Aw hell no
A nice bit of work honoring a woman who worked full-time to prevent others from making the same choice she did.
From Washington University’s Record
Six distinguished individuals, including a pioneer of women in medicine and a multimedia entrepreneur, will receive honorary degrees May 16 during the University’s 147th Commencement ceremony. …
Phyllis Schlafly, national leader of the conservative movement, author and editor, doctor of humane letters;
Named one of the 100 most important women of the 20th century by Ladies Home Journal and one of the 10 most admired women in the world by Good Housekeeping, she is a well-known advocate for the role of a full-time homemaker.
… In 1972, she started a national pro-family volunteer organization and led a successful 10-year battle against the Equal Rights Amendment. She continues as president of the group, now known as the Eagle Forum.
What the blazes does this university think women go to college for? A wall decoration for their future home? Funny, given the essence of a liberal arts degree is critical thinking that the university chooses to honor someone who considers women (and men) unable to figure out for themselves how best to conduct their lives.
My suggestion: seating this honoree next to the “pioneer of women in medicine.”
Yeah, I saw that at the Feministing blog:
http://feministing.com/archives/009139.html
‘…Some students who emailed me (thanks all!) about this, are encouraging folks to email Chancellor Wrighton and Jane Stone, coordinator of the Board of Trustees. If any Washington University students out there want to keep us updated, we’d be grateful!…’
Chancellor Wrighton: Wrighton@wustl.edu
Jane Stone: jane_stone@wustl.edu
The point to make to them, aside from my saving money this year not donating to alumni funds, is that I have no problem with her speaking at Wash. U., but there is a large difference between that and honoring her.
It also gets better - Chris ‘Hillary is a Bitch’ Matthews, misogynist asshole pundit extraordinaire, is giving the commencement address. Makes me glad I don’t live in St. Louis anymore.
Wash U students are also protesting …
http://media.www.studlife.com/media/storage/paper337/news/2008/05/05/News/Students.Organize.To.Protest.Schlafly.Degree-3364820.shtml#more
Yes, to reiterate, I have no problem with her speaking (and did attend one of her talks while at school).
Given her stance is banning legal rights of women, her views are antithetical to the mission of the university, even as airing and debating her views are essential to the functioning of a university.
I am also shocked that a major research university would honor someone who has rejected modern science so thoroughly.
Doesn’t speak well for the board of trustees or others who participated in this vote.
Chris Matthews. Two thoughts.
I have no respect for him. Aside from the misogyny (see also his comments to Elizabeth Edwards), he is a lousy reporter.
Probably too wealthy and too focused on entertainment/ratings. But his ilk are often invited as commencement speakers and get honorary degrees, and to the extent he is no better or worse than Tim Russert or Katie Couric or a multitude of others, I am more saddened than angered that this is what we value as a society. Who knows, he may have even been a popular choice among graduates.