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An alt-right white student union has cropped up in Auburn


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http://www.al.com/news/montgomery/index.ssf/2017/04/students_ask_auburn_university.html#incart_river_mobileshort_home_pop

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An Auburn University student organization wants the institution to take a stronger stance against white supremacy after a group claiming to be the "Auburn White Student Union" distributed flyers expressing anti-Semitic messages on campus last week.

The group, which identifies as alt-right, said it was created in response to political and racial tension across the nation.

"White people are hungry for a group that will give them real, organic community, based on kinship, sincerity (rather than self-censorship and Political Correctness), and commonality," AWSU said on its website. "They're fed up with the false idols of consumerism and sports teams as a substitute for real community." 

The group once identified as W.A.R. E.A.G.L.E., an acronym which stands for Whites of the Alt-Right Educating Auburn Gentiles for Liberation and Empowerment. AU said in a statement through the Office of Communications and Marketing on Tuesday afternoon it had plans to look into any copyright violations for using the slogan.

"This group isn't an Auburn student organization, and we find the views expressed in their materials reprehensible and unrepresentative of those of the university," the University said. "Auburn University supports the constitutional right to free speech and encourages the campus community to practice that right in a constructive atmosphere with respect to others. Auburn also encourages the campus community to respond to speech they find objectionable with their own views in the spirit of robust exploration of ideas."

Shameful, but the university's response is correct and shame is our best weapon here. This does not reflect Auburn values, and sensible folks need to let them know it. 

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From what I've been able to gather it's not a "group" but more of a couple of individuals using it as a way to stir the pot. Good answer by Auburn on this one!

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Auburn doesn't have to accept his money and allow a platform for his hate speech. Let him speak his crap, if he wants. That's his freedom. But it's Auburn University's  freedom to tell him, "not within the lines of our property". This was a bad move on AU's part, imo, and a slap in the face to the tons of minorities that pour their money into this campus. All this is going to do is stir up trouble. 

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8 hours ago, AuCivilEng1 said:

Auburn doesn't have to accept his money and allow a platform for his hate speech. Let him speak his crap, if he wants. That's his freedom. But it's Auburn University's  freedom to tell him, "not within the lines of our property". This was a bad move on AU's part, imo, and a slap in the face to the tons of minorities that pour their money into this campus. All this is going to do is stir up trouble. 

Problem is that Auburn is a public university. Their hands are tied. As screwed up as people like Milo and Spencer's views happen to be, they understand enough about the 1st Amendment to take advantage of that fact. They don't give one wit about free speech, but they'll dang sure take advantage of it and gleefully celebrate like the trolls they are when the heckler's veto is deployed against them. That's the reaction they want.

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51 minutes ago, Bigbens42 said:

Problem is that Auburn is a public university. Their hands are tied. As screwed up as people like Milo and Spencer's views happen to be, they understand enough about the 1st Amendment to take advantage of that fact. They don't give one wit about free speech, but they'll dang sure take advantage of it and gleefully celebrate like the trolls they are when the heckler's veto is deployed against them. That's the reaction they want.

What I'm saying is, though he does have the right to speak in Auburn, without being shut down, under his first Amendment rights, he doesn't necessarily have a right to one of Auburn's venues. If Auburn chooses not to rent him a space to speak, because of fear of backlash or him simply not being within the values of what Auburn accepts in its speakers, that's Auburn's right to say so not on our campus. Auburn University owns its buildings. 

I realize that there are grey areas within these laws, but if Auburn has to let anyone who wants, holds rallies within its property, what's to stop the KKK from rallying on the quad every afternoon?

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As weird as it sounds, I believe that it would be more acceptable to allow a speaker like that a space on the quad or in a field on campus, because it's not a space that has to be rented and paid for. My point is, Auburn doesn't have to accept his money and give him a stage. 

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"White people are hungry for a group that will give them real, organic community, based on kinship, sincerity (rather than self-censorship and Political Correctness), and commonality," AWSU said on its website. "They're fed up with the false idols of consumerism and sports teams as a substitute for real community." 

WTF!?   :dunno:

What BS!

