“I’m done.” An Open Letter to the President of the University of Alabama

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Mr. Stuart Bell:
 
I woke up this morning to the startling news that the current Resident of the White House plans to be a commencement speaker at the University of Alabama. If this is true — at a time when the executive branch is wreaking havoc on higher education and free speech in this country, at a time when University of Alabama doctoral student Alireza Doroudi was seized from his Tuscaloosa apartment and is held in detention by ICE thugs, at a time when Harvard University is taking a bold stand for the rights of educational institutions throughout the United States — then I, as an alumnus of the University (B.A. — political theory, 1977; M.F.A. — theatre, 1988), am done with you and with the University.
 
As a retired educator, I do not have a lot of money to give to my alma mater, but I have dutifully kept up my alumni memberships, donated to scholarship funds, and given what and when I can. I have been a voice for the University’s integrity and have been a messenger for its academic excellence. I have often made the case that the University is much more than a football school (although I usually wore the colors proudly on game days). I have frequently voiced my distaste for the influence the University’s greek system and the Machine have on campus life, but I have also stressed the value of the University experience above and beyond that unfortunate reality.
 
The point is, I have always been a proud and vocal two-time graduate of the University. The announcement this morning, if true, has managed to instantly erase my loyalty and support. I am not denying the Resident’s free speech opportunities; he has plenty of bully pulpits and acolytes in which to spread his lies and misinformation. I am hoping that the graduation podium at an Alabama commencement will not be stained by his rambling authoritarian ideology at a time when his administration has launched a full-throttle attack on the meanings and purposes of free speech and the academy.
 
Over the years, I have often been surprised at the people chosen to deliver Alabama commencement speeches. They can do so much better than that, I have thought. I implore you to do better now.
 
Edward Journey
 
RESIST TYRANNY
 
RESIST TYRANNY

9 thoughts on ““I’m done.” An Open Letter to the President of the University of Alabama”

      1. Scott Smith's avatarScott Smith

        As always the eloquence of your words hits point. I am equally shocked in the current environment that any institution of higher learning would allow this miscreant a pulpit. Simply from a public speaking and grammatical perspective it attacks the very fundamental aspects of education. I hope that this is not even an option for UA.

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      2. gedwardjourney's avatargedwardjourney Post author

        Thanks, Scott. As the day wears on, and the University does not make an official announcement, I begin to question the veracity of this report. The Resident and Katie Britt have announced that he will be a commencement speaker and I wonder if they’ve set a trap. IF the university didn’t invite him (I can only hope) and now he has announced that he’s coming, how could they possibly tell him not to come? I try to avoid such conspiracy theories but, with this group of ne-er do wells, who knows?

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      3. Leah's avatarLeah

        The buzz earlier was that he announced this with no official announcement from UA. Now that’s changed, supposedly a new UA announcement welcomes him. Could be they had little choice …

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  4. iron62e08fd8037's avatariron62e08fd8037

    Thank you for your action. As another University of Alabama graduate I abhor the idea of Trump speaking at a commencement of this university. I can’t even tolerate the thought of Trump being in the state of Alabama. Taking away our rights to free speech, our ability to freely study as we choose at an institution where they are able to decide what is available for intellectual pursuit, revoking bodily autonomy so that a woman’s choice is permanent physiological damage or death, and the dismissal of legislated immigration rights to due process is not what we stand for in this country. I stand firmly with you in saying NO TRUMP. History will show how the UA administration tarnished the name of this university by allowing Trump anywhere near that commencement. The idea that this is even being considered makes me ashamed of my connections to this school. We can put this with George Wallace standing in front of the doors of UA barring integration. That did not dode well, and neither will this.

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