“Never retreat, never explain, never apologize — get the thing done and let them howl.” —Nellie McClung
In what I will term a measured response to my critics and to the varied reactions to last week’s article exposing yet another legal and morally reprehensible collective act by the administration at Dixie State University, I have to first say that none of it came as a surprise.
Statements by faculty and administration like “Don’t believe everything you read” or orchestrated editorials denying statements made into a recording device that were tantamount to “I know you are but what am I” were the sophomoric best that could be done, I suppose. Because in all of the feedback decrying the one-sidedness of my opine on a matter of grave consequence, not one person offered even a hint of a credible refutation to the facts opined on.
But I digress.
A common response to poor or illegal behavior by those who wish to avoid the uncomfortable reality that a person or group of their liking has acted poorly is “But look at all the good they do.” It is a weak defense that suggests good behavior by the right hand negates bad behavior by the left. But this isn’t mathematics we are talking about; this is fundamentally about ethics, principles, and laws. When an organization engages in unconstitutional and illegal practices in what amounts to a modern-day witch hunt and trial, it is wrong, plain and simple. No amount of donating to charity makes it okay, and if you were the object of their secret kangaroo courts, you would know this as those who actually have been or are do.
When I talk about the unconstitutional behavior by administrators at DSU, I am pointing out wrongs that must be held to account and changed. Does this mean that DSU is a horrible college? No, absolutely not. The fact that it is trying to become a solid institution of higher learning is fantastic and might actually turn this humdrum town into a real college town where students speak out against civil liberties violations and where professors are the voices of intelligence and reason for the rest of the community. The arts programs, film festival, and athletics programs are great. But what college administrators are doing behind closed doors and without any oversight is unconstitutional, unethical, illegal, and just plain wrong. The citizens of this town and the alumni of the college should all be outraged that these people are behaving in this manner and besmirching the name of DSU before it even has a chance to earn a solid reputation.
Shooting a messenger is sometimes indicative — and can be shocking to those with a conscience or sympathetic tendencies — that the anger is being diverted toward the source of revelation. It is baffling that questions are directed at reporters rather than the those committing the heinous acts. All the good that DSU is doing will be colored by all the bad it does. What many are saying is “But look at all the bad they are doing.” And as that reputation is cemented, all the good will be held together with it. The only way for DSU to right these wrongs is to stop doing them, apologize, and ensure there is adequate oversight to keep honest people honest.
See you out there.
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