On his first day in office, President Trump issued Executive Order 14151. Under this decree all federal agencies must terminate all grants and contracts that are “equity-related”. Executive Order 14173, came next, requiring all federal contractors to certify that they don’t promote “diversity, equity, and inclusion”.
This past weekend I found a dispirited Wilbur the Wildcat at Dirtbags on Speedway, drunk on catnip, scrolling online stories about ASU revoking 8 student’s visas. I introduced myself as an alum of our beloved U of A. In spite of his drunken snarl I asked Wilbur a question. “What do you think of the University of Arizona’s response to Trump’s call for early obedience to tyranny?”
He turned on his bar stool and said, “We’re between a rock and hard place. Principles versus survival. Students versus survival. I’ve got a new fight song just for the occasion. In honor of the profile in academic courage that is my beloved University of Arizona.”
“Let’s hear it, Wilbur. But first, I have to tell you that you got beer nuts in your whiskers.”
“Thanks. Here goes:
Bow Down, Arizona! Bow Down, red and blue Comply, Arizona! Kiss his ring and serve the coup! Shut down your D. E. I.! White wash red and blue! Beat down your students, and betray your teachers, too, Go, go, diversity, go; Comply now, red and blue! Bow down to the tyrant! Obey, in advance! Tamp down free speech now! Leave nothing to chance! Kneel Down, Arizona. Kiss the ring, red and blue. Bow down, Arizona! Kneel down to tyranny! Comply! That’s what the spineless do. Bow down, Arizona! Bow down, red and blue! Go! Go! Freedoms go! Arizona, bow down!"
“Wilbur. That is such a bummer.”
"Survive or perish. That’s the choice, Mr. Self-righteous. I don't think I'll ever bear down again. Want to hear another song I wrote? This one’s about Columbia University students being abducted…Or how about this one? I wrote it about that Tufts kid who got snatched off the street."
“Naw. Give your pipes a rest, pal. I could use a drink. Mind if I join you?”
Wilbur nodded and pulled out a bar stool for me. I sat down between Wilbur, President Suresh Garimella, a couple of Ivy League University Presidents and ordered the first of many Tequila Sunrises that night. I spent the rest of that indulgent eve commiserating with a posse of sad sack Presidents a 6-foot tall furball in a cowboy hat who will never be his old happy-go-lucky self again. Never.
REFERENCE:
https://blogforarizona.net/why-i-resigned-from-my-board-position-at-the-university-of-arizona-law-school/
Seems to be the story on every campus right now. If they defy the naranja jefe, they lose Federal funding, and I doubt the alumi can come up with enough money to replace those funds.
Heartbreaking. Kind of a Sophie's Choice when your institution depends on millions of federal dollars and you now have to consider the ICE-stapo's tactics.
Question: Does the James E Rogers School of Law still have the Civil Rights Restoration Clinic--or did they have to go underground?