UConn Free Speech Advocates

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/12/07/D8EBR6D00.html
Hecklers Cause Coulter to Cut UConn Speech



By SHELLEY K. WONG
Associated Press Writer
Dec 07 11:14 PM US/Eastern

STORRS, Conn. - Conservative columnist Ann Coulter gave up trying to finish a speech at the University of Connecticut on Wednesday night when boos and jeers from the audience became overwhelming. Coulter cut off the talk after 15 minutes and instead held a half-hour question-and-answer session.


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"I love to engage in repartee with people who are stupider than I am," Coulter told the 2,600 people at Jorgensen Auditorium.

Coulter's appearance prompted protests from several groups, including Students Against Hate and the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center. They criticized her for spreading a message of hate and intolerance.

Nearly 100 students gathered inside the Student Union for a rally against Coulter. About a half-dozen people held protest signs outside the auditorium.

After a book signing following her appearance, Coulter called the audience's reaction "typical."

Coulter, originally from New Canaan, Conn., has a history of bashing Democrats in best-selling books, frequent television appearances and speeches. Harding University in Arkansas dropped her from its lecture series in September, citing her abrasive image.

Last April, the president of the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota denounced a speech on the campus by Coulter, calling it hateful. In October 2004, University of Arizona police arrested two men who ran on stage and threw custard pies at Coulter; one of the pies glanced off her shoulder.

In her speech at UConn, Coulter called Bill Clinton an "executive buffoon" who won the presidency only because Ross Perot took 19 percent of the vote. She called California Sen. Barbara Boxer a good candidate for the Democrats because "she is a woman and she's learning disabled."

During the question-and-answer session, someone asked Coulter if she really was against a woman's right to vote.

"Not having women vote is a joke," she said, reversing comments she has previously made.

Eric Knudsen, a 19-year-old sophomore journalism and social welfare major at UConn, didn't attend the speech.

"We encourage diverse opinion at UConn, but this is blatant hate speech," said Knudsen, head of Students Against Hate.

Kareem Mohni, a 20-year-old junior and a member of a campus Republicans group, said he was disgusted with the Jorgensen crowd.

"It really appalled me that we're not able to come together as a group and listen to a different view in a respectful environment," he said.

[koop]

You don't think the students have a right to free speech? Why do you hate america so much?

Originally Posted by koop

You don't think the students have a right to free speech? Why do you hate america so much?

I don't care if Kirk Vining was speaking nobody has the right to squelch another. Man your burnin some midnight sauce therefore I don't think there is a need to answer the second stupid remark.

[Botnst]

What is the definition of, "university"?

[koop]

Originally Posted by MedMech

I don't care if Kirk Vining was speaking nobody has the right to squelch another. Man your burnin some midnight sauce therefore I don't think there is a need to answer the second stupid remark.

I'm sorry, how was she squelched? They paid her 10-20k (at least) to come speak. Gave her a mic, an amplifier and a room. Yet you want to discourage college students from expressing themselves and squelch their free speech.

Why do you hate free speech so much?

[MTI]

That could be why our President and Vice-President seldom schedule speeches at public universities and prefer military bases or law enforcement gatherings.

Originally Posted by koop

Why do you hate free speech so much?

The same reason I hate.....never mind.

[koop]

Originally Posted by MedMech

The same reason I hate.....never mind.

Why do you hate completing sentences so much?

[boneheaddoctor]

not surprised ..the left has no desire to have freedom of any sort ....they all think if you aren't a fellow DNC lemming then they are required to heckle you for not agreeing with their twisted logic.

Originally Posted by MTI

That could be why our President and Vice-President seldom schedule speeches at public universities and prefer military bases or law enforcement gatherings.

And other Presidents stayed away from military bases, there is no doubt there is a method to the madness on both sides.

Koop save yourself the embarassment of acting like a 3-year old. Look at it like this-
1) The students are protesting Coulter's speech (trying to silence her).
2) Sure, the students also have a right to free speech and express their opinion. However in this case their opinion impedes on another's right to express themselves.

So the real question is -- can people rightfully complain about the college students? If so, aren't we hurting their right to free speech? Kinda a catch 22 if you ask me.
The only answer I have is let both of them express themselves, but don't let either silence the other.

If anybody has a better resolution I'd be happy to hear it. But in the meantime let's at least try to keep this on a maturity level expected of a first grader.

Peter

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by BigPoppaBenz

Koop save yourself the embarassment of acting like a 3-year old. Look at it like this-
1) The students are protesting Coulter's speech (trying to silence her).
2) Sure, the students also have a right to free speech and express their opinion. However in this case their opinion impedes on another's right to express themselves.

So the real question is -- can people rightfully complain about the college students? If so, aren't we hurting their right to free speech? Kinda a catch 22 if you ask me.
The only answer I have is let both of them express themselves, but don't let either silence the other.

If anybody has a better resolution I'd be happy to hear it. But in the meantime let's at least try to keep this on a maturity level expected of a first grader.

Peter

Thats a mighty tall benchmark for a few here to meet........

[koop]

Originally Posted by BigPoppaBenz

Koop save yourself the embarassment of acting like a 3-year old. Look at it like this-
1) The students are protesting Coulter's speech (trying to silence her).
2) Sure, the students also have a right to free speech and express their opinion. However in this case their opinion impedes on another's right to express themselves.

So the real question is -- can people rightfully complain about the college students? If so, aren't we hurting their right to free speech? Kinda a catch 22 if you ask me.
The only answer I have is let both of them express themselves, but don't let either silence the other.

If anybody has a better resolution I'd be happy to hear it. But in the meantime let's at least try to keep this on a maturity level expected of a first grader.

Peter

Why do you hate America so much?

Bite me.

[snowflake]

Actually, the paid her 30k to speak. I go to UConn, so I saw the masses of people both waiting in line for her and protesting against her. I have to say, both sides were quite dedicated as they all had to wait outside the theater for 2.5 hours in 15 degree temperatures.

[BamaMB]

I would love to have a job that paid 30K for 15 minutes of snot nosed students yelling at me.