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STUDENTS AT ST. THOMAS OBJECT TO FRANKEN’S VISIT; MCCOLLUM SUDDENLY CANCELS HER APPEARANCE AT ST. THOMAS WITH FRANKEN
By Michael B. Brodkorb | October 8, 2008
Angry Al Franken is scheduled to appear at a campaign event today at St. Thomas University. A group of Catholic students issued a press release yesterday raising strong concerns about Franken’s visit, based on his record of “demeaning remarks about the Catholic faith.”
According to an e-mail sent about Franken’s event at St. Thomas, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, who was highly critical of Franken’s record as a satirist, would now be unavailable to appear at the event “due to a conflict in her schedule.”
The press release is after the page break. Click here for the letter the students sent to university president Rev. Dennis Dease.
Saint Paul – A group of students at the University of St. Thomas sent a letter today to university president
Rev. Dennis Dease addressing concerns about a scheduled campus appearance by U.S. Senate candidate
Al Franken, who has made several demeaning remarks about the Catholic faith.
“As a potential constituent of Mr. Franken’s and a strong follower of the Catholic faith, I am deeply offended
by his derogatory comments about the Catholic Church,†said senior Cathy Brudzinski. “I hope the
university takes our letter to heart and addresses our concerns about Mr. Franken’s remarks.â€
In the letter, concerned Catholic students asked the University’s administration or the Theology department
to facilitate a meeting between Mr. Franken and the students so they could share with him their concerns
about his anti-Catholic comments.
“We are simply asking that we be given a chance to address our concerns to Mr. Franken, directly, in an
open and public dialogue,†students said in the letter. “Such an arrangement, we feel, falls under the very
convictions of the University.â€
The letter was signed by 10 undergraduate students from St. Thomas and was copied to the University of
St. Thomas Board of Trustees, the Theology department, and the Catholic Studies department.
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40 Responses to “STUDENTS AT ST. THOMAS OBJECT TO FRANKEN’S VISIT; MCCOLLUM SUDDENLY CANCELS HER APPEARANCE AT ST. THOMAS WITH FRANKEN”
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October 8th, 2008 at 10:23 AM
This is amazing. UST closes its doors to those invited on campus to speak on issues consistent with Catholic teachings, yet kicks them open to a raging bigot like Al Franken.
The UST administration lead by Father Dease is completely dysfunctional.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:36 AM
WOW…. signed by TEN PEOPLE! That’s news, people.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:43 AM
There are ten Republican students at St. Thomas?
How amazing.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:43 AM
So, regarding “due to a conflict in her schedule”: I’m not aware that McCollum was ever scheduled to be there in the first place. Sounds made up to me. Can you reference that this actually happened?
The only think that is true about your story is that there were TEN people out of the 10,000 enrolled at the college that signed a letter of protest.
How hard is it to find ten people that’d protest any Coleman event?
October 8th, 2008 at 10:44 AM
St. Thomas is small peanuts… again, who cares?
October 8th, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Aaron,
I thought that you on the left constantly preached about “The Power of One”.
Last time I checked (and fortunately I had the benefit of my parents scrimping and saving to send me to a parochial school where they teach math instead of Bill Ayers mind control), 10 is more than 1.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Stonewall Jackson. What’s the percentage of people upset about Franken’s visit if there are 10 and the student body is over 10,000. With your math skills, figure it out. I’m curious what your number turns out to be.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Leroy once again shoots from the hip but he is not hip when he shoots.
The facts are these:
UST has the largest GOP student organization of any campus in Minnesota. In DFL-dominated Saint Paul, the precinct in which UST is located consistently puts up solid numbers for GOP candidates, the best in fact in the entire city.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Conflict in her schedule, as in that she was scheduled to appear with Al Franken.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:57 AM
“Conflict in her schedule, as in that she was scheduled to appear with Al Franken.”
Since when was she scheduled for this event? She never was, as far as I can tell.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:10 AM
All I have to say is this.
MPR/Humphrey Institute polls:
Last week before the VP debate and bailout passage: Coleman 40, Franken 31, Barkley 14.
This week after the VP debate and bailout: Franken 41, Coleman 37, Barkley 14.
God bless you Brodkorb/Carey/Craig!! Keep up the fabulous work that you are doing. Stay the course. Your strategies have been flawless and I hope you continue doing what you are doing until the day of the election.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Aaron: You’re a liar. In one of your frequent e-mail exchanges with “Scooter” Barr and McIntosh, why don’t you ask about McCollum. My story is 100% accurate.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Hey Aaron, you stupid shit, check with the event organizers.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Hey Aaron, you dumb s.o.b., here’s the message that went to UST students:
“U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken will make a campaign stop on St. Thomas’ St. Paul campus from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 8, in the auditorium of Brady Educational Center.
