Cal Poly -- Knock knock.. is there anybody in there? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

seretogis · 07-12-2003, 04:35 PM

Quote:

White Student Won't Apologize for Flap at University Multicultural Center
By David Fein
CNSNews.com Correspondent
July 10, 2003

(CNSNews.com) - Initially labeled a "suspicious white male" by police investigating a dispute at the multicultural center on the campus of California Polytechnic State University, student Steve Hinkel continues to defy university officials who want him to apologize for posting a flyer advertising a conservative speaker.

The original dispute occurred Nov. 12, 2002, when Hinkle, a member of the College Republicans, entered the Cal Poly Multicultural Center to post a flyer promoting an upcoming speech by Mason Weaver, a conservative and African American author of the book It's OK to Leave the Plantation The book analyzes the dangers of African Americans becoming too dependent on government programs.

Several students confronted Hinkle and told him he needed approval from the coordinator of the multicultural center before he could post anything. While Hinkle left to investigate the claims, one of the students called the campus police department.

According to the police report eventually filed in the case, "On 11-12-02...we were dispatched to the multicultural center to investigate a report of a suspicious white male passing out literature of an offensive racial nature."

On Jan. 29 of this year, Cal Poly charged Hinkle with disrupting a student meeting - a Bible reading - in the multicultural center's lounge area.

In February, university officials held a hearing to determine Hinkle's culpability, a transcript of which was compiled by Hinkle's faculty adviser. During the hearing, Cornel Morton, vice president of student affairs, attempted to explain to Hinkle the mindset of his accusers.

"You are a young white member of CPCR (Cal Poly College Republicans). To students of color, this may be a collision of experience," Morton said. "The chemistry has racial implications, and you are naive not to acknowledge those."

A copy of the transcript from the hearing was provided to CNSNews.com by the Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a free speech group representing Hinkle in the dispute.

On March 12, university Vice Provost W. David Conn found Hinkle guilty and ordered him to write letters of apology to the offended students, informing Hinkle that if he failed to write the letters, he would face much stiffer penalties.

But Hinkle refuses to apologize.

"What is so shocking about this case is that Cal Poly decided not to punish the student censors, but rather, to punish the student who simply attempted to post a flyer that included only factually accurate information," said Greg Lukianoff, director of legal and public advocacy for FIRE.

Lukianoff said Hinkle's accusers were responsible for the disruption in the student lounge, not the other way around. He added that the student Bible-reading group had no formal recognition from the university and therefore could not have been conducting a campus-related function.

The irony, according to Lukianoff, was that "Hinkle was actually posting flyers for an event that was sponsored by a recognized student group and by the student government, and it is he who has the far better claim to campus function status."

Hinkle not only isn't planning to apologize, Lukianoff wants Cal Poly to apologize to Hinkle and the entire student body. The university must also "overturn its rulings against Steve Hinkle, expunge any derogatory information from his record and take serious corrective action to make sure that no students believe that they can report a student to the university police simply because they dislike that student's expression."

Carlos Cordova, Cal Poly's legal counsel, defended the university's handling of the matter.

"Mr. Hinkle was charged with engaging in conduct which disrupted a student meeting, a content-neutral rule applicable to all students. He was not charged because of his political affiliation or because some members of our campus community considered the flyers he attempted to post to be offensive."

Any decision to punish Hinkle will be made by the university's director of student judicial affairs, who was unavailable for comment. However, Morton emphasized that an expulsion or suspension was not being considered. Morton would not speculate on how the university might respond to Hinkle's refusal to apologize.

I'm amazed (not that much) by the reaction of the college. He's facing expulsion or suspension for "disrupting a student meeting" which isn't even officially recognized or condoned? I bet it was a tough choice for them to decide to wag their finger at Hinkle, or the bible study group. If it had been an African Lesbian Feminists group, he would have been burned in effigy.

The_Dude · 07-12-2003, 05:26 PM

i dont get the part of the bible reading.

the article doesnt say whether or not he had permission to do the event. if he did, i dont get what's wrong. it is a campus organizatoin and they do have the right to use the facilites (after approval of course).

seretogis · 07-12-2003, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The_Dude
i dont get the part of the bible reading.

the article doesnt say whether or not he had permission to do the event. if he did, i dont get what's wrong. it is a campus organizatoin and they do have the right to use the facilites (after approval of course).

