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January 22, 2004
Bush’s
campus presence spurs clashing views
Kimberly Hosey
Mesa Legend
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Dan Smith Mesa
Legend
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Leader of the MCC Republican Club,
J.T. Ready (top right) and MCC faculty member, Antonio Cardenas
(left), share conflicting opinions outside
the Theatre Outback during President Bush’s visit. |
Pro-American. Anti-workers. Terrorist. Genuine and sincere.
Dangerous.
These were just a few of the labels given to President George W. Bush
during his Jan. 21 visit to MCC.
Bush’s visit brought to light many different viewpoints on his policies,
as well as differing methods of expressing those views.
MCC philosophy professor Barry Vaughan, himself a protestor, believed
expressing differing opinions is one of the privileges as well as responsibilities
of each American.
“It’s an expression of open communication, something we are
committed to here at MCC,” Vaughan said.
“I truly believe it is an honor to have the president
here – but it is also an honor to execute one’s constitutional
liberties,” he said, and added that liberties are “like muscles;
if you don’t exercise them, they atrophy. If you don’t use
them, it’s easy to lose them.”
Vaughan opposes Bush’s foreign and domestic policies. He said Bush
has destroyed jobs rather than creating them and has placed most money
in the hands of the wealthy. He also contends that the Bush administration
is too eager to “finish the job his father started,” which
has led to inordinate attention on Iraq, instead of Afghanistan, which
publicly harbors terrorists.
Political science professor Brian Dille also does not agree with many
of Bush’s policies, but was excited about the visit and appreciated
the president’s attention to students.
“I disagree with an awful lot of Bush’s political views, but
I was very impressed with his genuineness; it was clear that he meant
what he said,” Dille stated.
Regarding education, Vaughan and Dille both commended Bush’s attention
to community colleges and his vision for workforce training, but both
professors said the proposed funding is “just a drop in the bucket,”
and needs to increase significantly to be of any use to colleges.
“It’s a nice idea, but it’s a half-measure. That’s
what faculty members told the president backstage: ‘We need more
resources,’” Vaughan added.
Whether citizens support or oppose Bush, Vaughan believes their voices
should be heard.
“People need to know they have a right to express their views. If
we can’t do that in an institution of higher learning, we’ve
given up – and I won’t give up.”
Excitement over the presidential visit took on many different tones among
the student body.
“I thought it was pretty cool that he wants to do something to help
community colleges,” MCC student Sabrina Moore said.
Melissa Spurlock, also a student at MCC, agreed. “I think it’s
exciting for him to get involved in the idea of work and training. I think
it’s a good idea to recognize community colleges and open a dialogue,”
she said.
Alfonso Delgado didn’t plan to follow events on campus, but was
enthusiastic about Bush’s visit and plans. “He’s putting
more money in the vocational education area and that’s great,”
he said.
Not all students were pleased about Bush and his visit. Reactions on the
negative side ranged from apathy to fervent protest.
Outside the Theatre Outback while officials prepared for Bush’s
arrival, students opposing Bush and his policies gathered to protest.
Tabitha Dodson, a protestor and MCC student, was not encouraged by the
president’s visit. “Bush is definitely not helping community
colleges,” Dodson said, and added, “If this event was for
students, why weren’t we invited?”
John Stencel, another student protestor, agreed.
“Bush is anti-worker and anti-unions. There is more poverty and
more people without jobs. A lot of people out of the workforce do have
degrees. What kind of jobs does he expect us to get?” Stencel asked.
“There is nothing real about this president. He claims to be pro-life
but he’s against everything that allows people to live,” he
added.
Not all protestors agreed with one another or addressed the same issues.
Sherry Bohlen, a concerned resident, carried a sign that read, “Bush
lied, 500 died.”
“He started a war based on lies, and our troops are the ones paying
for it,” Bohlen said. “I’m just praying that my son
doesn’t become No. 501.”
Student protestor Christie Craft held a sign that declared, “Bush’s
immigration plan equals indentured slavery.”
MCC physics professor Heidi Van Tassel said she applauded Bush’s
attention to community colleges and was “honored to have a sitting
president visit MCC.”
However, she protested with a sign that read “MCC science faculty
opposes Bush’s science policy,” and said she could not support
the Bush administration in touting space exploration while cutting many
programs that make scientific study possible.
As diverse opinions met and mingled, discourse varied from friendly discussion
to confrontation.
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Dan Smith Mesa Legend |
| Along with supporters of President
Bush there were also roughly 80 to 90 protesters in attendance during
his visit. While some protested with signs and chants others chose
to wear masks in likeness of the president during the event. |
While waiting on the north side of the Theatre Outback,
activists for and against Bush countered one another’s slogans.
Bush supporters greeted protestors with cries of “Go home hippies”
and “Re-elect Bush,” and the protestors responded with shouts
of “Out the door in 2004.”
MCC student and Bush supporter Will Finlayson greeted protesters by yelling,
“Anti-bush is Anti-America.”
Vaughan welcomed dialogue when he met a supporter of Bush who said she
felt intimidated. “I told her, ‘You shouldn’t feel intimidated.
You’re exercising your rights; it’s absolutely appropriate
and I’m glad to see you out here today – that’s what
democracy is all about.’ We need more of that; we need more civil
discourse,” Vaughan said.
Reaction to Vaughan’s own decision to protest was mixed. Vaughan
sent an e-mail to MCC faculty that stated he felt obligated to protest.
“I got a lot of e-mail back, and some of it was mild hate mail from
some of our own employees,” Vaughan said, but added, “The
overwhelming majority of e-mail I received from other employees was very
positive.” Vaughan also came in to his office the day after sending
the e-mail to find his computer connection down.
“I’m not a conspiracy theorist, and I’m not accusing
anyone, but the timing is such that I find it difficult to believe it
was a coincidence,” Vaughan said.
Brandon Yee, of MCC’s IT support staff, said the connection was
probably accidentally turned off, and it is highly unlikely that any staff
or faculty member intentionally disconnected Vaughan.
“It happens every now and then,” Yee said.
Regardless of viewpoints, Bush’s viewpoint brought many benefits
for MCC.
“This has been an eye-opener to see how many things MCC does,”
Dille said. “This job program is just one of many such programs
here at MCC that we can be proud of, and it’s good to get recognition.”
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