personally, I do not endorse her views or opinions, and in many instances, I strongly disagree with them.
However, after further consultation with members of the University’s Board of Trustees, the University has concluded that it will fulfill its commitment to award the degree to Mrs. Schlafly. I apologize for the anguish this decision has caused to many members of our community.
In bestowing this degree, the University is not endorsing Mrs. Schlafly’s views or opinions; rather, it is recognizing an alumna of the University whose life and work have had a broad impact on American life and have sparked widespread debate and controversies that in many cases have helped people better formulate and articulate their own views about the values they hold.
At Commencement, Trustee Emerita Margaret Bush Wilson has volunteered to read the citation to award the degree to Mrs. Schlafly. As the first woman of color to serve as the national chair of the NAACP, the second woman of color admitted to practice law in Missouri, and as a prominent St. Louis civil rights attorney for more than 40 years, she provides a strong voice for the importance of tolerance and discourse as hallmarks of the Washington University community.
In the midst of this controversy, I want to affirm my personal and the University’s institutional commitment to strengthening diversity and inclusiveness and to improving gender balance. Additionally, I have made a commitment that the University will review the process for awarding honorary degrees and will propose appropriate changes.
Washington University is home to students and faculty from all walks of life, from most systems of religious belief and political thought, and from all corners of the world. Yet we do not require these widely diverse individuals to agree with one another. We are stronger because disagreement allows us the opportunity to speak as individuals and as advocates for sometimes widely divergent agendas. Collegial dialogue and discourse inform us as to our feelings and help guide an institution that nurtures debate and tolerance. A university is strengthened by exchanges that may be strongly worded, and that may have been born from the passions and rhetoric of disagreement.
Washington University - or any other university - is neither perfect nor are all its processes for making decisions. We can always do better. In the aftermath of Commencement, I am deeply committed to whatever work needs to be done to rebuild damaged relationships with members of our community — faculty, students, alumni, parents, trustees and staff. I thank you for all that you do to make this a community so open, tolerant and inclusive, and I ask for your assistance as we work together to build the very best environment for all who live, learn, discover and create here.
Sincerely,
Mark S. Wrighton
Chancellor
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May 14th, 2008 at 2:34 pmIn bestowing this degree, the University is not endorsing Mrs. Schlafly’s views or opinions; rather, it is recognizing an alumna of the University whose life and work have had a broad impact on American life and have sparked widespread debate and controversies that in many cases have helped people better formulate and articulate their own views about the values they hold.
Yeah
In the GOP world , it has helped them streamline their lies into one incoherent mass of shit , thus making it basically impossible to distinguish anything other than the vociferousness in the speaker’s voice and making content and facts meaningless ………..
May 14th, 2008 at 2:35 pmGood thing Fred Phelps didn’t graduate from Washington University. He has also “sparked controviersies”. And I hate to think that he would get rewarded for that.
May 14th, 2008 at 2:36 pmIn bestowing this degree, the University is not endorsing Mrs. Schlafly’s views or opinions; rather, it is recognizing an alumna of the University whose life and work have had a broad impact on American life and have sparked widespread debate and controversies that in many cases have helped people better formulate and articulate their own views about the values they hold.
Huh. Using that criteria, perhaps they could award an honorary degree to Adolph Hitler. After all, HE had a “broad impact” on German life, didn’t he…?
Good grief. What a stupid load of twaddle.
May 14th, 2008 at 2:37 pmShe’s gotta be the kind of messed-up beast that would marry Dr. Dobson or his ilk. Go home and obey your husband, c#unt
May 14th, 2008 at 2:38 pmPersonally, I do not endorse her views or opinions, and in many instances, I strongly disagree with them.
So does everyone and everything that has above a double-digit IQ…………..They don’t reward twits like this dopey old crone , though.
May 14th, 2008 at 2:40 pmMakes one wonder how much money she pledged to the University for the board of directors not to rescind this “honorary” degree.
May 14th, 2008 at 2:42 pmWonder what wealthy alumnus told Wash. U. to give the old biddy an honorary degree or else. This isn’t the kind of thing that gets past committee review without a heavy hammer hanging overhead.
May 14th, 2008 at 2:43 pmHmmmm… this kind of exposes the reality about the Liberal Colleges and their Liberal Faculty.
Certainly, the faculty at most colleges and universities tend toward a more liberal viewpoint. (they’re educated, after all heheheh), but its the administration and trustees that actually run the show. And they’re not the most liberal of people….
