Backlash At UNT Over Governor Abbott At Graduation

Mean Green 93-98 · April 8, 2015

Agreed. But I didn't support this because I saw it a mile away. UNT's administration should've as well. Called it immediately after it was announced. And here we are.

UNT President Neal Smatresk said he understood when selecting Abbott to speak at UNT’s inaugural university-wide commencement ceremony that there would be some controversy....Smatresk said the university looked into several different speakers but Abbott was his first choice.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/04/06/backlash-at-unt-over-governor-abbott-as-graduation-speaker/

Despite some students’ disappointment, Smatresk said there is no way the university will have a different commencement speaker.

http://www.dentonrc.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20150407-keep-open-mind-about-unt-speaker.ece

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

Glad to see a President showing some leadership.

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

And willing to embarrass his university? Isn't that your argument?

But yet you have no position here, eh?

If anything happens that embarasses the university, the blame lies on THOSE CAUSING THE DISTURBANCE!

I know that's hard for your entitled generation to understand.

eulessismore · April 8, 2015

Agreed. But I didn't support this because I saw it a mile away. UNT's administration should've as well. Called it immediately after it was announced. And here we are.

I don't necessarily "support" the decision, but prefer to give the benefit of the doubt. For one thing, not everyone takes the expected party line on every position. And I felt that Abbott, though I didn't vote for him, made an encouraging comment about UNT and our strivings to attain tier one status. What does it hurt to let someone talk, hear what they have to say, and then pass judgment?

All About UNT · April 8, 2015

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/04/06/backlash-at-unt-over-governor-abbott-as-graduation-speaker/

http://www.dentonrc.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20150407-keep-open-mind-about-unt-speaker.ece

Just had to show two asshats wearing other university's gear huh?

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

Ultimately, who does it fall on? It falls on the president. It is irresponsible to knowingly drag our university through a media shitstorm solely to get goody-goody with Abbott.
I have a position. I don't support it, and I don't support any active politician at any commencement speech speaking at a place that's not their alma mater, like the majority of "big" schools. Harvard had 0 elected active politicians speak and the rest were alumni. UT nearly NEVER gets an active elected politician non-alumni. Abbott being here isn't big time, it's small time.
Who raised our entitled generation? Your generation. In addition to ruining our environment and obliterating our economy.

I'm not your daddy.

At least I don't think...

And get over yourself. Your "ruined" economy is easily top three in the world and you live in one of the least polluted countries in the world.

And you are actually pissed because you don't have it better off?

Thanks for proving the entitled generation point. Go beg momma for a new iPad.

Edited April 8, 2015 by UNT90

Mean Green 93-98 · April 8, 2015

... since our academic administration is clearly still clueless.

Clueless because they don't precisely lineup with your harebrained "politicians okay, but not elected, or if elected then inactive, or if elected and active then foreign" view? You keep making up these exemptions and different qualifications as you go.

BTW, USC had Arnold Schwarzenegger as commencement speaker when he was still governor. Michigan State had their governor as commencement speaker when he was newly elected.

Edited April 8, 2015 by Mean Green 93-98

Mean Green 93-98 · April 8, 2015

Also USC is private.

Michigan State isn't. Not sure what that matters, though.

Edited April 8, 2015 by Mean Green 93-98

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

I've worked for everything my entire life, more than your lying ass ever has, and I can guarantee you my father and mother have worked harder than you ever have.
All you can do is pull strawman generalizations to hide the fact that you're a sorry man hiding behind a keyboard on a North Texas football forum who tries to act like he's the gatekeeper of knowledge. That, my friends, is more pathetic than ANY entitled millenial.

Here you go, young Ryan. I'm so sorry you were so unfortunate to be born into the #1 economy in the whole wide world.

http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/rich-countries/the-10-richest-economies-in-the-world-in-2014/10/

Poor poor kid.

And again, I really don't understand the whole "hide behind the keyboard" thing. I tailgate with several members of this board. I'm at almost every football game. I'm quite sure anyone who wants to know me knows me. Hell, I "coached" one of the basketball teams in the fundraiser for the cheerleaders (and was voted MVP of the winning team, although it was most definitely a sympathy vote). I even purchased several items in the silent auction to help the cheer squad.

So tell me, young Ryan, where the hell were you?

Mean Green 93-98 · April 8, 2015

So, your argument is now "hey look guys, here's one school outlier that fits my argument."

No, my argument is, "Any school that I've looked up that shows their former commencement speakers shows politicians on the list." If you want such a thorough review, why don't you go through every school in the country and see which have and have not had politicians as commencement speakers.

Mean Green 93-98 · April 8, 2015

I'm done, you're rude, derogatory and childish when you run into you people disagree with. It's just so childish.

The legs of the lame are surely unequal.

Mean Green 93-98 · April 8, 2015

I've been nothing but civil until the first punch is thrown. Live my life by that motto.
Disagree, fine. Do so in a derogatory manner? All bets are off.

In your first post in this thread, you called a poster an "ass." Not really a civil beginning.

foutsrouts · April 8, 2015

Ultimately, who does it fall on? It falls on the president. It is irresponsible to knowingly drag our university through a media shitstorm solely to get goody-goody with Abbott.
I have a position. I don't support it, and I don't support any active politician at any commencement speech speaking at a place that's not their alma mater, like the majority of "big" schools. Harvard had 0 elected active politicians speak and the rest were alumni. UT nearly NEVER gets an active elected politician non-alumni. Abbott being here isn't big time, it's small time.
Who raised our entitled generation? Your generation. In addition to ruining our environment and obliterating our economy.

