Thursday:
I sense that the appointment of a new Interim University President and creation of the post and appointment of the Interim Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity, who are both black, and both formerly with the Civil Rights Division, has got 1950 mightily pissed off.
1950's response was of course to bitch about not being included in the process. They called it "tokenism."
These were great moves by the university. Both are men of fairness and character. They seek evolution vs. revolution, but they won't merely sit by. They will agree on the needed points of reason, making Mizzou a better campus for all, while at the same time highlighting even more the radical points.
This is going to work out well, I believe.
**********************************************************************************
Here's my theory, big picture, of the end game for the protesters. I said this 2 months ago, here and other places, but as a suspicion. It's clearer now. If you agree, share it everywhere. Facebook, email, get it out.
The end game desired by 1950 is DOJ Civil Rights Division taking over the campus. Just like a police department, like Ferguson, like Cleveland, and others. Force a civil rights settlement with lots of new benefits. Basically have the federal government force rules on the university. To dictate policy. Above all, this is a political move. A move for power. And there is evidence 1950 is backed by larger militant activist organizations. Further, SLU and Kansas are facing the exact same issues right now.
I want to be clear. I don't support 1950. However, I do support the issues of equality and ending racial conflict and a racist culture. Mizzou has the same racial climate as this state, and too many friends have experienced it. We've buried our issues too long. People can't segregate at school. Nor should they. So dynamics come out even more. I want change. We need change. I don't agree with 1950's specific demands. I don't believe people are actually physically unsafe. However, Mizzou is way behind on racial issues. That makes us vulnerable, and allows for the perception that more exists.
I am not a fan of modern militant movements, but I also recognize this country was based on revolution, and great movements, such as the Civil Rights actions of the 1950's and 1960's, became necessary for change to ever occur, especially in the South. Movements come about now partly because a group feels unrepresented, but also because a group wants power, often more than being at the table. Some want to drive policy from the minority position.
I can understand that. A university is not a democracy. Indeed, it's role is to represent all of its students, and if a group claims they are not represented, you can't turn a deaf ear on them. You must listen. If you don't listen, they will get angry. Listening will either show the aggrieved parties have merit, or reveal their intentions if they go beyond merit. Failing to act opens the door to outside intervention.
But I damn well don't want DOJ bringing that intervention. 1950 is engaging in social justice terrorism to effect that, and bringing under its tent a lot of well meaning people who just want to do good things. DOJ involvement could be expensive and disastrous. I want change that is good for all that we, Mizzou, decide, not DOJ, that respects all constituents. And I know for a fact that 1950 doesn't represent all the black community at Mizzou.
How are they doing this? 1950 is attempting to establish that Mizzou is a hostile environment, where students do not feel physically safe, and the University has failed to take measures to make it safe. They have been doing quite well at this, and lots of people have played right in.
The demonstrations were to provoke. The goal was to make the administration look bad. The bottom line problem, the administration unwittingly cooperated right along.
The parade demonstration and encroaching on the car was BS. But Wolfe played right into it. He sat, even tried to drive by. This created the "Butler was hit!" BS. But Wolfe looked like a fool anyway.
When put to the test, all Wolfe could show was a meeting. Woeful inaction. A tactic of activists is to ask for too much, then ask for more. The administration did damn near nothing, but Loftin tweets and propose educational courses. 1950 didn't even have to break a sweat to show how little Mizzou offered. That's why they kept asking, but not suggesting. It's about posturing. Showing that Mizzou has no solutions. Making the culture appear worse than it is.
The counter would have been offer some substance, and position 1950 so it would clearly be making unreasonable demands, when offered reasonable solutions. Wolfe's silence made this way too easy for them.
I supported Wolfe being removed because if he continued in office, the record would have gotten worse. They made extreme demands, but he sat, instead of countering with real and smart plans. Proposals next spring? They would have had his ass in a sling by then. All he had to really do was be proactively open, listen, and drop his ego on reasonable points.
