All Around Bad Ass
Of The Day
Dean Mendell D. Morgan, Jr
The Dean of Library Services at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas is hereby declared our All Around Bad Ass of the Day.
What exactly did the good Dean and Chief Book Putter Backerer do that rates such high accolades? Simple, he canceled the library's subscription to the New York Times Wednesday to protest recent stories exposing a secret government program that monitors international financial transactions in the hunt for terrorists.
Said designated Bad Ass Morgan, "Since no one elected the New York Times to determine national security policy, the only action I know to register protest for their irresponsible action (treason?) is to withdraw support of their operations by canceling our subscription as many others are doing. If enough do, perhaps they will get the point."
Yeah, yeah, I know. Some will say that canceling a newspaper subscription is no big deal. But this guy has the spheres to come out and tell the NY Times to go straight to hell... and in the liberal world of American Academia to boot.
In my book, that makes Dean Morgan our All Around Bad Ass of the Day.
Perhaps there is hope for Catholic universities, after all.
posted by Kevin Whiteman at
6:17 PM
7 Comments:
I wouldnt go so far as to say that Mr. Morgan is necessarily a "bad ass". However, I will say that the man has definitely demonstrated moral courage, which appears to be an all-but-extinct trait in most contemporary American men.
My compliments to Mr. Morgan and to VSC for bringing his actions to our attention.
GG,
That's the common denominator to al my "Bad Ass" winners. Moral Courage
In my book, that makes 'em bad asses.
As a library student, I don't think this was an example of moral courage. It's an example of him forcing his politics on his patrons, who now will not be able to access the times because of his hard-headedness. If he had moral courage, he at least would have stayed around to explain himself and stick up for his beliefs, rather than go off on vacation to escape criticism.
jaxebads
points well taken Jax. I ask you consider the following;
1. As the Dean of Library Stuff, Mr. Morgan most certainly can add or delete any publication he sees fit (or unfit), correct?
2. If anyone so desires to access the NYT, they most certainly can... they can buy if off campus, right? No ones been denied access to anything.
3. How about the KKK Weekly? Or the Daily Al-Qaeda? In the name of academic freedom, why not have their publications on campus? Ahhhh..... but if an ultra-liberal rag like the NYT prints something that hinders our War on Terrorism, and get taken off a subscription list... then the Left goes bananas and screams "CENSORSHIP!!!!!". Ahhhh, I see now.
Lastly, Why should Dean Morgan have to stick around and "face criticism". What he did was completely within his perview. Does he have to stick around and "face criticism" for every decision he makes?
Good for him. Why give the NYT any more money? If anybody wants to read the food section (which is all it's good for) they can get it online.
Vir speluncae catholicus,
Sure thing.
1. He can. But that doesn't make it a wise decision.
2. Yes. They can also purchase any book or newspaper offered at the library (except for rare books). The libraries purpose, though, is to provide these materials to a broad group of people - in this case students. Using the reasoning that people can get the material elsewhere, it follows that the same could be said about everything else.
3a. First of all, the fact that you consider the New York Times akin to publications by Al-Qaeda or the Klan is quite strange.
3b. The library probably does contain materials about these groups. They may even carry a copy of Mein Kampf, for that matter, the ideas of which I find much more abhorent than anything in the Times. It's not because the library, or any library, wants to actively endorse the views of Aryanism. It's for the purpose of educating people of the nature of these viewpoints. As to periodical publications, those are less likely in college libraries, but some historical societies that have collection policies covering controversial material will carry issues of white supremacists publications - again, to document what they are saying, not to actually endorse the viewpoints.
3c. It seems you have an ax to grind with liberal viewpoints and liberal people in general. I assume you espose a more conservative point of view. In that case, why should access to the articles of David Brooks and William Safire be restricted? (They may be minority voices on the NYT editorial board, but they are conservative voices nonetheless).
4. Maybe I jumped the gun on this one. It just seemed to be a bit grandstanding to issue such a controversial directive without consulting with the rest of the staff.
Ben,
1. You answered your own questions when you typed "He can". Because his actions don't qualify as a "wise decision" in your book, does that make his decision wrong? I guess that's one of the benifits of being the Dean of (insert Department here).
2. And like the Dean stated, in so many words, he most certainly doesn't have to subscribe to a newspaper that undermins a nation at war with Islamo-Facists.
3a. No, I asked that, in the name of academic freedom, should publications like the KKK, etc, be available in the library on a regular basis? Point of order... what the NYT did will ensure that innocent people will be murdered by said Islamo-Facists.
3b. I'm sure the Dean will keep old issues in the archives. Future issues? Well, we know the answer to that one.
4. Like I pointed out, "consulting" isn't mandatory. That whole "Dean" thingee in action.
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