Character matters

We should be concerned about the character of individuals hired to teach our youth, particularly in the public universities in California.

You may have learned about an instructor at the University of California Santa Barbara, Assistant Professor Mireille Miller-Young of the Feminist Studies Department, who instigated a physical confrontation with peaceful right-to-life protestors on the university campus.  Allegedly, as caught on a cell phone camera, she stole from and then destroyed materials the protestors had brought to campus, after which she physically assaulted one of the protestors.

Currently, she awaits sentencing after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of theft, vandalism, and battery.

Per the UC Santa Barbara website Ms. Miller-Young is listed as the instructor for the following classes for 2014-15: Women of Color: Race, Class, Ethnicity; Sexual Cultures; Feminist Methodologies; and Genders and Sexualities.  Per press reports, she has been identified as teaching classes on pornography.  Her fate as a result of her no contest pleading will be decided in a court of law, with announcement of the punishment expected shortly.

It is tempting to challenge her academic schedule, but this is not the time nor place to offer criticism of those classes and majors offered by public universities.  It is the time and place, however, to offer criticism of comments reportedly submitted in support of Ms. Miller-Young by some of her academic colleagues.

Per published reports, one justifies Ms. Miller-Young's actions, including the battery, because of a "cultural legacy of slavery."  Another accuses, without citation or example, the media reporting on this matter as "fomenting racial hatred."  Both are patently absurd.

In her attempt to justify the actions initiated by Ms. Miller-Young, fellow faculty member Ms. Eileen Boris would have us believe that all acts of physical aggression instigated by African-Americans are justified purely based upon one's race.  Following her statement to perhaps an illogical extreme, her assertion of a "cultural legacy of slavery" as justification for battery, then all African-Americans are to be excused whenever and wherever they commit acts of physical aggression.  It is the same as stating that African-Americans are incapable of self-control.  Absurd!  

In his statement, fellow faculty member Mr. Paul Spikard accuses the press of "fomenting racial hatred" and portraying Ms. Miller-Young as an "angry black woman."  (However, Mr. Spikard offers to citations or other proof in substantiation of his statements.)  Absent any citations or proof for his statement, the only one seeking to create a sense of racial hatred is Mr. Spikard.

The statements of Ms. Boris and Mr. Spikard display an amazing lack of character.  It is they who are attempting to create a racial incident where none exists.  It is they who seek to waive responsibility for Ms. Miller-Young's actions.  It is they who try to obscure the facts.  An assistant professor at UC Santa Barbara instigated a confrontation with pro-life protestors.  This individual went so far as to steal materials from the protestors.  This individual physical assaulted one of the protestors.  This individual entered a plea of no contest to the misdemeanor charges of theft, vandalism, and battery.

Do we taxpayers want individuals who falsely seek to create racial tension and justify physical assaults to be instructing our students?  I think not.  Character matters and Ms. Boris and Mr. Spikard have certainly displayed an amazing lack of it.