So I already posted a link to this story via Twitter, but as its happening in my hometown, I've been adamantly following what has turned into one bizare gay rights case.
This year, the University of Michigan's student body president is Chris Armstrong, who is the school's first openly gay president. For unknown reasons, the state of Michigan's Assistant Attorney General, Andrew Shirvell, has gone on an anti-Chris Armstrong campaign.
The Michigan residents have been following the unusual story on the news as Shirvell created a blog, Chris Armstrong Watch, where he labeled 21-year-old Armstrong, who he has never met, as a racist Nazi. Shirvell stalked Armstrong around U of M campus with protest signs, videotaped the outside of his house late at night, and was eventually banned from university campus even though he himself is an alumnus (Armstrong has filed for a restraining order). Why is this full grown man, and elected official, bullying a college kid?
And he's still Assistant Attorney General of the State of Michigan. Shirvell says he is exercising his 1st-amendment right to free speech as a private citizen.The Attorney General says he will not fire Shrivell on these grounds, even though he has caused a media uproar and is pretty universally viewed as unacceptable and crazy.
Part of me is really mad he is on voluntary paid sick leave and not fired. But I am really glad public opinion views his actions as so unacceptable, and that the university community is supporting Armstrong. I am confident that in the end, public opinion will make the difference here.
What I'd really like to highlite about this situation is that there is so much that is right about the reactions to this issue and so much that is wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhat I mean is this:
I think the campus' and student body's undeniable support of their President is phenomenal. Not only is he openly gay and elected, but he obviously has the support of administration, faculty, staff and students alike. I think that this is a huge step in the right direction and a really neat show of support that we rarely see in America, regardless of the issue.
On the other hand, I think it's disgusting that Michigan hasn't really done anything about the issue at hand. I feel this is definitely a governmental issue, and that, when people work in a government office, they (like a doctor, for example) ought to take the high route and live up to higher expectations. And this Asst. Attorney General is simply sub-par. I can't imagine what other corporations or government entities would do in this situation-- stalking and harrassing a student when you're a state role model ought to have bigger consequences.