Response to Emerson ’70

Letter to the editor: Response to Wedeman '15

To the Editors:
In an otherwise routine story about Colonel David Hunt’s lecture on terrorism at Bowdoin (“Terrorism lecture sparks protests over strong rhetoric,” November 7, 2014) there were some very disturbing quotes attributed to Christopher Wedeman ’15. Apparently Wedeman believes that “the biggest state sponsor of terror in the Middle East…would maybe be a tie between Israel and the United States.” This remark betrays such ignorance of the facts that one wonders what world Wedeman inhabits.
Clearly he does not read the newspapers or watch the news. Wedeman appears to be ignorant of the fact (not belief) that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. Perhaps he believes that summarily executing civilians on the streets (Hamas) is not terrorism. Perhaps he believes that beheading civilian non-combatants (ISIS) is not terrorism. Perhaps he believes that firing rockets indiscriminately into civilian areas (Hamas and Hezbollah) is not terrorism.
Perhaps Wedeman’s world view is best explained by the fact that he is one of the founding members of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a student group that “promotes the self-determination of Palestinian people and their liberation from Occupation”. If, by “Occupation,” SJP is referring to Hamas (which controls Gaza) or the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Fatah (which control the West Bank) then fine.
But more likely SJP is referring to Israel. If so, SJP betrays total ignorance. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and, other than some unfortunate Jewish settlements in the West Bank, it does not occupy any part of “Palestine,” itself a territory generally without consensus world recognition. Palestinians in Israel have more rights and freedoms than Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan or any other Middle East location.
Finally, it is fascinating that Wedeman states that “it’s interesting that Bowdoin gave [Colonel Hunt] a platform to speak like this.” Apparently Wedeman’s ignorance is not limited to geopolitical matters; he also is ignorant of the First Amendment. My suggestion is that Wedeman (and the members of SJP) walk around the campus and pay special attention to the monuments to Bowdoin graduates who gave the last full measure of devotion to protect the very freedoms which he and SJP apparently disdain.
Sincerely,Jeff D. Emerson ’70Member of the Board of Trustees

Letter to the editor: UMaine divests from coal

To the Editors:
Exciting news! Responding to calls from student activist groups, the University of Maine (UMaine) System Board of Trustees unanimously voted to divest from direct coal holdings on Monday. The University System, which was one of the first to divest from South African apartheid in the 1980s, is now the first land grant system to divest from coal.
The UMaine schools join the growing list of institutions that have committed to some form of divestment, including Hampshire College, Pitzer College and Stanford University. The UMaine board also stated its willingness to consider fully divesting from fossil fuels and announced that UMaine Presque Isle had done so quietly already.
This is very exciting because divestment is a hugely important step toward achieving justice for those harmed by the fossil fuel industry. Pollution from coal companies and fossil fuels disproportionately affects impoverished communities, and climate change will disproportionately harm vulnerable populations across the globe. Thus, divestment in my mind is an environmental justice issue.
I would love to see Bowdoin follow UMaine’s lead and invest in an equitable future. Since they can do it, why can’t we? Let’s be on the forefront of history, Bowdoin, and commit to countering global climate change now.
Meredith Outterson ’17

Letter to the editor

November 21, 2014

To the Editors:

I was dismayed to read last week’s letter to the editor from Jeff D. Emerson ’70, wherein he criticized the views of Christopher Wedeman ’15. To be clear, I don’t share Wedeman’s views, but I was disappointed that Emerson, a Bowdoin trustee, would resort to ad hominen attacks and straw man arguments in order to put down a current student.

For example, Emerson insinuated that Wedeman is disdainful of the First Amendment because he questions the wisdom of giving a person a public forum on campus. However, the First Amendment protects citizens only from government restrictions on speech. There is no constitutional right to be an invited speaker at a private college nor is there a constitutional guarantee that a choice of speaker must be free from student criticism. Accordingly, Wedeman is of no immediate threat to our constitutional rights.

Notwithstanding his incorrect interpretation of constitutional law, Emerson further contends that Wedeman’s dissenting views somehow disparage Bowdoin’s military veterans who died to protect our freedoms. Emerson, neither you nor I know exactly what motivated each of these brave men and women, but I sincerely doubt any of them gave their lives with the hope that their deaths would be used as a cheap rhetorical ploy by a trustee bullying a student.

I hope Bowdoin continues to recruit speakers who will challenge the campus’ prevailing politics. I also hope that students who oppose such speakers’ views will continue to voice their dissent.

But I most fervently hope that the trustees as a whole possess better reasoning skills and a greater depth of character than Emerson has displayed.

Sincerely,
Kevin R. Larivee ’06

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