By now you have all heard about the University of Oklahoma students who were expelled for singing a racist chant that was caught on video. The video shows several people on a bus participating in a song that included a racial slur, referenced lynching and indicated black students would never be admitted to OU’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
The students apologized last week, calling it a “horrible mistake.” Student Parker Rice said Saturday’s incident was “likely was fueled by alcohol,” but “that’s not an excuse.”
“Yes, the song was taught to us, but that too doesn’t work as an explanation. It’s more important to acknowledge what I did and what I didn’t do. I didn’t say ‘no,'” his statement added.
No one would approve of what they were saying, but how come their actions warrant expulsion while others do not? Is there a double standard of free speech in higher education? You decide…
In January, I reported about a student from Florida State University (Lena Weissbrot) who had become an Internet sensation for her rap videos and artistic works about menstruation, rape culture and feminist issues, all funded by the school’s grant money.
Senior Lena Weissbrot found inspiration for her rap video, “Garnet & Gold,” following the alleged mishandling of rape allegations against FSU’s star quarterback Jameis Winston.
Weissbrot created a picture depicting “Winston on a throne receiving fellatio from a fraternity brother, while a woman with the Heisman Trophy—which Winston won—assaults a nude version of him,” that went viral in 2014. The video was Weissbrot’s follow up.
Weissbrott wanted to make a statement about sexism and rape culture. The painting shows Winston — who was investigated but not charged in connection with a sexual assault last year — sitting on a throne engaging in oral sex with a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Other imagery in her painting includes a woman about to penetrate another representation of Winston with a strap-on Heisman Trophy, as well as a crab saying “Go Noles.”
Weissbrot said, “Regardless of the reality of whether or not rape occurred, the potential victim’s integrity was defiled by the prestige and privilege of the ‘Heisman Trophy winner.’ So I thought, How could I create a context for the Heisman that would make it a shaming, humiliating, negative, inflicting, oppressive object for Jameis? This was my solution.”
Weissbrot received a $4,000 academic grant and was the recipient of FSU’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award her sophomore year for her 50-page digital creation of “ Maybe She Likes It: A Web Comic Exploring Internet Technology and Gender Equality,” which uses nude images to discuss female body issues, gender equality, and the depiction of teen models.
Was Weissbrot expelled? No. Ostracized by the State Run Media? No.
Free Speech in higher education: You either support it or don’t. And there are consequences for what you say, unless this happens:
- Higher Education: Women’s college viciously attacks freshman girl for conservative reporting
- Higher Education: Dartmouth student – America must ‘fix free speech’ with censorship
- Higher Education: Professor dresses as Dick Cheney, ‘shoots’ students during class
- Higher Education: Drama students prohibited from performing because of offensive Christian message
- University professors attack white, heterosexual, Christian males for being “privileged”
- “Higher” education: Ohio State core class teaches Christians are dumber than atheists
- Another partisan professor misuses classroom to bash Christians and Republicans
DCG
