Please Please!!! Someone get this on video! And ABB's post is hilarious.

Oh, I'm so happy that they are taking that route for protest! Its classy and significant (okay, and yes, I suggested it). As a Wash U alumna, I think that its crucial to maintain the dignity of the University (the founder was actually a Unitarian, my denomination, and they were freaking ordaining women in the 1850's, so the full human rights of women were always a part of the Uni's history). Schlafly works against the full human rights of women, just because she's a female, does not excuse her hate speech. Think of Dave Chapelle's Black KKK member spoof. Racism, sexism, etc are all culturally constructed and you can be programmed (or make a conscious decision based upon your rewards/deficits as I'm sure those women who are "professional anti-feminists" have done by making book deals, showing up on TV, and giving public speeches--Coulter, Malkin, you're only possible by the hard work of Schlafly! Irony of ironies.) Anyway, support human rights? Support women's full humanity, period.

I never thought so much evil could be wrapped up inside a tiny woman. :(

when a campus group brought schlafly to speak at my college last year, my friends and i organized a similar protest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DseytXIT1N4

way to go wash u students for getting organized!

I also like people protesting with tape on their mouths. Though I think they should add big fake rings (or ring pops) on their left hands to symbolize what she said about married women.

Back turning is appropriate and classy, and quiet, which is even more powerful than something noisy and disrespectful toward the atmosphere of a commencement ceremony.

Had there been enough time to plan and a consensus amongst all the graduates who will be seated in the front row, it would've been lovely if each of them could've had a piece of a large fabric banner (fabric so they could have it rolled up in a sleeve as they enter) that could be snapped together and held up saying something like "The Class of '08 Does NOT Support Conferring Degrees to Dangerous, Woman-Hating, Homophobic, Anti-Intellectuals."

I am anxious to hear about how this all plays out! I hope the rest of us will get to see some footage.

I hate to say it, but that scheme was suggested on the facebook group, way before it was suggested on this site.

The noschaflydegree website links to a protest letter from several Wash U Law professors. It makes several good arguements, but favorite part is thtat they refer to her as MS. Schafly throughout. I am sure that she would find that very insulting. I chuckle.
Good to see so much organization on the part of the students. Can't wait to see how it turns out. Good luck to the protestors, if I weren't so far away, I'd join you.
One other protest option that hasn't been suggested yet is publishing the names of the Honorary Degree Board members who approved this and Trustees who refused to rescind the offer.

Heh. What the hell. I just read the news article linked from the noschlaflydegree website, and apparently the only important thing she had say about the protesters when asked was that they're "a bunch of losers."

Name-calling is a great way to open up a dialogue, you know, as is insulting female professors at Wash U who have actually *earned* - rather than just donated some money for - their Ph.D.s., and some of whom are no doubt joining in the protests.

She's a class act, Schlafly. I know that if an honoree called students "a bunch of losers" at my alma mater, she would politely un-invited. But I guess they do things differently at WU.

Wrighton has issued another statement on the subject: http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/11789.html

Favorite quote:
"Washington University — or any other university — is neither perfect nor are all its processes for making decisions. We can always do better. In the aftermath of Commencement, I am deeply committed to whatever work needs to be done to rebuild damaged relationships with members of our community — faculty, students, alumni, parents, trustees and staff. I thank you for all that you do to make this a community so open, tolerant and inclusive, and I ask for your assistance as we work together to build the very best environment for all who live, learn, discover and create here."

Deeply committed to repairing relationships, except if it means admitting I was wrong.

Quote from the Chancellor: "In bestowing this degree, the University is not endorsing Mrs. Schlafly's views or opinions; rather, it is recognizing an alumna of the University whose life and work have had a broad impact on American life and have sparked widespread debate and controversies that in many cases have helped people better formulate and articulate their own views about the values they hold."(bold mine)

So in other words, since Ms. Schlafly is a misogynist jerk off we're giving her a degree because she helped us realize we are anti-misogynist jerk offs? Huh?

Ya know, I think Hitler's actions "sparked widespread debate [that] helped people better formulate and articulate their own views" on the Holocaust. Should we give him an honorary degree too?

Well said.

I wonder how it's going. With any luck, Phyllis will say something extra stupid in her acceptance speech and someone will get the administration turning red on camera. And with any luck, she'll trip on her way up the steps.

Well said.

I wonder how it's going. With any luck, Phyllis will say something extra stupid in her acceptance speech and someone will get the administration turning red on camera. And with any luck, she'll trip on her way up the steps.

The ceremony has started- you can watch it live at:
http://commencement.wustl.edu