Under pressure from outraged alumni, Tufts University has stripped graduating senior Elizabeth Monnin of a Senior Award for academic achievement and "potential for leadership." Monnin, a double major in women's studies and peace and justice with an A-minus average, was given the award in part to honor her prominence as an organizer of confrontational protests. In 2000, for example, she led a two-day takeover of the Tufts administration building to protest discriminiation on campus. But last month, it seems, she went too far.

At a campus appearance by President Bush, Monnin and several fellow protesters disrupted his talk, sitting close to the front, turning their backs on him as he spoke, raising a banner that read, "Gyms are for soccer, not for warmongers,'' and chanting in protest of the upcoming war. As she and her fellow activists were removed from the venue, she allegedly flipped Bush the bird. Among the 4,800 people attending the event were many Tufts donors and alumni. Their outrage at Monnin's "inappropriate and offensive" behavior has led the awards committee to rescind the honor it had awarded to Monnin just days after she was notified that she would receive it. Monnin denies making any offensive hand gestures and says that Tufts officials are just trying to "silence" her because they disapprove of her anti-war activity: ''People in power don't have to get out and rally to make their points - they can do things like take an award away from a student who is making an argument they don't support."

Tufts officials were quite clear that it was not the content, but the manner, of Monnin's protest that was at issue. They have thus far refrained from pointing out to the confused Elizabeth that agitprop is not an "argument."

UPDATE: Reader Dakota Loomis emails with more information about Elizabeth Monnin's style of "leadership." It includes assaulting conservative students for expressing their views. Tufts' style of leadership includes failing to discipline her adequately for it.

UPDATE 3/25/03: Better late than never, The Chronicle of Higher Education has picked up the story (subscribers only). It contains this quote from the president of Tufts' alumni association: "The award is given by the alumni association for qualities of leadership. We felt strongly that one such quality is the ability to listen to the opinions of others. As a diverse association, including four generations of people from very diverse backgrounds, we have to be careful to listen to one another in order to get our work done. We felt she didn't measure up to that standard."

Common sense, at last. Is the tide turning?

"Monnin, a double major in women's studies and peace and justice ..."

What in the heck do you do with a degree in women's studies and peace and justice? Leading demonstrations is a good living, is it?

At last, an administration with backbone! However, it took a large gathering of alums who witnessed this outrageous behavior to convice the administration to do something. Alums do have power; they just need to begin to apply it.

I stongly disagree with the idea that Elizabeth Monnin's award should have been taken away for protesting George H. W. Bush, even if she had flipped him the bird. It appears as though people are uncertain at best whether or not she was the student who flipped off our former president, and I see nothing courageous in the administration's supplication to alumni money. At the idea that alumni's voices are continually overlooked is a crock of shit to put it nicely.

Punishing people for speaking out, even if they're communist stooges as Erin implies (why else the use of agitprop?), is no way to run a University and no way to advance debate and thought. Using the argument that the manner and not the content of the protest is what the Tufts administration objects is a pathetic and thin argument repeatedly used by censors. No violence was perpetrated, no threats were issued, all that occurred was a speech was disrupted. Fairly common practices for protests as far as I can tell.

HOWEVER, this prior incident involving one Liz Monnin of Tufts should be the real issue here. Apparently, Elizabeth should never be censored by the powers that be, but censoring and assaulting other students who disagree with her is more than acceptable for our confused Elizabeth. Calling her a moron is an insult to all persons of substandard intelligence. I couldn't make this shit up:

http://www.academia.org/campus_reports/2001/dec_2001_5.html

Elizabeth wasn't censored. An award that had been given her for, among other things, leadership was withdrawn. Leadership and acting like a thug are not the same thing. In fact, it was Elizabeth who did the censoring: She disrupted a speech. Nuff said.

And yes, that article is truly disturbing.

Anyway, gyms are absolutely not "for soccer". What the hell is she talking about?

So much to say, so little time. The juxtaposition of the actions of Academician/Activist Harcourt and Student/Peace&Justice Major Monin each serve as explication of what is otherwise inexplicable conduct. Harcourt's "your grades won't be delayed unless the oppressor jails me for my valiant activism" and Monin's flipping the bird to the President makes no sense if the intent is to convert one to a cause. It only makes sense if the actions were taken to impress those already on board. Like peacocks preening their feathers to impress potential mates, the academician and activist in training preen their disputation skills (or lack thereof) for the benefit of their peers. . . . And why is someone with an A- in Peace Studies so damn violent? Curiously, Ivan

"It only makes sense if the actions were taken to impress those already on board."

Bingo.

"And why is someone with an A- in Peace Studies so damn violent?"

Bingo again.

Thank you Laura. . . . After just getting back from 3 hours (and more than a few dollars) at my daughter's school Bingo Night - I am happy to finally, finally get not one - but two bingos! Where were you when those really cool gift baskets were on the line. :)

That's what you get for gambling. :0