Franken’s appearance, free and open to the public, is sponsored by the College Democrats at St. Thomas.
Rep. Betty McCollum (D.-Minn.), originally scheduled to appear with Franken, will not be present due to a conflict in her schedule.
Because seating is limited, tickets will be distributed beginning at 2 p.m. Line up at the main doors of Brady Educational Center or as directed by event staff. In response to UST’s polices and practices for these events, there will be routine inspection of backpacks and other bags; water bottles and other open containers of beverages will not be permitted. Campaign signs will be permitted as long as they aren’t attached to sticks and comply with UST policies. Those admitted will not be permitted to come and go from the auditorium, and those who leave early will not be readmitted.
For more information, see http://www.alfranken.com or contact Andrew Engen, president of the College Democrats.”
Just because you don’t know about McCollum’s previous plans to attend the Franken event, doesn’t mean that they didn’t exist.
Why are you liberal idiot so damned stupid?
October 8th, 2008 at 11:18 AM
UST has the largest GOP student organization of any campus in Minnesota. In DFL-dominated Saint Paul, the precinct in which UST is located consistently puts up solid numbers for GOP candidates, the best in fact in the entire city.
It is the Macalester of the Right. But, they do not put solid numbers in that 1 (out of 97) precincts. There are several others that do better- none win.
Its even more sad if they could only get 10. That campus should be able to generate 1000 easily.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Aaron really excels at hyperventilating. What a jackass.
And you dummies pointing to the 10 people who signed the letter… what’s the deal? Did you think it was a petition?
Damn you’re dumb.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Funny how when ten people protest their “right” to welfare, it is newsworthy in the eyes of the dems and the press. But ten people protesting against the far left? Not news in their cockeyed judgment.
By the way, did anyone else see the KARE-TV story after the VP debate? The reporter went to Macalester in his search for reaction to the debate. Now THERE’S objectivity for you.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Ok, Aaron, do tell us exactly how many signatures of protest are required to be valid in YOUR book?
Reason being, I look forward to using the SAME standard when you and your tribe of libs bitch about someone like Ann Coulter coming to campus.
Number please.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Ok DJZ. Next time Ann Coulter comes to town and the left wants to brey, any campus that wants to protest has to pony-up a petition with 10% of the population.
No…problem. Just remember that one.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Hey D, to make it really fair, it would have to be Ann Coulter speaking at Macalester College. Or, even Norm Coleman.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:43 AM
WOW…. signed by TEN PEOPLE! That’s news, people.
Nine more than showed up for Toxic Al’s St. Cloud “rally”. Hahaahahahaha…
October 8th, 2008 at 11:49 AM
“Hey D, to make it really fair, it would have to be Ann Coulter speaking at Macalester College. Or, even Norm Coleman.”
That would never happen. The den of intolerance at Macalester would never allow someone with an opposing view on campus.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:56 AM
And speaking of “just 10 people”… I thought it was you communist shit heads that carried the banner: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
I guess you’re just acknowledging that that is just bullshit?
October 8th, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Stonewall-
So you admit that the ten students who were opposed to Franken’s visit were most likely opposed on political and not on religious reasons?
October 8th, 2008 at 12:06 PM
No, no. If a student population wants to object to a speaker or something going on, they gotta get 10% on a petition. Either way, regardless of the campus.
Or are you saying that libs like you have two sets of rules?
Let’s be consistent.
Aaron: Please let us know the number YOU propose!
October 8th, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Aaron’s been outed as a dip shit. He won’t be back until the next post.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:14 PM
D
St Thomas is a conservative catholic school.
Mac is a pretty liberal college.
They are politically analogous.
Franken would be analogous to Coleman as they are running for the same office. Actually, Coleman being the incumbent Senator and former mayor of St Paul (where both schools are located) should have a leg up.
However, if you want to make a caustic personality like Ann Coulter. I’ll take that bet for any school including the U.
How are you going to spin it when you have to call him Senator Franken and President Obama?
October 8th, 2008 at 12:17 PM
“Aaron: You’re a liar. In one of your frequent e-mail exchanges with “Scooter†Barr and McIntosh, why don’t you ask about McCollum. My story is 100% accurate.”
Michael, in one of your frequent emails to Ron Carey or Team Coleman about the recent polls, do any of them include “oh shit, where are we going to find jobs in November?”
But, I’m sure ONLY the KSTP poll is accurate.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Anyone else find it shameful that the first signatory on the list of 10 is the executive director of the St. Thomas college republicans?
Seems to me this is an example of a partisan hack pretending to be outraged by religion when, inedeed, she is actually simply outraged by the fact that her candidate is now left fighting for second place in the polls.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Leroy, I can understand where you are coming from. Since people of your ilk have no standards you naturally assume everything is based on politics.