 

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2 hours ago, Bigbens42 said:

Problem is that Auburn is a public university. Their hands are tied. As screwed up as people like Milo and Spencer's views happen to be, they understand enough about the 1st Amendment to take advantage of that fact. They don't give one wit about free speech, but they'll dang sure take advantage of it and gleefully celebrate like the trolls they are when the heckler's veto is deployed against them. That's the reaction they want.

Then let him sue.  I don't see how the constitution guarantees a right to have the University rent him space.

Let him get a soapbox and stand on the sidewalk.

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This is a tough one I disagree with everything this group stands for and if I was where they were speaking I would have to decide if I would confront them with a truer view of what Auburn stands for or ignore them in the hope that if everybody ignored them they would go away. 

As to whether they should be allowed to speak I remember many years ago when a Nazi Group wanted to do a march through a Jewish neighborhood in one of our Northern cities (might have been Chicago). They were initially were denied the permit to march however the ACLU represented them and the attorney who represented them was Jewish who despised the group. This lawyer and the ACLU won because they supported Free speech no matter how reprehensible it was. I can't remember if this was before I started Auburn in 1969 or about the same time but I do remember what an impact it had on me that a group like ACLU and the Jewish lawyer who could not have despised this group ny more would stand up for the principal of free speech even when they despised the message. Because of this impact I would allow them to speak in a Public open area but I would not allow them to use any Auburn building. 

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6 minutes ago, AuburnNTexas said:

This is a tough one I disagree with everything this group stands for and if I was where they were speaking I would have to decide if I would confront them with a truer view of what Auburn stands for or ignore them in the hope that if everybody ignored them they would go away. 

As to whether they should be allowed to speak I remember many years ago when a Nazi Group wanted to do a march through a Jewish neighborhood in one of our Northern cities (might have been Chicago). They were initially were denied the permit to march however the ACLU represented them and the attorney who represented them was Jewish who despised the group. This lawyer and the ACLU won because they supported Free speech no matter how reprehensible it was. I can't remember if this was before I started Auburn in 1969 or about the same time but I do remember what an impact it had on me that a group like ACLU and the Jewish lawyer who could not have despised this group ny more would stand up for the principal of free speech even when they despised the message. Because of this impact I would allow them to speak in a Public open area but I would not allow them to use any Auburn building. 

You are thinking about National Socialist Party of America vs Village of Skokie.  Case was based out of Skokie, IL in 1977.  It's a fundamental case in Communication studies and understanding of First Amendment law.

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4 hours ago, AuCivilEng1 said:

As weird as it sounds, I believe that it would be more acceptable to allow a speaker like that a space on the quad or in a field on campus, because it's not a space that has to be rented and paid for. My point is, Auburn doesn't have to accept his money and give him a stage. 

While true I stand by the university allowing him to speak and even providing the stage so others can hear this nonsensical mindset and have an understanding that A: it exists and B: you can better equip yourself to handle a viewpoint that you are strongly opposed to.

Being exposed to this will only help those who look to have a better understanding of what the world can be like.

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59 minutes ago, Brad_ATX said:

You are thinking about National Socialist Party of America vs Village of Skokie.  Case was based out of Skokie, IL in 1977.  It's a fundamental case in Communication studies and understanding of First Amendment law.

Thank you that is the case i was referring to my old memory just didn't remember the name.

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4 hours ago, homersapien said:

Then let him sue.  I don't see how the constitution guarantees a right to have the University rent him space.

Let him get a soapbox and stand on the sidewalk.

We would likely lose, handing him another victory in addition to the unearned one we'd be providing by blocking him in the first place. There's legal precedent here. Private citizens are permitted to reserve space available to the public as it is a public university.

"We are a public university and our meeting space is for rent," Mike Clardy, a spokesman for Auburn, told AL.com via email Wednesday evening. "Auburn supports the constitutional right to free speech, so we don't make decisions on who can rent based on content. Spencer is paying $700 for the space, plus all costs for security (Auburn Police Division)."

link

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5 hours ago, AuCivilEng1 said:

What I'm saying is, though he does have the right to speak in Auburn, without being shut down, under his first Amendment rights, he doesn't necessarily have a right to one of Auburn's venues. If Auburn chooses not to rent him a space to speak, because of fear of backlash or him simply not being within the values of what Auburn accepts in its speakers, that's Auburn's right to say so not on our campus. Auburn University owns its buildings. 

