"Bush visit riles profs at Furman," Greenville News, Dan Hoover: "Somehow Bush escaped blame for the recent cyclone in Myanmar."

 

"Furman faculty deserve praise," Greenville News, letter to the editor by Stan Crowe (Furman English faculty member and signer of "(W)e Object" letter): "In a way that no doubt seems laughable and clumsy (for what, really, can they do), a good number of Furman faculty members are gesturing in the direction of ideas like truth, honesty, justice and compassion. I applaud them for it."

 

"Faculty dissent offends graduate," Greenville News, letter to the editor: "Any protest at an occasion honoring the university’s raison d’etre would be inappropriate, self-centered and childish. Commencement day belongs to the graduating class of Furman University, not to its faculty."

 

"Righten the ivory tower with free-speech power," Post & Courier, Frank Wooten: "College professors have a free-speech right to propagandize for the left — and to say 'We Object' to graduation speakers. And college students have a free-speech right to freshly challenge their professors' stale left-wing dogma — and to tell them to mind their manners."

 

"Despite woes, president is welcome," The Times & Democrat: "Bush’s problems aside, let’s be real. With more than 2,600 students graduating, the vocal 200 are by no means the majority -- and most students will remember fondly that a president addressed them at commencement.
And according to The AP, they were the not-so-silent majority in speaking out on an internal message board. 'We underwent a tremendous amount of criticism, with students saying, ‘Don’t you dare ruin my graduation,'' [professor Carmela] Epright said."

 

"Faculty behavior isn't a surprise," Greenville News letter to the editor: "Faculty members, please put your opinions aside for the day. Do not embarrass Furman students, family and alumni."

 

"'Open and critical review' absent on campuses," Greenville News column, Adam Bach: "It is sad that those entrusted with our intellectual life seem so unable to bear the opinions and positions of those with which they disagree. Conservative students are able bear four years of liberal teaching but liberal teachers are unable to bear 40 minutes of a conservative leader."

 

"Furman profs offer respectful dissent," Greenville News letter to the editor by Robin Visel (Furman English faculty member and signer of "(W)e Object" petition): "I wish to take issue with the recent column by Furman alum Adam Bach, who characterizes me as having "spearheaded" the Furman We Object letter and "hosting" the lecture series on Assessing the Bush Presidency. It is important to state that my voice is simply one among many; scores of us contributed to the wording of the letter, and all I did was sign it."

 

"Furman profs ignore that it's not all about them," Greenville News column, Bob McAlister: "And that's the most salient point that the protesting faculty members are missing, or don't care to consider: it's not about them."

 

"Bush's record, actions give reasons to 'object,'" Greenville News column, Sean O'Rourke (Furman Communications faculty member and signer of "(W)e Object" petition): "This president has broken trust with the American people and has done so with an unprecedented level of cynicism and arrogance. We have sought to remind him and others that even in places dominated by members of his own party, some Americans will not sit silently by. We will object."

5/23 Greenville News letters to the editor (multiple letters)

 

"Shame on Furman University's faculty," The State letter to the editor: "The rationale in the faculty petition contains erroneous information, dubious political positions and personal opinions. They should save their debate for the classroom and respect the graduates during commencement."

 

"Furman profs fail to display necessary value of tolerance," Greenville News column, Joshua Trevino: "The reality is that when the president speaks on May 31, the wisest, and indeed most adult members of the audience will be the young men and women about to leave the university forever."

 

"Profs should've backed students," Greenville News letter to the editor: "Heroic would be having the courage to support the graduating students' wishes even when you disagree with their choice."

 

"Whose Furman University is it, anyway?" Greenville News column, T. Dean Williams: "Faculty members are not conscripts. They came to Furman by choice. They have not been asked to do anything dangerous or to shoot anybody. What they have been asked to do is sit briefly in the presence of someone they may not like and listen to a few words they may not agree with. Surely professors must see the precious irony in this. That's what students do every day."

 

 

 

 

"Foolish Furman," Spartanburg Herald-Journal: The president of Furman University has agreed with the faculty of the school who voted to admonish him because he invited President Bush to speak at the commencement ceremony without consulting them. Furman President David Shi went even further in his humiliating repentance, encouraging faculty members to vote against him.

What a crock of nonsense."