Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 10:03:10 -0500 Subject: Re: Spectator coverage of a current issue From: Kate Hale <halecl@uwec.edu> Message-ID: <BEA8DA5E.44F9%halecl@uwec.edu>
Some of you know that Iıve suggested media reform/alternative media as a
teach-in or mini-conference focus for next yearMartyıs comment makes me
think that perhaps this is a very good idea. If youıre interested in that
idea, let me know.
Kate
On 5/12/05 9:51 AM, "Marty Wood" <mwood@uwec.edu> wrote:
> Letıs not overlook the complicity of the Leader-Telegram in all of this.
> Their recurring presentation of a variety of extremist viewpoints as if t
hose
> viewpoints are respectable or widely held, their eager embrace of this
> specific story, including an incredibly distorted headline (³Parents Want
> Changes² instead of ³Nutjob Fringe Element Sends Anonymous Threatening
> Letter²), their selection of columnists and letters we deserve much bet
ter.
> A merely conservative bias might (or might not) be a reasonable stance fo
r Eau
> Claireıs sole newspaper to assume, but thatıs nothing like what the L-T
> promotes. The sizeable progressive and moderate portions of the populati
on
> deserve something this side of theofascism.
>
> Maybe we could organize a campaign to offer a reality check to the editor
ial
> writers.
>
>
> On 5/12/05 9:39 AM, "Markgraf, Jill S." <MARKGRJS@uwec.edu> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> I'm new to this list, so maybe this has been done already. I know many o
f us
>> have contacted the school board. But what about sending to the school bo
ard a
>> petition or signed letter from parents in support of tolerance, acceptan
ce
>> and discourse in our schools to counter the unsigned letter?
>> Jill Markgraf
>>
>>
>> From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
>> [mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Hale, C. Kate
>> Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 9:35 AM
>> To: Wilcox, Jean A.; Alea, Mary Ellen; Wesenberg, Nancy Christine; SFPJ
>> Subject: Re: Spectator coverage of a current issue
>>
>> Jean and all---
>>
>> I actually typed ³scary² at first . . . Iım trying NOT to be scared, but
in
>> truth I am at least part of the time.
>>
>> Jean, your point is absolutely correct: I think we have some educating t
o do
>> here so that people understand that the status quo IS already political.
>>
>> But how to proceed?
>>
>> Kate
>>
>>
>> On 5/12/05 9:30 AM, "Wilcox, Jean A." <wilcoxja@uwec.edu> wrote:
>>
>>> Kate and Others,
>>>
>>> I find this more than disheartening; I find it downright scary. I
>>> particularly find the "unsigned" letter from parents scary. Is not
>>> allowing the discussion of political issues in the classroom in fact
>>> allowing a political statement to be made in the classroom?
>>>
>>> Jean Wilcox
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
>>> [mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Alea, Mary Ellen
>>> Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 9:14 AM
>>> To: Wesenberg, Nancy Christine; Hale, C. Kate; sfpj@listserve.uwec.edu
>>> Subject: Re: Spectator coverage of a current issue
>>>
>>> Question: where is the principal in all of this. It seems to me his
voice
>>> has been quiet. I thought he was a stand-up kind of guy. --ME Alea
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5/12/05 9:00 AM, "Wesenberg, Nancy Christine" <WESENBNC@uwec.edu>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Just for your information, The board of directors of the LGBT Center
of
>>>> the Chippewa has crafted a letter in support of Beth Franklin which
will
>>>> be delivered to the School Board and the L-T today. N. Wesenberg
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
>>>> [mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Hale, C. Kate
>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 8:19 AM
>>>> To: SFPJ
>>>> Subject: FW: Spectator coverage of a current issue
>>>>
>>>> Colleagues,
>>>>
>>>> This is dishearteningthe rally at Clairemont yesterday was well att
ended
>>>> and the energy there was good. But this response, these additional
>>>> comments from Mr. Bennett, really troubles me.
>>>>
>>>> We need to stay alert and to be prepared to act as necessary.
