Bush Will Be Commencement Speaker at St. Vincent College

[tll]

Lovely.

Bush to speak at St. Vincent College May 11
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
By Brittany McCandless, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

President Bush will be the commencement speaker at St. Vincent College in Latrobe on May 11, school officials announced yesterday after receiving word from the White House.

St. Vincent Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, who sent the invitation to the president for the college's 161st commencement, made the announcement at a news conference Downtown.

Also present was college President H. James Towey, who was installed July 1. He had previously served as assistant to Mr. Bush and director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the White House.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07086/772840-298.stm

[femmocrat]

1. Is anyone planning to go and protest? n/t

[Rusty MacHenry]

2. Your joking right?

Going to a graduation where it's suppose to be a happy day for students and protesting and creating chaos for many just because someone that will be there speaking is someone you don't like.

That's pretty cold hearted in my opinion and I don't think you should do it. Let the students have there day with no chaos, let it go off without a hitch.

[femmocrat]

3. Well....

it was tongue-in-cheek... BUT..... a lot of the students are reportedly very unhappy about it. I wouldn't be surprised to see peace signs on some of their mortar boards!

My son is a SVC grad and having Bush there would have ruined our happy day, believe me. My son said he would have stayed home and had them mail him his diploma. There are probably other families who feel this way.

Someone (can't remember where I heard it, sorry) pointed out that SVC is in Congressman Murtha's district. Hmmmm...... could there be a connection?

Welcome to DU, Rusty! :hi:

[jtrockville]

7. "security, pomp and fanfare surrounding his arrival steal the thunder from students"

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-04282007-1337566.html

I agree with Cheryl Cochran. The chaos created by Bush's security cabal will be far more devastating to the supposedly "happy day for students" than any protest could ever be. When St. Vincent's invited Bush, they invited chaos.

Silence is betrayal. It's our duty to protest this man.

[what_constitution]

10. Why not?

When my brother graduated from university, the then Secretary of State spoke. There were protesters. They calmly, rationally, and respectfully (for the students) remained away from the commencement area, on the walkways leading to the seating area (outside graduation). They were able to make their point known, without "creating chaos." not every protest is tear gas and night sticks. There is no reason that a quiet, respectful protest can't happen... just like there should be no reason for a faculty to release a quiet, respectful letter of dissent.

[greyghost]

4. I hope so...

I have many fond memories of SVC.

I hope the student body stands up like the kids at BYU.

[femmocrat]

5. I heard through the grapevine that protests are being organized.

As soon as I get more information, I will post it. Stay tuned.

Welcome to DU, greyghost! :hi:

[greyghost]

6. Thank you

for the kind welcome and the 411.

I know that protests would definitely have been organized back in the day.

:toast:

[jtrockville]

8. I won't be able to attend, please post photos.

Sadly, I can't squeeze this protest into my schedule. But as an alumni of Seton Hill, I am greatly interested in seeing photos from the event. Please post some if you can.

[what_constitution]

9. GO! you.are.a.citizen.

My mother is one of those 29 current and former faculty members who signed this letter. She has agonized over this and other issues surrounding the presidential visit and the implications of Bush at a Benedictine school. There is every possibility that those active faculty members amongst the 29 have put their positions at this college in jeopardy to say what everyone of us sits around discussing, rather ineffectually. Have you searched this issue on google? that is how i came across this site and became witness to how great a media response this one letter has made. If you live in the Latrobe area, what have you to lose? Are you fearing arrest? Is it not time for change? or at the very least, time for a public forum in which you can make your voice heard, much like those who were willing to bravely sign and submit that letter!
We witnessed the bang and wheeze of the protest movement directly following day of bombing in 2003. Perhaps you did not have the benefit of living in an active city, I did. I have seen hundreds of people pushed, hit, gassed, and arrested. I have sat awake at night waiting to hear the fate of arrested friends. I have waited for loved ones to return from Iraq and Afghanistan. Dissent and opinion are our constitutional right. Isn't it worth the possibility of a misdemeanor or citation to show your support to those faculty members who protest now and will then? Isn't it worth it to show the president that you cannot agree with his foreign policy decisions. Isn't it appropriate to back up what the GOP (the GOP!!!) told Mr. Bush today... majority public opinion no longer supports him or the "war" in Iraq.
Please, go support my mom because I can't be there with her.

[greyghost]

11. SVC Class of 1980 here...

I'm very proud of these kids, and the faculty.

My God bless your Mom, we need more like her!

[FREEWILL56]

12. SECONDED

We certainly do need more like her.
Here, Here.

[tigereye]

13. welcome to DU!

and well said. Progressive folks in the Pgh area are very proud of the brave people who wrote that letter. As someone who attended Seton Hill for a year back in the 70s and someone who has a lot of respect for St. VIncent, it was very upsetting to hear that * would be there as the Speaker. I understand that the guy who is the SVC president was involved with his administration in some capacity.

I know if I were a college student there at this time, I would be very unhappy having him speak, given the violence and foolishness of his policies.

[femmocrat]

14. This is the best link I could find. There is also a video clip available.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/13295750/detail.html


"As Bush was speaking, about 150 protesters demonstrated outside. They were asked to stay about a half-mile away from the building.

"About 300 students graduate from St. Vincent each year -- but this year saw a record number of graduates sign up to attend the commencement ceremony.

One student who chose not to watch Bush decided to join a protest instead, saying, "I didn't want my graduation with him."

"About 50 protesters gathered on the road that leads to the college on Thursday night, carrying signs that said "Blessed are the peacemakers" and "Troops home now."

"In an open letter, St. Vincent faculty said the war in Iraq is not a just war, as defined by Catholic doctrine. The letter accused the president of launching a "preemptive, unprovoked war" and stifling debate at home through "fear-mongering and threats."

"College President Jim Towey, who once headed the White House's office of faith-based initiatives, arranged the Bush visit. He said he knew it would be a controversial move but a great opportunity for students at the same time.

"During Bush's visit on Friday, about 200 people turned out to protest his appearance, but they were restricted to an area more than a mile from the St. Vincent commencement.

"The demonstrators were limited to an area behind a guardrail in a construction area along Route 30.

"Parking was also limited, and some had to walk or get rides from a second designated area which was more than a mile from the protest.

>"Iraq war veterans and gold star mothers were among the anti-war speakers taking part.

>"It's wrong," said Iraq War veteran David Wheeler. "We have to do something about it. Taking a stand is the only way it's going to happen."

>"I think a commencement speaker should be inspiring and bring honor and courage and valor, and the president has none of that," said Diane Santoriello, whose son died while fighting in Iraq.

"Because Bush came and went by helicopter, there was no motorcade that passed the area where the protestors were contained."


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From what I saw on the local TV stations, protestors were on the side of an embankment behind a guard rail. They gave them a dreadful site to gather. People driving by on Rte. 30 honked in agreement with the protestors. God Bless the brave people who came out to protest under very unsafe conditions.

(BTW, I did see the helicopters... they flew right over our school. I gave them the finger.)