A Fort Lewis College part-time instructor has apologized to a Fort Lewis student for kicking him after he modelled his College Republicans shirt at a local restaurant. At the time of the kick, which she delivered to the calf, Maria Spero told Chris O'Donnell that she should have kicked him harder and higher. In a letter written after the student ascertained that his assailant was a teacher at his college, however, Spero strikes a different note:

I acted entirely inappropriately by kicking you, giving vent to a thoughtless knee-jerk political reaction that should have never have happened. I also apologize for my untoward comments. Before the incident, I did not know you and that you are a Fort Lewis student. I am entirely sorry, I am ashamed of my behavior, and I hope you will accept my apology.

Thanks to Regenlief for the tip.

I found this on Fark.com, where the number of comments in the thread is already being represented by the infinity symbol...and, yes, the "knee-jerk" symbolism has been duly noted.

Unsurprisingly to anyone who's familiar with Fark, many of the comments in that thread can be summed up by this one: "Heard the same [garbage] from some of the same [mentally deficient people] when union members in Orlando went into Republican voter offices a few weeks back..tore up personal property and pushed some folks around. 'Hey its ok cuz Repubs are facist'. Keyboard warriors on here are sure tough behind computer."

Of course, were the shoe on the other foot...

It is an actual I'm-sorry, though, disregarding the I-didn't-know-you-were-a-student irrelevance. Not saying that's enough, but it's unusual to get that much.

The president of Fort Lewis College issued a statement today (Monday) announcing Spero's "immediate resignation" backed up with a defense of the student's free speech rights "on or off campus."

First of all the student Mark O'Donnell was invading the professor's space. Second of all it had nothing to do with his lousy republican shirt which says "join us now or work for us later." The student waited four days to complain to the police after contacting the Republican National Committee. This is the true story. She is an honest and good teacher. He invaded her personal space and kicked him out of the way. Do not post without a cause and at first it had nothing to do with that stupid republican shirt.

Regards,
Michael

"I acted entirely inappropriately by kicking you, giving vent to a thoughtless knee-jerk political reaction that should have never have happened. I also apologize for my untoward comments.... I am entirely sorry, I am ashamed of my behavior, and I hope you will accept my apology."

Don't see anything about "personal space" here.

BTW, I had my personal space invaded at work once. I interrupted the perpetrator to say "You're standing too close" and he back-pedaled at once. No kicking required.

Michael, how is your post a defense of the teacher?

Do you believe your post contains a reason not to arrest (and fire) the teacher? Cause if you do, you're wrong. I could go into details why, but I think Laura's got that covered.

It's incredible to me how many pro-war Republicans can denounce violence, in this case a kick to the calf, as a deplorable method of dispute negotiation. Everybody agrees that violence is wrong in theory, but in practice our country, our current regime, has displayed a propensity for violence and hubris that staggers the imagination.

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