Perhaps Cornel Morton, CalPoly's VP for student affairs, could answer this question: If the facts in paragraphs two and three of FIRE's writeup (http://www.politechbot.com/p-04925.html) are correct -- speaking hypothetically -- should the student posting the flyer have been disciplined or censured in any way? Mr. Morton: I will reproduce your reply unedited. -Declan --- Subject: [Fwd: RE: Regarding the Mr. Hinkle incident] From: chort <chortat_private> To: declanat_private Date: 16 Jul 2003 19:16:38 -0700 Message-Id: <1058408198.2166.24.camelat_private> Declan, You may remember the recent posting to Politechbot regarding the Cal Poly student who was disciplined for an incident which involved posting a flyer ( http://www.politechbot.com/p-04925.html ). As a resident and tax-payer of California, I was upset that a public institution would treat a student in this manner, so I phoned in a complaint with the office of the president. Recently I received a phone call from Cornel Morton, the vice president for student affairs and he offered a much different account of the incident. In particular, he cites several of the reported facts as being complete fabrications and denies ever making the statement (to Mr. Hinkle) that reads in part "You are a young white male member of CPCR. To students of color, this may be a collision of experience..." Attached is the e-mail I received from Mr. Morton in response to my follow-up with him on the issue. Initially I had reservations about posting private communications (wishing to act in good faith), but after thinking about it, the message sounds like Cal Poly believe they're being misrepresented in the media and this would actually be a chance for people to see their side of the story. There are supposed to be more details (in the form of an information packet I believe) to follow which Mr. Morton will provide at a later date. -- Brian -----Forwarded Message----- > From: cmortonat_private > To: chortat_private > Subject: RE: Regarding the Mr. Hinkle incident > Date: 16 Jul 2003 17:26:19 -0700 > > Mr. <snip>, > Thank you for your recent inquiry. I'm sorry I missed you when I called > to discuss your concerns. While I am unfamiliar with "Politechbot" I > know that several internet sites and various print media have reported > on the student judicial case you referenced. I will forward to you in > separate correspondence a detailed statement which responds to the > allegations and accusations directed at Cal Poly, me and other staff > here. > I can however share with you that the alleged statements attributed to > me during Steve Hinkle's student judicial hearing are in some cases > complete fabrications, and in others, purposefully taken so far out of > context so as to distort the meaning. Despite many requests, Steve has > failed to provide an additional waiver which would permit Cal Poly to > respond directly and more thoroughly to inquiries like your own. In > fact I would encourage you to contact Steve and INSIST that he provide > you with a full and complete copy of the transcript from his student > judicial hearing. I understand he has a copy which is especially > troubling since the statements you mentioned in your note ARE NOT > contained in the transcript, nor have I ever expressed comments toward > him that could be interpreted as racist. I have said many times that > this IS NOT a racial issue. This is a student judicial case related to > behavior, not speech. I understand how easy it is however to manipulate > the emotions of an un-informed audience when accusations of this type > take on a "snow ball like" dimension. Brian, I should mention too that > I HAVE NOT been contacted by any of the news agencies, internet sites > or organizations reporting these alleged statements to verify the > accuracy of what's being reported. If you are genuinely "interested in > hearing Cal Polly's side of the story", does that seem fair to you? > Again, thanks for your inquiry. I'll forward my more detailed statement > for your information. I appreciate your interest in Cal Poly and in > understanding the complete and accurate details associated with this > matter. > Cornel > > -----Original Message----- > From: chort [mailto:chortat_private] > Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 6:43 PM > To: Cornel Morton > Cc: chort > Subject: Regarding the Mr. Hinkle incident > > > Mr. Morton, > > Recently I left a voice mail for the office of the President regarding > the issue of Mr. Hinkle and disciplinary actions against him. I > understand that this morning you returned my call, but unfortunately I > was out of the office and thus not able to answer it personally. > > I was originally made aware of the story via a technology and politics > lists which I subscribe to called "Politechbot." I'm sure you have > heard of this list in light of the publicity it gave the incident. For > reference, the original posting may be found here > http://www.politechbot.com/p-04925.html > > I am somewhat familiar with FIRE from previous issues they have taken > up, and it is my impression that in the past they have represented > worthy causes of defending free speech for all students, and have > opposed attempts by other universities to stifle their student's speech > because it did not fit the university's ideology. > > I understand from some casual research that Mr. Hinkle is not well liked > by some of his fellow students on campus and that he may have a record > of some misbehavior, and while that may color his character I do not > believe it has a substantial impact on the issue as it has been reported > by Politechbot and other news outlets. > > None the less, I would be interested in hearing Cal Poly's side of the > story and I recognize that some of the facts, as reported, may be > incorrect. > > One other thing you may clear up (and perhaps it's addressed in your > material) is the following quote, which is attributed to you: "You are > a young white male member of CPCR. To students of color, this may be a > collision of experience.... The chemistry has racial implications, and > you are naive not to acknowledge those." > > To me, the above statement seems to indicate that Republicans, and > particularly those of Caucasian descent are some how assumed to be, or > viewed as being "anti-Black" or "anti-minority." If that statement is > accurate, I find it appalling. In an era when we are trying to move > forward and leave behind the unfortunate prejudices of our past, I find > it disappointing that comments would be made that apparently generalize > a particular ideological and racial group as being racist. That is > exactly the kind of unfair generalization which we are trying to avoid. > > Thank you for taking the time to respond to my inquiry, and I look > forward to receiving any material which may clarify the situation. > > Regards, > -- > Brian > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ Like Politech? Make a donation here: http://www.politechbot.com/donate/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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