May 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pmIt would be way cool if no one showed up for the Commencement. Or better yet, if the students found another University to enroll in (for those still attending) next semester.
May 14th, 2008 at 2:47 pmOne could make a load of money if one were to set up a pie concession outside the graduation hall…
May 14th, 2008 at 2:50 pmYou went to Regents anymouse?
May 14th, 2008 at 2:51 pmClown College?
May 14th, 2008 at 2:53 pmMs. Schlafly is an old dried up prune.
Who cares if she gets an honorary degree that she essentially purchased through University contributions to her old Alma Mater?
Is it offensive? Yes.
Will it honestly affect the lives of the women who are graduating and will progress to do great things with their lives after they graduate? No.
Just like it never honestly affected the women (myself included) who have moved forward and lived progressive lives in spite of the damage that this woman did to women in leading the fight against the Equal Rights Amendment.
Schlafly doesn’t understand feminism because she was born in a white bread world of privilege. Clearly she has never been exposed to people that have not had the opportunities that she has had and has no compassion for anyone that may have a different life experience than her entrenched Republican views. She either never looked for the evidence of discrimination against women, never experienced it herself, or was so blind to it that she chose to ignore it. Either way, she is pretty irrelevant. As odious as this women is, she is not the problem. She is the poster child of the problem. In her black and white world, she doesn’t see the need of change, like most conservatives.
As feminists, we need to renew our efforts and continue to work for the equality that women deserve and don’t always receive. It is not whiny to work for more and better opportunities for women. And awareness of the problem is the first step toward solving it.
As feminists, we can create more opportunities for everyone, not just women. If this woman offends you, then speak up and speak out against real injustice, not whether some dried up old crone will receive an award that she bought and paid for long ago.
Too bad for the graduating class of WashU this year, but if it spurs people to be active — then it could be a silver lining to the dark cloud.
May 14th, 2008 at 2:55 pmFaber College?
May 14th, 2008 at 2:55 pmAlternative Shorter Version of the Chancellors Letter:
Phyllis Schlafly’s opinions, however invalid and insupportable are deemed relevant and worthy of our recognition, or else her anonymous nominator and friends on the Board of Trustees will make a stink and will probably withhold some expected fiduciary support.
P.S.
The standards and ideals of discourse, reason, intellectual honesty we grade our students on doens’t apply to us in the faculty. We call like to call this credo “diverstit” and if you call it bullshit, well then our definition of diversity demands that you STFU.
May 14th, 2008 at 2:56 pmIt was so much easier in my time and where I’m from. Your grade went up on a public notice-board and whether you ‘matriculated’ with honors or failed, it was straight off to the pub with your mates and a good chance of some groping and guilt-free sex.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:03 pmDon’t you think honorary degrees should go to people, oh I don’t know…who actually do something GOOD for the country, instead of those who have simply had an impact? I mean, if THAT’S the criteria, I should be given an honorary degree because I use a lot of toilet paper, and I’m sure THAT has an impact on something…
May 14th, 2008 at 3:08 pmso what’s your point anymouse, really. Are you saying that schafly is an american institution who changed the lives of countless children like mr rogers so she deserves to be honored or are you saying she’s a dried up repbulican with a stick up her ass, like buckely who has an overblown sense of entitlement?
May 14th, 2008 at 3:11 pmAre you sure you didn’t go to Faber? I thought I saw you at Omega House during pledge week.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:12 pmoh yeah, and even though buckely’s dead, he’s still more intersting that schafely.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:13 pmyou kids are quick…i was getting ready to post the email i got this morning from the wash u chancellor….what a load of BS….to cowardly to take a stand…i love the line on how they are going to review the process on how “fake” degree’s are awarded…a little late now…congrats to thinkprogress for the quick updates…
May 14th, 2008 at 3:18 pmPOed reseach tech…
you kids are quick…i was getting ready to post the email i got this morning from the wash u chancellor….what a load of BS….to cowardly to take a stand…i love the line on how they are going to review the process on how “fake” degree’s are awarded…a little late now…congrats to thinkprogress for the quick updates…
May 14th, 2008 at 3:18 pmPOed reseach tech…
It’s really just one hour in one day for an old lady, the graduates can read for themselves and decide how relevent schafly is.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:18 pmAwarding Ignorance is not in the best interest of the University. I hope there will be protesters there to show the folly of this.
