This past Sunday, our former Governor and current Vice President Mike Pence, returned to Indiana to give the commencement speech at Notre Dame University. When he began to speak, approximately 100 of the 3,171 graduates got up quietly from their seats and left the stadium in protest of Pence's policy positions. Since Sunday, there has been quite a debate about whether the students were engaging in their right to free speech, or being disrespectful.
The protest had been planned for weeks and both university and campus police were made aware of the demonstration prior to the ceremony. Students began planning the protest after learning of Pence's selection as their commencement speaker, due in part to the numerous controversies that surrounded Pence's time as Governor, including the religious freedom bill that many felt allowed discrimination against LGBTQA Hoosiers.
Supporters of the protest, which included several Notre Dame faculty members stated that the students had a right to exercise their free speech rights. Opponents argued that the students disrupted the graduation ceremony for others, and that they were disrespectful to their fellow graduates, faculty and civil leaders. For his part, Pence did not seem flustered by the demonstration and ironically spoke of Notre Dame as a "vanguard of freedom f expression and the free exchange of ideas."
Some of you will be graduating in just a few weeks and I'm interested in knowing how you all feel. "Do you commend or condemn the protest? Would you be ok with this kind of demonstration taking place during your graduation ceremony, or do you think graduations are not the place to exercise your rights to free speech?" Answers are due no later than Wednesday, May 31st, 2017.
Honestly, I would have done the same thing if I was in their shoes. I don't believe it was distracting or disrespectful because the quietly and very respectfully protested against a mans with which their views did not relate. They did not say one word to or about him, they just calmly stood and walked out of the ceremony. I think it was a very good display of friendly protest and anywhere should be a good place to exercise your rights to free speech.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would be okay if this kind of demonstration happened during my graduation. Everyone has the right to exercise their right of free speech but I would, also, be kind of annoyed. If they didn’t approve of the guest speaker, they could have gone to someone and asked for someone different or they could have opted to not go to the graduation at all. The ceremony is more about the graduates than someone that is just a guest speaker.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your last statement that graduation is for the students who are graduating. If they don't agree; its their prerogative. That situation was more awkward for them than Pence, in my opinion.
DeleteI will commend the protest only because I believe that it was their right to protest against what they don't believe. You cannot force someone to approve of things that will hinder their way of living. This is not the 1500s, this is 2017. It's not time to rewind time; it is time to awaken. I think it was just an awkward moment for the students when they have so much to look forward to. The last thing that I would want at my graduation is for someone voicing their opinion about something they do not have a clue about; to waste my time, and try and ruin my day before it starts. i would've been one to walk out, also.
ReplyDeleteIt's all right, as long as the demonstration was a peaceful one. I would not mind it at all. But, if it was just a protest to create a riot or something then I'd be furious. I'd be so frustrated and saddened that that is the moment I will have, for that rest of my life.
I honestly don't understand why this is even controversial or disrespectful. The students were respectful, nonviolent and peaceful this type of behavior should be encouraged especially here in America. I would understand if the students lacked these qualities but they didn't so whats all the fuss about. If this is not a legitimate protest then what is. Personally, if the tables were turned and a bunch of students left due to say, Obama, I would not have a problem. In fact, I wold be more open to a conversation with a level headed protester with an opposing view than a disrespectful liberal protester like say a student from Evergreen State College. Although I am defiantly not a fan of Pence I have to admit he did handle the situation well.
ReplyDeleteI commend the protest, because it was them displaying their freedom and their rights to free speech. On the other hand, I would be kind of upset if someone disrupted my big day. I do believe that they had some good intentions though, even though some people believe they didnt. It was cool to see them all come together like that and unify for something thy felt strongly about. Hopefully more of these kinds of displays will be more frequent, as long as they are "peaceful" of course and dont involve violence.
ReplyDeleteIn all honestly, I commend the protest because it is their freedom of rights and they all still got to graduate so nothing has change. i would honestly be with them as well because I don't agree with Pence and is statements. It was harmless and they didn't do anything wrong. It might have disrespected some people but I didn't see any complaints when I saw the video. It was amazing that all of them came together and did what they thought was right for them as the American people. People need to know what they were fighting for and I think this will make a difference and changes from Trump and Pence.
ReplyDeleteI commend the protest! I would have left as well because I'm not a fan of Pence. The students handled the protest really well if you ask me. They even gave the university a heads up that they were going to do it, and the school didn't take any action to prevent it from happening.
ReplyDeleteI am mostly indifferent to the protest. While I support the right of a group to protest and uphold that it was in the students' right to do this, I hesitate to call an action "free speech." As it were, while the disruption was targeted at Pence, it didn't have much of a message beyond "Hey, screw this guy." I also think that a protest shouldn't directly disrupt or interfere with an event, or else it ceases to be protest and becomes sabotage of a kind. I think the students could have walked out before Pence was announced, not as he began speaking.
ReplyDeleteI commend the protest! I don't think they were being disrespectful or distracting. If they had started a riot that would be a different story, but quietly protesting is definitely okay. I would have walked out of my graduation if Pence was giving a the commencement speech too! Even if I had not been a part of the protest, it would have still been a great memory to watch my fellow classmates protest at our graduation. Epic.
ReplyDeletePersonally, not only to I commend these protest efforts, but also, when it comes to Pence, I'd stand up and protest with them. From what I know of the event, they were within their rights, they followed all of the regulations, and even the single person they were protesting against claims he doesn't have an issue with it. Perhaps they did "disrupt" the event to a degree, but if several faculty and students were fully aware that this protest was planned here in advance, and were okay with it, then why should they be upset. If anything, it sounds to me that they only opponents were people who weren't disrupted at all.
ReplyDeleteTo finish off my entry, I'm just going to leave this video link here. https://youtu.be/QoJTqjNI1QA?t=1m14s
This is how Mike Pence answers a yes or no question.
I think the students had every right to walk out. We need the leaders of this country to understand that their games aren't working anymore and the masses want change. We should have a leader that is concentrated on what is going on in the world right now and what role America will play in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think that the students were absolutely in the right. They weren't loud or disrespectful, they simply left the room. Yes, this was during a graduation ceremony, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to exercise their freedom to speech.
ReplyDeleteI feel that everybody has a right to have freedom of speech. Should it have token place at graduation? No, because it's not the time nor place to be disrespectful to someone he has a right as well. They should have just waited and then protects, or just went on with their life's. It's not like they are going to see him again
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, all power to them. Sometimes you aren't heard until you do something that strikes interest. Those students chose a moment where they had the opportunity to have an impact. They simply got up and left.
ReplyDeleteI commend them! That is their right and more power to them! I believe that if you do not wish to participate in something that you don't believe in or have a problem with someone you don't have to talk to them nor hear them! That is our God given right. Also--- graduation is a choice not a requirement. If they chose to leave at their will, they can.
ReplyDelete