A Note on the "Conversation" at the University of Iowa

A few days ago I became aware of a situation at my alma mater, noted here. A member of the Women's Studies faculty sent a response to an email from the College Republicans touting "Conservative Coming Out Week" that consisted of three words. "FUCK YOU, REPUBLICANS."

That's quite an angry response, and would seem to be either a very poor decision or something close. So I went looking for the email that prompted this. That took a bit more doing, but it can be found here.

Conservatives "coming out?" Yes, that's going to piss off a person in women's studies, especially one part of the Society of Gay and Lesbian Anthropologists. Co-opting part of their lexicon, when your group is the one blocking the Matthew Sheppard law and trying to impeach the State Supreme Court because they said blocking gay marriage unconstitutional in Iowa, isn't going to endear you. Having a movie in honor of W isn't going to help either. Giving out doctor's notes supporting the governor's side of the Madison protests is another bad move, but capping it off with an "Animal Rights BBQ?" Well now you're veering well off into the exact territory of her response.

The courts have a term for this, it's called fighting words. While the Republicans are right, what they did is "protected speech," that does not mean they are free from response. By that standard, Professor Lewin was dead on, and if the University takes action against Professor Lewin, then they are the ones stifling speech.

The Republicans did something designed to provoke and all they got was a three word email. That they then have the temerity to start screaming it was inappropriate, when they're the ones who complain about "political correctness," is hypocritical at best. Fuck you, Republicans.