The event for which he was putting up a poster was an event sponsored by an authorized school group. The bible study meeting which he was supposedly interrupting, was not. It looks as if the school is just going after him becasue they do not approve of the event and don't want to come right out and say that.

The_Dude · 07-12-2003, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by seretogis
The event for which he was putting up a poster was an event sponsored by an authorized school group. The bible study meeting which he was supposedly interrupting, was not. It looks as if the school is just going after him becasue they do not approve of the event and don't want to come right out and say that.

well, then he's clearly at fault for the bible study.

as for putting up the poster, i would side w/ the accused dude. if he left to inquire about the approval, then i dont see any reason for him to be accused of.

BUT, if he left the poster UP when he went to inquire about the approval needed, then he's guilty.

Phaenx · 07-12-2003, 09:10 PM

Ho, ho, are we conservatives allowed to set up a city crippling march and scream about the liberal "mcarthyism"?

Kadath · 07-12-2003, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phaenx
Ho, ho, are we conservatives allowed to set up a city crippling march and scream about the liberal "mcarthyism"?

When was the last time you guys asked permission to do anything?!

Spleen edit: For content

Phaenx · 07-12-2003, 10:56 PM

Never! We pause only to spit on the corpses of our defeated enemies!

seretogis · 07-13-2003, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The_Dude
well, then he's clearly at fault for the bible study.

as for putting up the poster, i would side w/ the accused dude. if he left to inquire about the approval, then i dont see any reason for him to be accused of.

BUT, if he left the poster UP when he went to inquire about the approval needed, then he's guilty.

I think you need to re-read it, particularly this:

"On Jan. 29 of this year, Cal Poly charged Hinkle with disrupting a student meeting - a Bible reading - in the multicultural center's lounge area."

Hinkle did not set up the bible reading, he was putting up a poster while it was going on and students involved claimed to be offended by the poster. The poster was for a speaker (at a school-group-sponsored event) who encouraged blacks to not lean on government programs, and the fact that he was a young white Republican is what got him into trouble.

Kadath · 07-13-2003, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phaenx
Never! We pause only to spit on the corpses of our defeated enemies!

Phaenx, did it bother you that I referred to conservatives as ?

spleen edit: same reason as before

sportsrule101 · 07-15-2003, 12:10 PM

Since when do bible groups discriminate against white republicans, i don't get why they didn't like him.

Phaenx · 07-15-2003, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kadath
Phaenx, did it bother you that I referred to conservatives as ?

spleen edit: same reason as before

No it doesn't bother me. But the mods might take offense.

Kadath · 07-16-2003, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phaenx
No it doesn't bother me. But the mods might take offense.

Doesn't that strike you as ironic? If the only people who are offended are offended in the name of others, what is served?

Phaenx · 07-16-2003, 07:44 AM

Well, it was against the rules whether I cared or not, they apply everywhere no matter what, and the mods are the people who enforce them. It's not surprising to me that they would continue to do so in this situation.

In any case, it's not my way to linger here questioning their decisions, so I think I'll leave it at that.

07-12-2003, 05:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	i dont get the part of the bible reading. the article doesnt say whether or not he had permission to do the event. if he did, i dont get what's wrong. it is a campus organizatoin and they do have the right to use the facilites (after approval of course). __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

07-12-2003, 09:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	Ho, ho, are we conservatives allowed to set up a city crippling march and scream about the liberal "mcarthyism"? __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

07-12-2003, 10:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	Never! We pause only to spit on the corpses of our defeated enemies! __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

07-15-2003, 12:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
sportsrule101 Insane	Since when do bible groups discriminate against white republicans, i don't get why they didn't like him. __________________ winning isn't everything but losing isn't anything

07-16-2003, 07:44 AM	#13 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	Well, it was against the rules whether I cared or not, they apply everywhere no matter what, and the mods are the people who enforce them. It's not surprising to me that they would continue to do so in this situation. In any case, it's not my way to linger here questioning their decisions, so I think I'll leave it at that. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy