This is so typical of these academic admin types. They think they can get away with anything because their normal interaction is only with the students.
Bucknell Accusing Students of Lying?
By Evan Coyne Maloney
1 October 2005 @ 3:24PM
I've gotten reports from a large number of people who have been expressing their displeasure with a Bucknell administrator who called three students into her office to discuss the inappropriateness of the phrase "hunting terrorists." Some of these people have e-mailed various school administrators, and the university's responses are beginning to trickle in.
It seems that Bucknell has adopted the stance that the students are mischaracterizing the purpose of the meeting. So, as bad as it was that three students were called in to the President's Office because the language "hunting terrorists" is inexplicably considered offensive, it is now much worse. If the administration is denying the students' account of the meeting, the university is essentially accusing its own students of lying in order to deflect a public relations disaster.
Unfortunately for Bucknell, there is e-mail evidence--from President Brian C. Mitchell himself--proving that the sole purpose of the meeting was exactly as the students described:
From: Brian Mitchell
Date: August 29, 2005 8:36:15 PM EDT
To: Chris Imbriano
Cc: Kathleen Owens
Subject: Re: Conservatives Sept. Speaker
Chris,
First, I am disappointed that the College Democrats did not wish to co-sponsor his event, assuming that it was non-partisan, as you have certainly inferred it was to me. At any rate, I hope so. I will ask them why because I believe that it was a missed opportunity.
Second, I am going to decline on the public sponsorship on this one. I had planned to offer assistance but saw some fairly unfortunate language describing the event over the e-mail. Dr. Kathy Owens will be writing or speaking to Matt about this issue. To prevent this from happening again (much like the issue with Dominic, who handled it very gracefully last year), I will need some assurances on the public relations associated with the speaker. Once we get this kink worked out, you should continue to feel free to seek reasonable support from my office.
Regards,
Brian C. Mitchell
President
Bucknell University
(Portion underlined by me.)
This e-mail establishes that President Mitchell arranged the meeting between Kathy Owens and the students due to a problem with the language in the e-mail promoting the event. Now, here's the language used in that e-mail:
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 00:04:14 -0400
To: "Bucknell Faculty Staff and Students"
From: Matt Gabler
Subject: [CAMPUS:8789] The Real Story from the Frontlines
Where were you during the months following September 11?
Major John Krenson was hunting terrorists.
The Real Story from the Frontlines: Major John Krenson details his experiences as the Chief Intelligence Liaison Officer between the US Coalition and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Gardner lecture Hall (Dana Engineering)
September 6
7:00 PM
This event is brought to you by the BUCC, Dean Ferraro, and Young America's Foundation.
www.bucknellconservatives.org
www.thecounterweight.org
What's so offensive about that? Well, when the students met with Kathy Owens, after she greeted the students and dispensed with the formalities of asking them how they were doing, all three students say she held up the e-mail and said, "We have a problem here." That, of course, is consistent with the purpose of the meeting as described by President Mitchell's e-mail. When Ms. Owens indicated the specific problem, she said it was the language "hunting terrorists."
As difficult as it is to believe that those two words would offend somebody, there is absolutely nothing else in the e-mail that could possibly be the culprit, is there? I doubt this meeting was due to the inconsistent capitalization of "Gardner lecture Hall."
I have been in touch with Ms. Owens on several occasions and repeatedly asked for her account of the meeting. She declined to do so. I also gave her three opportunities to deny the account given by the students. Again, she declined to do so, and replied, "Although I appreciate your interest, in my interpretation that conversation was innocuous and cordial. I believe President Mitchell's administration has been marked by attention to all points of view and political speech." After point, she refused to respond to any further queries.
Still, even without Ms. Owens' testimony, it is quite clear why these three students were dragged into this meeting. President Mitchell's e-mail proves it. The three students, all of whom I spoke with independently, all give the exact same account of the meeting. And after trying to confirm these facts three times with Kathy Owens, she did not deny them once.
Now Bucknell is attempting to smear three of its students by implying that they're lying. My alma mater should be ashamed of itself.
Recently, an alumnus suggested that I give President Mitchell the benefit of the doubt. I would still like to, but it just got a lot harder to do.
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