It would be like giving Rush a humanitarian award, just stupid.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:22 pmTexas lady,
She’s more than an “old lady” she helped keep ronald reagan stay in power and do the damage he did, which set the stage for our current president and the problems we’re going to have to deal with for the next 20 years. She gave a gentle face to horrible policies. she’s evil and needs to called out for that, even if she is old.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:22 pmHitler, Saddam Hussein, Stalin, Mussolini, David Duke and many other figures have advocated and acted upon ideas that I may not agree with and that may conflict with my beliefs in what a universities should expect. However, each person mentioned above did have a large impact upon the world around them. They should each be awarded an honorary degree under the Washington University standard. I may be wrong, but wasn’t the Unabomber an alum? If so, I can wait to see his honorary degree.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:28 pmO/T Note for bobwurst:
Bob. I’m still writing a response to your response to my lengthy comment re- Clinton/Obama/ Iran/ “obliterate” on the Lieberman thread, and I’m just mentioning it here because, well, here you are most recently, and I’ll be composing for a while longer–ETA of my response say, half an hour.
To write a ‘diatribe’ (such as I did) and then apparently ignore a questioning response is not very ‘cool’ when it diverts somewhat from the TP post topic.
So I’m working on it, just wanted to let you know, and I’ll put it on the Lieberman thread where it belongs.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:47 pmBobwurst - schafly had less input than all the religious nuts who reagon, bush 1, bush 2 courted, soon she will be dust and forgotten. schafly had to start her own publishing business to get her ridiculous ideas in print.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:51 pmFine. Let her come on campus and speak.
And ladies, at the commencement, be prepared to strip down to your bra and panties in protest.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:55 pmLet her get her honorary degree. She’s given a ton of money to the school. This won’t affect WashU’s prestige… it’ll still be better-regarded than that state school you went to.
May 14th, 2008 at 3:56 pm#33- RUC - Don’t you just wish !
May 14th, 2008 at 3:59 pmBeg your ignoramus’ pardon, but UCSB has, by far, a better scholastic and academic record than Washington U. More faculty awards, more research grants…
May 14th, 2008 at 4:00 pmtexasgal, I was going to bring my cell phone, yes….
May 14th, 2008 at 4:00 pmI’m surprised that no one has added in the comment that CHRIS MATTHEWS will be the commencementment speaker. Now there’s a tweet.
May 14th, 2008 at 4:48 pmWashington University is free to make this mistake, that’s their given right…even though the lady getting the honorary degree doesn’t believe in it for her gender. Then again, that brings up the saying from Fry on Futurama, “don’t you wave your fancy degrees at me”. I don’t really pay attention to where a person went to school, unless it was an Ivy League school or a well known foreign university. They sell the same crap in every state and at the private schools. The difference is if you are an abstract thinker and can make correlations between what you learned and apply that to the real world. Unless you’re running a huge company on your own accord or something or discovering long lost plant life, you’re just like the rest of us bucko…or bucksie!
May 15th, 2008 at 12:37 amGlad to not be among the Alumni. Imagine attending a school of this pedigree, paying out all that tuition, doing your part to uphold tradition, and making annual donations, only to have the school cheapen itself by playing such a lowly political maneuver as giving this intellectually inferior, moral neo-phyte, and woman hating cretin an “honorary degree”. Ich!
May 15th, 2008 at 12:52 ama) UCSB pales by comparison to WU in almost every aspect. WU is far more difficult to get into and has a huge list of scientists, doctors, writers, and Nobel Prize winners connected to it. That’s not the point.
b) WU now has a history of giving awards to rightwingnuts. Last year, WU awarded degrees to Tim Russert (who has absolutely no connection to WU) and to the odious Paul Harvey. Harvey is one of the grandfathers of hate radio and Limbaugh. When I was in college, he routinely trashed the university and the dirty hippies who were protesting the Vietnam war.
When I saw this last year, I had already made my donation but wrote the school to tell them that I would not contribute any more if they did that again. They went one better this year. As a proud grad of WU, I was profoundly sad to tell them to remove my name from their mailing lists and never to solicit a contribution from me again.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:34 amSome people just do not have any tact. In a way, I understand where Schafly is coming from with her position on women. I see it as the counter to the ultrafeminism position. But there should be some middle ground. I think it is wrong to paint women into a corner and say that they cannot do this or that. On the other hand, we should do more as a society to celebrate women and homemakers. Research has shown that children from traditional families do fare better than those who do not. What Schafly is promoting is a return to the nuclear family concept of the 1950s. Do we want everything from that era to return? No. I could do without the racisim, sexism, etc. but let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:05 am