September 6, 2007

Fred Thompson Comments on Higher Education

Fred Thompson, the former Republican U.S. senator and television actor who formally — and finally — jumped into the presidential race last night, has had a lot to say about college topics in a commentary he has provided for ABC News Radio over the past six months.

In “The Fred Thompson Report,” he lamented that “political correctness has crept into the halls of academia,” as he cited a case at Marquette University involving a controversy over the public posting of a quip by Dave Barry, the humorist.

He also urged the nation to pay more attention to its nursing shortage and advocated more college studies of military history.

Mr. Thompson also made several remarks about the shootings at Virginia Tech last spring. Among other things, he said responsible adults should be allowed to carry weapons on college campuses to protect themselves. He also criticized Virginia Tech for lobbying against state legislation that would have permitted some people to carry concealed weapons on campuses. —Sara Hebel

Comments

1. I have a journalism question: Is The Chronicle intending to provide objective coverage or are they overtly editorial? It seems to me that the “— and finally —” is far from objective.

   Not that I care. I’m not a Fred Thompson groupie. I just notice what appears to be a lot of opinion inserted in The Chronicle’s articles.

   — Michael    Sep 6, 03:38 PM    #

2. Are you surprised? Are there any Republicans that the Chronicle tolerates?

   — Pat    Sep 6, 03:53 PM    #

3. I wonder who Mr. Thompson would list as the “some people…” that might carry concealed weapons on campus.
   Please tell me this is a bad episode of Law and Order.

   — Florence F, NYC    Sep 6, 03:59 PM    #

4. Yikes! Hypersensitive conservatives? This is about as straight-up a news story as you’ll find, folks. Lighten up!

   — John Finnegan    Sep 6, 03:59 PM    #

5. Commenters 1 and 2 are being too sensitive. The other Republican candidates have all pointed out Thompson’s months-long “exploration”. Even legal experts have raised the question whether the long exploration has broken election laws. The “and finally” strikes me as eminently objective.

   — Dennis Sepper    Sep 6, 04:01 PM    #

6. I agree that the Chronicle should be careful to be objective – keep it to the editorials. Please watch your adjectives and commentary

   — Ruthy    Sep 6, 04:02 PM    #

7. I don’t see the “and finally” as lacking objectivity so much as lacking context. With the exception of Thompson, everyone who’s expected to run for president declared their intention weeks ago. The “and finally” simply recognizes that voters have been waiting quite a while for Thompson to declare his intentions regarding his candidacy. Perhaps the “finally” should have been qualified: “[Fred Thompson] formally (and with many voters saying ‘finally’) jumped into the presidential race last night …”

   — Steve    Sep 6, 04:05 PM    #

8. Arming the passengers was Archie Bunker’s solution to plane hijackings.

   — Archie    Sep 6, 04:07 PM    #

9. My, aren’t we Republicans hypersensitive these days —- that the use of the word “finally” would evoke any comment at all …. for what it’s worth this is exactly the sentiment of nearly everyone who has commented on Thompson’s relatively belated entrance into the race, which makes the comment, if subjective at all, at least consonant with the mainstream folk — including, notably, the other Republican candidates themselves!

   — Sandy    Sep 6, 04:18 PM    #

10. Just had some typical higher education pressure issues. This lightened my day. Thanks guys. It was fun to read.

    — Paul    Sep 6, 04:26 PM    #

11. However the wording of the article, I’m appalled that a presidential candidate could advocate carrying guns on campus!

    — Linda    Sep 6, 04:40 PM    #

12. It takes a village…a vigilant and sensitive one…not a vigilante with a gun at the 11th hour.

    — Natalie Montanaro    Sep 6, 04:51 PM    #

13. Schools back in session…lets get back to work everyone?

    — michael    Sep 6, 04:52 PM    #

14. Beyond the “Finally”... is a real problem with his judgment related to guns on campus.

    — Karen    Sep 6, 04:54 PM    #

15. What we really should be concerned about are the implications of Mr. Thompson’s views on higher education, not the wording of an annoucement about his entry into the race.

    — Dave    Sep 6, 04:55 PM    #

16. Actually, I think the stronger point is that nearly every news story I have seen has mentioned the same fact. Perhaps that is why the negative commentators here are reeling at the ‘lately’ characterization – the other Republican candidates actually do have a reason to denigrate Thompson’s late entry. Or should I say, later than is traditional, or… This discussion is ironic, considering the lead in the story is Thompson’s criticism of political correctness being pervasive on our campuses.