Wolfe had to go. Same with Loftin. My guess is they didn't expect them to cave so soon. However, someone at the university must be cluing in, because the curators immediately proposed new programs and a chief diversity officer. The email Monday night instructing students to call 911 for even hurtful speech or action, while offensive from a 1st amendment perspective, smacks of the university going into proactive "we protect our students" mode.
The university must get in front of this. 1850 can't tap football again. And basketball won't have the same leverage. Butler can hunger strike again, but second time? He's been to that well. He can't go back. I guess someone else will do it.
Their weapon now is fear and chaos, and creating perception that a hostile environment is real.
Tuesday night's social media threats concern me because my son is back in law school. As it turns out, the YikYak threats came from a kid in Rolla. He's been arrested. But there were many "I can find no cops to protect me!" and "Where's the press to see this chaos now?" tweets. Add to that the MSA President's blatant lies about the National Guard, White House, etc. Like many of you, I wonder if students aren't being manipulated by a few into believing they are unsafe, if a record of perception, vs fact is being created.
Hopefully the rednecks don't help out with chaos. If real outsiders threaten harm, 1950's case is a slam dunk. Also, fortunately no groups of students have outwardly opposed 1950 in any obvious racist manner.
Fortunately, the campus police are creating a record and tweeting back when there are no threats, and what rumors are hoaxes. They have to keep this up. Mizzou has racial issues that mirror Missouri. It doesn't have a culture that is physically dangerous, but 1950 wants you to believe it is.
Mizzou has implemented reform, starting with the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of Diversity. Who is names interim President will be crucial. Someone like Mike Middleton may be perfect in the short-run.
So this is the moment where 1950 shows its true colors. Are they for real reform as participants at the table? Or only the reform they dictate and demand? I want a Mizzou campus that is open and inviting and safe for all. I want all parties to be part of that discussion. For everyone to participate and understand what can be done, and trade-offs. But I want that developed by Mizzou, and its constituents. Not the federal government.
I sense that the appointment of a new Interim University President and creation of the post and appointment of the Interim Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity, who are both black, and both formerly with the Civil Rights Division, has got 1950 mightily pissed off.
1950's response was of course to bitch about not being included in the process. They called it "tokenism."
These were great moves by the university. Both are men of fairness and character. They seek evolution vs. revolution, but they won't merely sit by. They will agree on the needed points of reason, making Mizzou a better campus for all, while at the same time highlighting even more the radical points.
This is going to work out well, I believe.
**********************************************************************************
Here's my theory, big picture, of the end game for the protesters. I said this 2 months ago, here and other places, but as a suspicion. It's clearer now. If you agree, share it everywhere. Facebook, email, get it out.
The end game desired by 1950 is DOJ Civil Rights Division taking over the campus. Just like a police department, like Ferguson, like Cleveland, and others. Force a civil rights settlement with lots of new benefits. Basically have the federal government force rules on the university. To dictate policy. Above all, this is a political move. A move for power. And there is evidence 1950 is backed by larger militant activist organizations. Further, SLU and Kansas are facing the exact same issues right now.
I want to be clear. I don't support 1950. However, I do support the issues of equality and ending racial conflict and a racist culture. Mizzou has the same racial climate as this state, and too many friends have experienced it. We've buried our issues too long. People can't segregate at school. Nor should they. So dynamics come out even more. I want change. We need change. I don't agree with 1950's specific demands. I don't believe people are actually physically unsafe. However, Mizzou is way behind on racial issues. That makes us vulnerable, and allows for the perception that more exists.
I am not a fan of modern militant movements, but I also recognize this country was based on revolution, and great movements, such as the Civil Rights actions of the 1950's and 1960's, became necessary for change to ever occur, especially in the South. Movements come about now partly because a group feels unrepresented, but also because a group wants power, often more than being at the table. Some want to drive policy from the minority position.
