Roy Exum
I’ll have to admit when somebody comes along who proves themselves to be, in my opinion, a certifiable nut that I actually wonder what made the person so goofy. No baby is ever born a racist, or a feminist, or a rioter. I can’t imagine marching in protest of anything, realizing all it does is waste energy, and I’ll guarantee you I was raised in a way where I respect any policeman or first responder.
But have you ever heard of Jon Chenette, who is currently the interim president at Vassar College in New York? You talk about a dandy! He just wrote a Thanksgiving letter to “the extended Vassar community” giving thanks for the students who protested Donald Trump’s win.
He claimed to be “heartened” at the rash of anger on a campus where the daddies fork over about $65,000 a year for tuition and living expenses. Chenette was even thrilled the faculty “created opportunities in their classes for talking about the concerns on students’ minds, offering the benefit of their knowledge as scholars and, importantly, their support as mentors.
“Students have expressed a renewed commitment to standing up – with each other – for what they believe in,” said the music professor, “and for what they desire and expect of our community and nation. In all of this, I see resilience, courage, and strength.
You need to note he never mentioned President-elect Trump by name. He didn’t have to. “Now, as the next chapter in our country’s history takes shape, many of our students, faculty, and staff have concerns and questions about the course the nation will be taking. And they worry about actions threatened, particularly against people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ communities, and others.
“In this context, academic work and extracurricular projects have been infused with new meaning and energy, as you who know the college well would expect. But there is also confusion and anxiety, mirroring moods pervasive throughout our country,” added the leader of the (quite) liberal arts college.
Further down, he wrote, “We believe strongly that people from all backgrounds and circumstances belong at Vassar. We commit whole-heartedly to the support and encouragement of our students, especially at a time when some in our country seem to be calling into question the rights of some groups to full dignity and respect.”
Again, he didn’t identify who “seem” happened to be, but between Trump and his security advisor Steve Bannon, Vassar’s Chenette was working himself into a froth and wanted the community to know: “We also have an obligation to speak out, and we are doing so. I have joined a group of more than 100 college and university presidents in writing to the president-elect urging him to condemn the hate speech and acts of violence being perpetrated across our country.”
There’s more. “I have also joined the historical Seven Sisters Colleges in an open letter to the president-elect’s appointee as chief strategist, who has a shameful record of homophobic and misogynistic statements and support for other hateful speech. And I have signed on to a statement calling on elected and incoming government officials to recognize the moral and societal value of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and to continue to uphold that program and expand it in the future. I have provided a link to those documents.”
You need to know the DACA is an effort to extend the illegal stay of illegal children of illegal immigrants before you read Chenette’s parting sentence: “I hope further, for all of us and for those we care about so deeply, that as a country we can reaffirm our commitment to the rights of all people.”
I am absolutely mystified by anyone who believes we need to “reaffirm our commitment to the rights of all people.” Not one citizen of the United States can find one reason that even one of their rights will be taken away. All this guy is doing is prove to the Vassar-ettes that he is so liberal, so wise, and so reactionary they should (please) pry the “interim” from his title.
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Vassar graduate Victoria Balfour, who voted for Trump, read Chenette’s diatribe and fired emails to the media, as well as to the college and its officials:
“What actions have been threatened by the incoming Trump administration towards people of color?” Balfour demanded to know. “More than 30 percent of Hispanics in Florida alone voted for Mr. Trump. He got a higher percentage of African American voters and Hispanics than Mitt Romney. Trump has just nominated Nikki Haley, a woman of Indian descent, for his cabinet. I am frankly outraged at your message. It is irresponsible, misguided, wrong, and inspires fear-mongering.”
Whew! For a moment I was scared Vassar has just one mold available. Thanks to Balfour for reaffirming Vassar’s educational worth and its decency.
royexum@aol.com