I realize that there are grey areas within these laws, but if Auburn has to let anyone who wants, holds rallies within its property, what's to stop the KKK from rallying on the quad every afternoon?

The quad is not an unlimited public forum. Not for rent like Foy Hall or other areas on campus. Auburn could legally block that.

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FYI to everyone reading here....I'm going to this with the intent to openly debate his ignorance. We also have some other groups setting up alternative events to counter which is also a good way to express a viewpoint. Personally I want to call him out.

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42 minutes ago, autigeremt said:

FYI to everyone reading here....I'm going to this with the intent to openly debate his ignorance. We also have some other groups setting up alternative events to counter which is also a good way to express a viewpoint. Personally I want to call him out.

I've been back and forth on whether I want to protest this fool. I'm not usually one to go out and protest, but this guy needs to know that Auburn is not some podunk little town full of racists. I think that protesting would send a message that speaking in this town and at this University is more trouble than it's worth. The bad news is that he will have an audience. I live in Auburn and attend the school, right now, and there is a little bit of excitement for white supremacy going around, over the past year or so. I occasionally scroll an anonymous college community app called yik yak, and you guys wouldn't believe the stuff I see people put on that app. It's disgusting, foolish, and down right disrespectful to live such a hateful life. Especially when you're a kid

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 Sure the group has the right to free speech and I would rather students be exposed to this and decide on their own. But am concerned this could turn volatile on campus

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Just now, AuCivilEng1 said:

I've been back and forth on whether I want to protest this fool. I'm not usually one to go out and protest, but this guy needs to know that Auburn is not some podunk little town full of racists. I think that protesting would send a message that speaking in this town and at this University is more trouble than it's worth. The bad news is that he will have an audience. I live in Auburn and attend the school, right now, and there is a little bit of excitement for white supremacy going around, over the past year or so. I occasionally scroll an anonymous college community app called yik yak, and you guys wouldn't believe the stuff I see people put on that app. It's disgusting, foolish, and down right disrespectful to live such a hateful life. Especially when you're a kid

Auburn is far from alone in that. College Republican groups all over the country are inviting these guys to their university's routinely. Milo spoke or has been invited to speak in Tuscaloosa and Auburn, as well as Cal-Berkley, DePaul, NYU, etc etc ad nauseam.

It's really pretty sickening. I don't remember College Republicans being the bunch of trolls they've morphed into in recent years.

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3 hours ago, Bigbens42 said:

Auburn is far from alone in that. College Republican groups all over the country are inviting these guys to their university's routinely. Milo spoke or has been invited to speak in Tuscaloosa and Auburn, as well as Cal-Berkley, DePaul, NYU, etc etc ad nauseam.

It's really pretty sickening. I don't remember College Republicans being the bunch of trolls they've morphed into in recent years.

Oh I agree completely. I didn't mean that Auburn has a unique problem. This crap is running rampant. I just see it in Auburn everyday. The alt right is ruining this country. 

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4 hours ago, AuCivilEng1 said:

I've been back and forth on whether I want to protest this fool. I'm not usually one to go out and protest, but this guy needs to know that Auburn is not some podunk little town full of racists. I think that protesting would send a message that speaking in this town and at this University is more trouble than it's worth. The bad news is that he will have an audience. I live in Auburn and attend the school, right now, and there is a little bit of excitement for white supremacy going around, over the past year or so. I occasionally scroll an anonymous college community app called yik yak, and you guys wouldn't believe the stuff I see people put on that app. It's disgusting, foolish, and down right disrespectful to live such a hateful life. Especially when you're a kid

YikYak is college kids version of /b

 

People are going for outrageous remarks because that's how you get noticed. Piss off enough people.

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1 hour ago, AuCivilEng1 said:

Oh I agree completely. I didn't mean that Auburn has a unique problem. This crap is running rampant. I just see it in Auburn everyday. The alt right is ruining this country. 

I will agree with you about the alt right, but would add that the ultra liberal left has done more damage to the nation.

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Just my observation but no school comes out looking good if it or some vocal group of students prevents a controversial speaker from appearing. Better to ignore the turkey and let him have a small audience and then help him move along to his next appointment. JMO. For the most part, the only way guys like this attain their goal is if a big enough disturbance results that the police or major media become involved. 

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