I can understand that. A university is not a democracy. Indeed, it's role is to represent all of its students, and if a group claims they are not represented, you can't turn a deaf ear on them. You must listen. If you don't listen, they will get angry. Listening will either show the aggrieved parties have merit, or reveal their intentions if they go beyond merit. Failing to act opens the door to outside intervention.
But I damn well don't want DOJ bringing that intervention. 1950 is engaging in social justice terrorism to effect that, and bringing under its tent a lot of well meaning people who just want to do good things. DOJ involvement could be expensive and disastrous. I want change that is good for all that we, Mizzou, decide, not DOJ, that respects all constituents. And I know for a fact that 1950 doesn't represent all the black community at Mizzou.
How are they doing this? 1950 is attempting to establish that Mizzou is a hostile environment, where students do not feel physically safe, and the University has failed to take measures to make it safe. They have been doing quite well at this, and lots of people have played right in.
The demonstrations were to provoke. The goal was to make the administration look bad. The bottom line problem, the administration unwittingly cooperated right along.
The parade demonstration and encroaching on the car was BS. But Wolfe played right into it. He sat, even tried to drive by. This created the "Butler was hit!" BS. But Wolfe looked like a fool anyway.
When put to the test, all Wolfe could show was a meeting. Woeful inaction. A tactic of activists is to ask for too much, then ask for more. The administration did damn near nothing, but Loftin tweets and propose educational courses. 1950 didn't even have to break a sweat to show how little Mizzou offered. That's why they kept asking, but not suggesting. It's about posturing. Showing that Mizzou has no solutions. Making the culture appear worse than it is.
The counter would have been offer some substance, and position 1950 so it would clearly be making unreasonable demands, when offered reasonable solutions. Wolfe's silence made this way too easy for them.
I supported Wolfe being removed because if he continued in office, the record would have gotten worse. They made extreme demands, but he sat, instead of countering with real and smart plans. Proposals next spring? They would have had his ass in a sling by then. All he had to really do was be proactively open, listen, and drop his ego on reasonable points.
Wolfe had to go. Same with Loftin. My guess is they didn't expect them to cave so soon. However, someone at the university must be cluing in, because the curators immediately proposed new programs and a chief diversity officer. The email Monday night instructing students to call 911 for even hurtful speech or action, while offensive from a 1st amendment perspective, smacks of the university going into proactive "we protect our students" mode.
The university must get in front of this. 1850 can't tap football again. And basketball won't have the same leverage. Butler can hunger strike again, but second time? He's been to that well. He can't go back. I guess someone else will do it.
Their weapon now is fear and chaos, and creating perception that a hostile environment is real.
Tuesday night's social media threats concern me because my son is back in law school. As it turns out, the YikYak threats came from a kid in Rolla. He's been arrested. But there were many "I can find no cops to protect me!" and "Where's the press to see this chaos now?" tweets. Add to that the MSA President's blatant lies about the National Guard, White House, etc. Like many of you, I wonder if students aren't being manipulated by a few into believing they are unsafe, if a record of perception, vs fact is being created.
Hopefully the rednecks don't help out with chaos. If real outsiders threaten harm, 1950's case is a slam dunk. Also, fortunately no groups of students have outwardly opposed 1950 in any obvious racist manner.
Fortunately, the campus police are creating a record and tweeting back when there are no threats, and what rumors are hoaxes. They have to keep this up. Mizzou has racial issues that mirror Missouri. It doesn't have a culture that is physically dangerous, but 1950 wants you to believe it is.
Mizzou has implemented reform, starting with the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of Diversity. Who is names interim President will be crucial. Someone like Mike Middleton may be perfect in the short-run.
So this is the moment where 1950 shows its true colors. Are they for real reform as participants at the table? Or only the reform they dictate and demand? I want a Mizzou campus that is open and inviting and safe for all. I want all parties to be part of that discussion. For everyone to participate and understand what can be done, and trade-offs. But I want that developed by Mizzou, and its constituents. Not the federal government.
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