Tue
Mar 25 2014
07:52 pm
UT President Joe DiPietro caves, Campfield declares victory
By: R. Neal

So, apparently, Sen. Stacey Campfield can dictate U.T. policy by way of cheap stunt legislation with no hope of passing and U.T. President Joe DiPietro says "thank you sir, may I have another?"

WTF?

This is a First Amendment issue, plain and simple. If our legislators, universities and newspapers aren't willing to stand up for it then who will?

Anyway, will students be able to opt out of student fees altogether under this new U.T. policy, or will they have line item veto over "speech" to which they object? And how will that be calculated?

And according to Sen. Campfield's theory of "money equals free speech," may I now opt out of paying any taxes that fund illegal, unjust wars, NSA spying on my cellphone, and/or miscellaneous brain farts uttered by my reprobate Republican representatives in Nashville and Washington?

P.S. How awesome is it that a neanderthal like Campfield, who said HIV can't be transmitted by heterosexual sex, is now in charge of sex education and STD prevention programs at U.T.? Campfield's the big man on campus, and DiPietro is just his whimpering boy toy.

Topics:
WhitesCreek's picture

What R. Neal said...

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Tue, 2014/03/25 - 8:10pm.

How awesome is it that a neanderthal like Campfield, who said HIV can't be transmitted by heterosexual sex, is now in charge of sex education and STD prevention programs at U.T.? Campfield's the big man on campus, and DiPietro is just his whimpering boy toy.

reform4's picture

Football

Submitted by reform4 on Tue, 2014/03/25 - 10:46pm.

So, Joe-

A student who doesn't attend the games and opposes football games on the ground that they encourage violence, can now opt out of the mandatory athletic fee?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

michael kaplan's picture

I wonder what the 'opt-out'

Submitted by michael kaplan on Tue, 2014/03/25 - 11:06pm.

I wonder what the 'opt-out' form is going to look like ...

Bbeanster's picture

Don't usually like to do

Submitted by Bbeanster on Tue, 2014/03/25 - 11:08pm.

Don't usually like to do this, but I can't resist going back to the 'Politics of Sex Week' story I did for MP last month. It was clear then that the Prez was letting Campfield bully him. I didn't want to say that Stacey made DiPietro his bitch, quite, but:

The bombast is nothing new, and although UT President Joe DiPietro’s recent statement of support could have been served up with a side of milquetoast—“I believe free and open exchange at higher education institutions of views on controversial issues is appropriate, healthy, and routinely occurs on our campuses and others across the nation”—it’s better than last year, when he and Chancellor Jimmy Cheek gave in to legislative bullying and withdrew two-thirds of Sex Week funding just two and a half weeks before opening day.

cafkia's picture

It was clear then that the

Submitted by cafkia on Wed, 2014/03/26 - 12:20am.
(in reply to Bbeanster)

It was clear then that the Prez was letting Campfield bully him. I didn't want to say that Stacey made DiPietro his bitch, quite, but: ...

Surprising. I would have bet dollars to donuts that Campfield was a bottom.

gonzone's picture

But also into some S&M,

Submitted by gonzone on Wed, 2014/03/26 - 8:21am.
(in reply to cafkia)

But also into some S&M, reference the infamous leather wrestling mask he is known to wear.

schull's picture

What does being a bottom have

Submitted by schull on Wed, 2014/03/26 - 9:47am.
(in reply to cafkia)

What does being a bottom have to do with anything?

cafkia's picture

What does being a bottom have

Submitted by cafkia on Wed, 2014/03/26 - 12:31pm.
(in reply to schull)

What does being a bottom have to do with anything?

As I understand the vernacular and the reference(s), in a specific act of anal sex, whether done with biological penuses or the strapon variety, the person being penetrated may be referred to as the "bitch" which I believe is meant to infer some manner of physical submission. That same dominated individual could be referred to as a "bottom". Obviously the reference Beanster made was to DiPietro being Campfield's bitch which I translated to "bottom". That would make Campfield the "top" which I consider to be atypical behavior to my assessment of Campfield and his psychological motivations. (disclaimer: I am not formally educated in psychology in any way) That assessment is that he is the prototypical self-hating closeted or semi-closeted homosexual male, specifically one who seeks the physical domination of other males over him. His political and public behaviors are his way of repudiating those feelings to himself, his way of denying to himself the truth of what he is. It matters only as much as atypical, erratic and unpredictable behavior ever matter in reference to officials in positions of public power and who are on the public payroll.

Mello's picture

Opt in, opt out

Submitted by Mello on Wed, 2014/03/26 - 12:13am.

Will the university seriously ask these students

"Sex Week, are you in or are you out?"
"Sex Week- will you pay to play?"

Yeah, we need a new post just to help UT frame the question.

Knoxgal's picture

Campfield...

Submitted by Knoxgal (not verified) on Wed, 2014/03/26 - 7:24am.

Campfield...turning formerly apathetic students into democrats one by one

gonzone's picture

Bullies gonna bully.

Submitted by gonzone on Wed, 2014/03/26 - 8:22am.

Bullies gonna bully.

Smoake Jones's picture

It's not Campfield pushing DePietro around

Submitted by Smoake Jones (not verified) on Wed, 2014/03/26 - 9:44am.

If you look at the leadership of UT Sex Week (particularly one of the co-founders) you'll find at least four (4) Haslam Scholars on the roster, extremely generous tuition programs, computer equipment, support, study abroad, etc. funded by you know who and to think that somebody has funded segments of their education so they can spend an abundance of time and energy trapsing around on this topic is a absolute absurdity.

(link...)

Brings up the question of what criteria DePietro is looking for in a Haslam Scholar and why the this program should continue to be funded if this is the results from these hard earned endeavors and ready for the world students.

Stick's picture

As someone who has taught

Submitted by Stick on Wed, 2014/03/26 - 10:25am.
(in reply to Smoake Jones)

As someone who has taught some of the organizers and activists behind Sex Week and who helped one of them with their Haslam scholar application [which you obviously know nothing about], I'd be happy to tell you about what excellent students they are. Unlike many of the students I work with [who are there to jump through hoops b/c our society has told them to do so in order to get a job] these students are curious, thoughtful, and engaged. They do the class readings, ask questions, participate in class discussions, and are generally a joy to have in a class. More importantly, their diligence and hard work contributes to overall classroom learning. Or, to put it in words that you might understand, they contribute to the learning of students whose curiosity has been killed by K-12 schooling and their addiction to low powered computers that also make telephone calls.

Your half-assed attempt to disparage these fine young women and men only demonstrates your own ignorance.

martin's picture

Firstly, the funding for Sex

Submitted by martin (not verified) on Wed, 2014/03/26 - 1:34pm.
(in reply to Smoake Jones)

Firstly, the funding for Sex Week came from student activity fees and was voted by students with faculty advice and within all legal norms, not from tuition or from honors programs. Secondly, what on earth is wrong with smart and energetic students devoting time to organizing an event on topics (sexuality and sex education) that are of major interest to their peers and young people generally?

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