Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
Without a doubt, you’ve heard of the case of the OCC college professor who called Donald Trump a bunch of mean names and said that the election was an act of terrorism.
For the sake of argument, LET’S PRETEND SHE WAS 100% CORRECT.
So a kid, Caleb O’Neil, video-taped his professor saying these things– again, for the sake of argument– which were 100% correct.
She is employed by two methods of funding: Caleb’s tuition fees, and funds from the public. Caleb– also being a taxpayer– is a member of both of those categories. He taped his professor– a very common and open practice despite the un-enforced rules– espousing her beliefs in a publicly-funded school.
The student– unlike any other students that I am aware of– was then suspended for doing so. Why? Because the speech of the teacher was political.
Let’s restate that: This student was suspended for doing what countless other students do, however he was suspended because the speech of the teacher was political.
Let’s reduce this sentence once more: This student was suspended because his teacher spoke about politics.
As an even more revolting part of the punishment, he’s also been asked to pen a public apology letter and write a three-page essay and then do public speeches explaining his actions.
This is not only an abhorrent reason and fashion to be punished for the actions of someone else, but is a prime example of the “selective enforcement” used for so long against people of all categories and creeds who those in power did not like.
As the OC Register wrote about this just a few days ago, I will repeat their exact phrasing, as I too stand with Caleb. This is not about politics or rule-breaking, this is about a school punishing a student for the actions of a teachers:
The school should reinstate O’Neil immediately.
If the school does not do so, President Dennis Harkins and the entire Board of Trustees should be held accountable. And let’s be clear about what being held accountable means: The board members should be recalled and the president should be fired.