Let me help. You are wrong, many Christians find people like Al who abuse their religion offensive. For you it would be like saying Paul Welstone was an idiot – which is true but I’m sure you would find insulting none the less.
Hope this helps you son.
October 8th, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Pete-
I asked a simple question about the fact that on a campus of 10,000 primarily Catholic students, why it was that the only ones that appear to be outraged by Al Franken also happen to be on the board of the campus republicans.
Your inability to answer a basic question like this proves that you are exactly the type of person who would think abject failures like Norm Coleman and Mike Bredeck are good candidates.
October 8th, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Leroy,
There’s not enough evidence to support your conclusion… as usual, you’re must making shit up.
But that’s what we expect from an intellectually dishonest dip shit like you.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Ah, for once I get to be the authority on this topic.
Hi, been posting on here for awhile and I am also the College Dems chair at UST and I organized the event.
McCollum was scheduled, she realized her scheduling conflict on Sunday and I believe I was even told Saturday she may not be able to make it. Furthermore, members of the school administration I had talked to had never heard of the petition as it was merely done so Michael could have a blog post for the day. McCollum not being able to attend had NOTHING to do with the petition as I doubt the petition wasn’t even started until Monday and no one had even heard of it.
It was started by the COLLEGE REPUBLICANS, not any groups on campus whose club purpose is Catholic faith. It is assuredly nothing but a political stunt, and 10 names is pretty damn pitiful and reflects that they probably didn’t put any effort into the petition as getting 10 names at UST would take about 5 minutes, if even. And the event was announced and advertised either last Thursday or Friday, 10 names in almost a weeks time, pathetic. Clearly shows that the petition was not meant to be any grassroots effort for open discussion with Franken but rather merely to be able to say, there is a petiton against Al Franken at UST blah blah blah. Also, I had heard about the petition on Tuesday from someone who is in College Republicans saying that College Republicans were doing some petition about some candidate (she didn’t know the specifics) so that settles that.
Also, while they claim to be the largest College Reps chapter in the country, their numbers are DRASTICALLY inflated. They say they have 1500 members, puhleaze. The way they count members is on some website that has people invite other Republican friends and apparently having people sign up to be on the email list or sign up as a Republican at UST suddenly makes them an active member and that they should count as members of the club. I saw my club has around 100 people in it because I see about 100 different faces at our meetings, not 100 different names on our email list.
Your entire post is now discredited, thank you.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:29 AM
“ion as it was merely done so Michael could have a blog post for the day. McCollum not being able to attend had NOTHING to do with the petition as I doubt the petition wasn’t even started until Monday and no one had even heard of it.”
Thanks Andrew for confirming that McCollum was on the agenda and that Aaron is a dip shit.
Beyond that, the letter had nothing to do with McCollum’s cancellation. Second of all, no one heard of the petition because it was not a petition. It was a letter.
You get a point for honesty in the first part, but you couldn’t go do far without displaying the level of intellectual laziness and dishonesty that Democrats are known for.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:51 AM
Beyond that, Andrew, you intellectually challenged fool, everything you wrote after you confused the letter with a petition has been “now discredited, thank you.”
You know what else is pathetic, that you can only get one signature to sign those petitions you send to your grandmother at Christmas. I mean, you have all year, and you can only garner the support of yourself? Pathetic.
Apparently, you’re just another dumb, liberal jackass.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Nevermind Chestnut, he’s always hated educated people. Typical low-information voter.
October 9th, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Whatever you say David J. Ziegler. There are few, even in the Democrat party, as stupid and intellectually dishonest as you.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Ok Chestnut, you’re sweet. Feel good about yourself. I still know the Democrats are absolutely going to crush you this election season because the Republicans absolutely fucked up the entire country. When did everything go to shit, when the Republicans controlled the Presidency, House, and Senate. Every single disaster was predicted by Democrats, ignored by Republicans and when they came true, oh what the hell how did that happen.
Congrats, you’re the one who is an idiot for continually voting for a party that clearly should not be trusted with any ounce of power. The last time Republicans controlled the Presidenicy, House, and Senate was in 1932, they had already sustained HEAVY losses in 1930 and then got annhilated in 1932 for watching over the start of the Great Depression. Who came in to save the day, the Democrats and we controlled the country for a decade and a half. Get ready, you assholes deserve it.
(look, I can be obscence as well, we’re both sweet.)
October 9th, 2008 at 10:38 PM
I checked the names of the Board of Directors at the University of Saint Thomas.
Who has the final authority at the Catholic University of Saint Thomas?
Is it the ArchBishop as many in one of my tertulia-type group have told me?
October 9th, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Thanks Andrew. So you concede you’re an intellectually lazy load of crap then. Glad you cleared that up.
Did you send out your holiday petitions yet?