>>>>
>>>> Kate Hale
>>>> English
>>>> ------ Forwarded Message
>>>> From: "Phillips, William H." <philliwh@uwec.edu>
>>>> Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 06:42:16 -0500
>>>> To: "ENGL.STAFF" <ENGL.STAFF@uwec.edu>
>>>> Subject: Spectator coverage of a current issue
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The Spectator - Campus News
>>>> Issue: 5/12/05
>>>>
>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>>>> -----
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Discussion, photo of student angers parents
>>>> By Karline Koehler
>>>>
>>>> Eau Claire community members are divided after a local high school
>>>> teacher showed photographs of transgendered UW-Eau Claire senior Jess
ica
>>>> Janiuk's face as part of a discussion about lesbian, gay, bisexual an
d
>>>> transgendered people.
>>>>
>>>> On April 14, Memorial High School English teacher Beth Franklin show
ed
>>>> classes photos of Janiuk's face before and after (see photo) her sex
>>>> change. The lesson took place during the Day of Silence, an event "t
o
>>>> recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment" against LGB
T
>>>> people.
>>>>
>>>> During the discussion, one student walked out of the classroom. His
>>>> father, Neal Bennett, filed a complaint against the school board, st
ating
>>>> the situation constituted harassment.
>>>>
>>>> "She's taking her own agenda and she is forcing it on the students,"
>>>> Bennett said. "It doesn't matter what that agenda is - if it's a
>>>> controversial issue, that's wrong."
>>>>
>>>> Franklin is the adviser for GLASS, Memorial's LGBT student group. Sh
e
>>>> declined to comment for this article.
>>>>
>>>> "This whole incident is the very reason that the Day of Silence even
>>>> exists," Janiuk said. "This is an attempt of a large community to si
lence
>>>> minority groups. I won't stand by and let that happen."
>>>>
>>>> That's why Janiuk organized a rally in support of Franklin Wednesday
at
>>>> the corner of Keith Street and Clairemont Avenue.
>>>>
>>>> "Her lesson was in line with all the policies of the school," Janiuk
>>>> said. "The problem here is ignorance. It's not bigotry; it's not hate
>>>> speech. The only way to fight ignorance is through education."
>>>>
>>>> However, Bennett said he believes such discussions can be harmful to
>>>> still-maturing high school students.
>>>>
>>>> "They may look like they're adults, but they're teenagers," he said.
>>>> "They have a lot of stuff that they're trying to figure out."
>>>>
>>>> Janiuk said the parents' criticism of Franklin's teaching was also
>>>> personal.
>>>>
>>>> "Even though he may not have directed it at me, it attacked me," she
>>>> said. "It's not an easy thing to deal with, knowing a sizeable part
of
>>>> the town is upset that you exist."
>>>>
>>>> Bennett said parents should have been notified ahead of time about t
he
>>>> discussion and given the option to remove their children.
>>>>
>>>> "You can talk about gays, but there are times when that discussion n
eeds
>>>> to stay away from the students. It becomes offensive to people," Ben
nett
>>>> said. "If someone decides to do that to their own body, that's a ver
y
>>>> private issue."
>>>>
>>>> Janiuk disagreed.
>>>>
>>>> "They're not private issues, they're life issues," she said. "They're
no
>>>> more private than your ethnicity or your family. That's who you are a
nd
>>>> there's nothing wrong with expressing it. It doesn't have to be kept
>>>> secret."
>>>>
>>>> In addition to the rally, Janiuk said, she is organizing an educatio
nal
>>>> panel and forum at Memorial in response to the debate. She also plan
s to
>>>> meet with the school's principal.
>>>>
>>>> "I've had a lot of people say, 'Jess, just tell me where to be,' " J
aniuk
>>>> said. "I'm not concerned (for myself). It's for everyone who is now
being
>>>> told they're not welcome here."
>>>>
>>>> In early May, the school board received an unsigned letter from pare
nts
>>>> objecting to sexual and political issues in the classroom. Bennett s
aid
>>>> the group is asking for the school's administration and staff to be
>>>> retrained on rules, for the school to enforce a dress code for teache
rs
>>>> banning "offensive" clothing such as "rainbow-colored necklaces," for
the
>>>> school board to hold a forum with parents twice a year and for the
>>>> educational system to "return to American heritage and tradition in
the
>>>> classroom."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>>>> -----
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>