    — Robert    Sep 6, 05:03 PM    #

17. Seems like it is not “politically correct” to point out relevant and ridiculous positions of Republicans. Can’t have that now. Bad for America.

    — michelle    Sep 6, 05:20 PM    #

18. Thompson’s suggestion that “responsible adults” be allowed to carry guns raises the question, where do we find any “responsible” adults, particulalry on a college campus? Who is the judge of “responsible.”

    — Howard    Sep 6, 07:13 PM    #

19. As a former reporter and current conservative and college professor, the article was fine.

    — Jim Patterson    Sep 6, 07:36 PM    #

20. Although Marquette University’s Philosophy’s Departement should be admonished for their narrow minded view, Mr Thompson needs to be reminded that this is a PRIVATE university and that their autonomy must be respected for their narrow minded view.

    — Sandy MacLean    Sep 6, 09:33 PM    #

21. At least Fred hasn’t done what the Nevada Regents want—arm the faculty and staff after they receive training for weapons!

    — Otto T    Sep 7, 01:10 AM    #

22. Part of our problem in the academy is that we view ourselves as somehow separate from the rest of society and unique. Concealed weapons laws are adopted by many local communities to reflect their concerns and values. Our campuses should be no different. It is a sad commentary if we really believe we can’t find “responsible adults” on our campuses.

    — Tom    Sep 7, 09:17 AM    #

23. Many of you apparently are not reading Mr. Thompson’s complete essays. Essentially, he says that leagal and moral standards in academia should be the same as they are everywhere else in our society. Why is this a problem?

    — Floyd Bowles, Ed.D    Sep 7, 12:03 PM    #

24. I there a conservative who does not want to control opinion? If so, few call CSPAN.

    — William L. Graham    Sep 7, 12:09 PM    #

25. In a nation that has grown tired and disgusted with divisive and Orwellian conservative leadership—and ultra-conservatives in particular—Thompson’s credentials will be his quick undoing.

    — marci    Sep 7, 12:17 PM    #

26. What strikes me as odd is charactizing the actions of the Marquette official as “politically correct.” They were just plain stupid. For those who don’t know, the official had a beef with a PhD student who had printed out, and posted on his door, a blurb from a Dave Berry article that called the federal government our “common enemy.” It has always been politically correct to question the federal government. Comments like Berry’s are said, written, printed, posted, and distributed on probably a daily basis. It would not be politically correct to try to stop it. Rather, it would be just plain stupid. That’s the real hypocrosy here. If it’s politically incorrect to question the government, then what speach is correct?

    As far as guns on campus: As a conservative, the lesson I learned form the VT shootings is that gun control is a responsible approach that conservatives should embrace (when did liberals become the responsible ones?). It seems to me that if there were procedures in place to conduct an effective background check (which could include something as simple as a phone call to people who were known to the gunman, such as his parents and teachers), a disaster could have been averted. For his parents and teachers knew there would be problems with him owning a gun.

    — Tracy    Sep 7, 12:34 PM    #

27. The real issue, it seems to me, isn’t Senator Thompson’s position on the issues but the issues that he sees worthy of taking positions on. Are political correctness and 2nd amendment issues the real higher education issues facing this country, or should presidential candidates be thinking about how higher education can be a tool for enhancing our economic competitiveness, social justice, and ergo our national security.

    — David Longanecker    Sep 7, 04:19 PM    #

28. Correct, David. An educated electorate is essential for democracy to thrive—which is why it doesn’t bode well for either Republicans or Democrats. Opening our eyes to our common interests just might get an independent elected, and they can’t have that!

    — Tracy    Sep 7, 05:59 PM    #

29. Fred Thompson will most likely be elected as the next President of the United States. I know very little about his politics, and have no strong opinions about him one way or the other.

    Congruency and appeal have always been the criteria the majority of voters use in choosing a candidate. He simply has the capacity to appeal to the majority of voters, and seems like someone they can trust. He’s a 65 year-old, White, former senator from the South, who is known for his honesty.

    Any Chronicle reader who disagrees should remember one thing, none of us represent the majority of people who vote in presidential elections.

    By the way Tracy, the democracy seems to have been thriving for well over 230 years even though the “majority” of the electorate has never been educated. Then again, democracy has never been for the majority anyway.

    — TCS    Sep 9, 02:52 PM    #

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