J. Brannagh
Mostly Lurkin' ;)
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2007
- Messages
- 232
- Reaction score
- 2
This is an Open Letter My Son, Brendan Walsh Wrote to the University of Washington regarding Hate Speech and Harrassment on campus...
https://www.facebook.com/notes/bren...he-university-of-washington/10152844357180497
Hello,
I am writing about Jed Smock ( http://www.brojed.org/ ), a man who has been harassing UW students on campus under the guise of preaching religion. Ordinarily I would write preaching off, as each person has a legal and moral right to their opinion and the ability to express that opinion. However, I feel that in this case it has gone too far. Jed Smock has surpassed expressing his ideas and crossed into the territory of hate-speech, discrimination, and sexual harassment.
While I have seen Mr. Smock displaying signs reading "NO *advertiser censored*," and "You deserve Hell," I understand that it is not my place, or the place of any individual or institution to deny someone's right to express these ideas, however hateful. This is not what I am writing you about; Mr. Smock's language and aggression transcend passive sign-wielding.
I have heard Mr. Smock yell out, condemning music being played at a student-run booth promoting African American cultural awareness as "Jungle Music" and threatening hell upon "homos" and "lesbos" among UW students. I have also heard him make sexually inappropriate remarks towards my peers, responding to objections from female students by objectifying them in return, sexualizing them, and accusing them of pursuing sexual interest in him. I have witnessed all of this visibly disturb my classmates and I cannot stand by and simply observe his inappropriate behavior.
On the UW page citing policies towards Non-discrimination and Affirmative action, ( located at http://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/PO/EO31.html ), the University of Washington claims that its policy "Prohibits discrimination or harassment against a member of the University community because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or military status." Later on in the page, harassment is defined as an act that "could reasonably be expected to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or learning environment,” and sexual harassment is defined as "unwelcome and unsolicited language or conduct that is of a sexual nature." No matter who this code is meant to apply to-- students, staff, or citizens-- it serves as an acknowledgement by the University of Washington of its responsibility to protect its students' sense of safety and security against harassment.
Because many students do not have a choice but to walk through red-square, and thus are necessarily subjected to Mr. Smock's harassment, I believe I am justified in claiming that Mr. Smock's acts are actively creating an intimidating, hostile, and offensive work and learning environment for its students. I also believe the University of Washington has a part to play in condemning this conduct for the safety and well-being of its students.
I have personally witnessed discrimination and harassment against members of the University community, namely its students, because of their race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity from this man. I find this unacceptable and I think it is reasonable for me to expect the University of Washington to take some form of action to protect its students against a real, threatening outside force. That being said, I understand that the power of the University of Washington is limited because of Mr. Smock's legal rights to free speech. However, when Mr. Smock stops speaking, and starts committing sexual, racial, and gender-based harassment, I can no longer understand how it could be in the best interest of the University of Washington to ignore the issue.
With respect to your moral, personal, and legal limitations, I ask that you please do all you can to help resolve this issue for the well-being of all University of Washington students.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
a concerned UW student
https://www.facebook.com/notes/bren...he-university-of-washington/10152844357180497
Hello,
I am writing about Jed Smock ( http://www.brojed.org/ ), a man who has been harassing UW students on campus under the guise of preaching religion. Ordinarily I would write preaching off, as each person has a legal and moral right to their opinion and the ability to express that opinion. However, I feel that in this case it has gone too far. Jed Smock has surpassed expressing his ideas and crossed into the territory of hate-speech, discrimination, and sexual harassment.
While I have seen Mr. Smock displaying signs reading "NO *advertiser censored*," and "You deserve Hell," I understand that it is not my place, or the place of any individual or institution to deny someone's right to express these ideas, however hateful. This is not what I am writing you about; Mr. Smock's language and aggression transcend passive sign-wielding.
I have heard Mr. Smock yell out, condemning music being played at a student-run booth promoting African American cultural awareness as "Jungle Music" and threatening hell upon "homos" and "lesbos" among UW students. I have also heard him make sexually inappropriate remarks towards my peers, responding to objections from female students by objectifying them in return, sexualizing them, and accusing them of pursuing sexual interest in him. I have witnessed all of this visibly disturb my classmates and I cannot stand by and simply observe his inappropriate behavior.
On the UW page citing policies towards Non-discrimination and Affirmative action, ( located at http://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/PO/EO31.html ), the University of Washington claims that its policy "Prohibits discrimination or harassment against a member of the University community because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or military status." Later on in the page, harassment is defined as an act that "could reasonably be expected to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or learning environment,” and sexual harassment is defined as "unwelcome and unsolicited language or conduct that is of a sexual nature." No matter who this code is meant to apply to-- students, staff, or citizens-- it serves as an acknowledgement by the University of Washington of its responsibility to protect its students' sense of safety and security against harassment.
Because many students do not have a choice but to walk through red-square, and thus are necessarily subjected to Mr. Smock's harassment, I believe I am justified in claiming that Mr. Smock's acts are actively creating an intimidating, hostile, and offensive work and learning environment for its students. I also believe the University of Washington has a part to play in condemning this conduct for the safety and well-being of its students.
I have personally witnessed discrimination and harassment against members of the University community, namely its students, because of their race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity from this man. I find this unacceptable and I think it is reasonable for me to expect the University of Washington to take some form of action to protect its students against a real, threatening outside force. That being said, I understand that the power of the University of Washington is limited because of Mr. Smock's legal rights to free speech. However, when Mr. Smock stops speaking, and starts committing sexual, racial, and gender-based harassment, I can no longer understand how it could be in the best interest of the University of Washington to ignore the issue.
With respect to your moral, personal, and legal limitations, I ask that you please do all you can to help resolve this issue for the well-being of all University of Washington students.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
a concerned UW student
