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PC Dictatorship & Double Standards

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Who Is Al Gore Kidding?

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Another Foolhardy Antitrust Theory

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Is Miami Another Waco?

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Gay Rights vs. Everyone's Rights

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Straight Talk On the Flag

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McCain in SC: Bush's Friend or Foe?

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You Have the Right to Remain Silent

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Media For Gore

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Smart Cops Saying 'No'

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Celebrating Earth Day — By Cutting Taxes

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Clinton's Anti-Gun Two-Step

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Let My People Go: Elián and the Exodus

4/27/00 11:05 a.m.
PC Dictatorship & Double Standards
How do they get away with it?

By Stephen F. Hayes, freelance writer

publicist, by definition, talks and writes for a living, carefully weighing the consequences of each word he or she (I could be a publicist) uses. He or she is frequently called upon to offer thoughtful, measured responses in difficult situations. He or she certainly must be especially careful to avoid offending others. This is especially true in the often-absurd, politically correct...I mean respectful and sensitive environment of a college campus.

So what the...heck was University of Iowa publicist Ann Rhodes thinking last Thursday? Rhodes, Iowa's vice president for university relations, called a press conference to announce that local police had arrested a suspect who had made racist threats at the University's School of Dentistry. The suspect had sent several threatening e-mails — including six bomb threats in three weeks — that targeted minorities on campus. One black Iowa dental student found a bowl of red noodles on his doorstep, accompanied by a note with a cryptic message about "a black man's brains."

In one e-mail threat, the would-be terrorist admonished dental students, "every day, you should say goodbye to your family and loved ones as if it would be your last chance. When you least expect is when we plan to strike." Serious stuff.

Campus residents were understandably relieved when authorities finally arrested Tarsha Claiborne, a U. of Iowa dental student, for allegedly making the threats. At a press conference announcing the arrest, one reporter asked Rhodes if she was surprised that the suspect was a female, and was black.

"I figured it was going to be a white guy between 25 and 55 because they're the root of most evil ... but what do I know?"

Not, apparently, the university's "Human Rights" policy.

"The University of Iowa brings together in common pursuit of its educational goals persons of many nations, races, and creeds. The University is guided by the precepts that in no aspect of its programs shall there be differences in the treatment of persons because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification that deprives the person of consideration as an individual."

The day after Rhodes's comments, University of Iowa President Mary Sue Coleman sent a soothing letter (no doubt drafted by a publicist) to the university community. "Let us take it as a wake-up call that reminds us that we should judge each other as individuals," she penned, "by the content of our character."

The wake-up call was a reference to Claiborne's threats. There was not a word about the vice president's remark.

Rhodes says Claiborne will likely be expelled for the threats. She could be punished under Iowa's "hate crimes" laws for her words.

Will Rhodes face disciplinary action for her comments? A good scolding? John Rocker-style sensitivity training?

"We don't comment on personnel actions," said Steve Parrott, director of University Relations, of his boss. "But Ann has apologized."

Rhodes, in a statement first released the same day she made the white-males-are-evil comment, said: "I'm very sorry for what I said. It was a poor attempt at humor. I certainly do not literally believe that because it just reinforces the kinds of stereotypes we have been working to dispel. It was inappropriate to joke about such a sensitive issue."

An apology is probably enough. People should be allowed to say stupid and offensive things; even university vice presidents. But it's always interesting to wonder how the university would have reacted if Rhodes had slandered, say, women or blacks or Jews.

"I figured it was going to be a black guy between 25 and 55 because they're the root of most evil ... but what do I know?"

Think the university would be silent on that personnel action?

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