Is Obama a graduate of Notre Dame, Michigan, Hampton, and the Naval Academy, since he has delivered commencement speeches at all four as a sitting president? Also, do you berate your parents at every opportunity for our "obliterated economy" and ruined environment?

In all seriousness, getting all up in arms about a new sitting Texas governor speaking on campus is ridiculous and bordering on lunacy IMO. This university needs all of the help it can get from the powers that be, and I kind of doubt that he will be speaking against gays, drug legalization, and closing our borders to illegals at the event.

It all stinks of complaining just for the sake of complaining. I think we'll somehow muddle through and survive this horrible media shitstorm that will rain down upon us.

Christopher Walker · April 8, 2015

For those who care, Laverne Cox spoke tonight on her life, upbringing, and philosophy on the gender/sex/identity spectrum.

Not politics.

Edited April 8, 2015 by Christopher Walker

oldguystudent · April 8, 2015

For those who care, Laverne Cox spoke tonight on her life, upbringing, and philosophy on the gender/sex/identity spectrum.

Not politics.

Did she give any hints as to what we can expect in the upcoming season of OITNB?

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

Is Obama a graduate of Notre Dame, Michigan, Hampton, and the Naval Academy, since he has delivered commencement speeches at all four as a sitting president? Also, do you berate your parents at every opportunity for our "obliterated economy" and ruined environment?

In all seriousness, getting all up in arms about a new sitting Texas governor speaking on campus is ridiculous and bordering on lunacy IMO. This university needs all of the help it can get from the powers that be, and I kind of doubt that he will be speaking against gays, drug legalization, and closing our borders to illegals at the event.

It all stinks of complaining just for the sake of complaining. I think we'll somehow muddle through and survive this horrible media shitstorm that will rain down upon us.

Not to mention if anyone had a right to be upset about the commencement speaker slashing funding it would be Navy and Pres. Obama.

I'm guessing no one made a fool of themselves during that commencement address...

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

For those who care, Laverne Cox spoke tonight on her life, upbringing, and philosophy on the gender/sex/identity spectrum.

Not politics.

Wait. If she speaks out positively about being transgender it's not political, but if anyone speaks out about opposing gay marriage, or simply wanting people to be able to follow their religious beliefs, it is political?

Jeez...

GreenMachine · April 8, 2015

Because she's not political. Was wondering when someone would act like an ass about Laverne Cox.

I am an ass because you don't like the point I just made.

oldguystudent · April 8, 2015

Somewhere in some basement war room, there sit a bunch of lobbyists around a large oaken table, Cuban Churchills and Cognac snifters in hand, ledgers on the wall as to how much they've given to both parties (and Rand Paul, you know, just in case), chanting, "Yes, my little pretties! Get angry about the politics! Fight each other! Especially always focus on moral outrage in both directions! Divide yourselves!"

LongJim · April 8, 2015

The facts are, young people as a whole, do not agree with the republican party. To me, the reasons are obvious, but its clear most people in this thread are too old to understand why that is. Get off your high horses, if wendy davis came to speak, it would be met with the exact same resistance from you people, the people who are claiming the left are "intolerant" because they disagree with a right wing politician speaking at their commencement.

Relax and have a beer man. This is a message board. I didn't claim anything, just made an observation. Go on with your bad, tolerant self.

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

For those who think the transgender speaker wasn't political, answer me one question:

What did she do in her life that deserves being paid a speaker fee other than having a sex change?

Honest question, as I know nothing about her.

If the answer is nothing and all she spoke about were the challenges brought on by her decision to have a sex change, she is PURELY a political speaker, much more so than Gov. Abbott.

VideoEagle · April 8, 2015

First, I haven't bothered to look. How many of the 2,000 petition signers are graduating? From what I just read, it appears some aren't even students or even Texas residents.

Second, when was the last time NT had a speaker anyone cared about? We got the sitting governor of the state, something that's never happened before. NT has moved up the Texas state school food chain and that's a great thing.

And on an unrelated note, I hate the autocorrect on my iPad.

Edited April 8, 2015 by VideoEagle

oldguystudent · April 8, 2015

For those who think the transgender speaker wasn't political, answer me one question:
What did she do in her life that deserves being paid a speaker fee other than having a sex change?
Honest question, as I know nothing about her.
If the answer is nothing and all she spoke about were the challenges brought on by her decision to have a sex change, she is PURELY a political speaker, much more so than Gov. Abbott.

Her character is pretty kickass in Orange is the New Black. Her non-transistioned twin brother plays the pre-surgery character in flashbacks. Of course, I doubt that was the topic of the speech.

UNTcrazy727 · April 8, 2015

Nah, clueless because they still would rather drag our university through more ugly publicity than just accept defeat. Hasn't UNT already been beaten up enough?
Also USC is private.

The only people dragging our university through the mud are the idiots signing the petition and threatening to walkout/protest the commencement address.

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

Her character is pretty kickass in Orange is the New Black. Her non-transistioned twin brother plays the pre-surgery character in flashbacks. Of course, I doubt that was the topic of the speech.

So she is famous for being a transgender person who played a transgender person in a movie?

Again, I really can't see her speech being about anything other than being transgender? If that's the case, that is a political speech.

Now, if she had come to speak about thermonuclear war, finance, the business model that made her successful, or any other topic and just HAPPENED to be transgender, that would be completely different.

Edited April 8, 2015 by UNT90