| Honorary Degree for Andrew Card? - Hell no! |
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| Written by Administrator | |
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The three-four minute reading of the citation of Card's degree was completely drowned out today by protesters. When asked, "where there any signs of support for him there?," NECN reporter Greg Wayland said "the only ones I saw were signs outside afterwards that said 'terrorism growing one liberal at a time' and that was a couple, two people holding those and about an hour ago they put the signs in their truck and drove away."
----------------------------------- The University of Massachusetts has decided to award Andrew Card, Bush's former Chief of Staff, an honorary degree at the upcoming graduation ceremony on Friday May 25th. In addition to serving as Chief of Staff, Card is known to have headed the White House Iraq Group (WHIG), whose members included Karl Rove, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and Condoleezza Rice, among others. This group is known for fabricating evidence in order to sell the invasion and war in Iraq. UMass students, faculty, and staff as well as community members are organizing to register opposition to this decision.
COMMENCEMENT DAY ACTIONS
Honor Students, Not War Criminals!
NO DEGREE FOR ANDREW CARD
********************************************** The following activities have been planned for commencement day, Friday, May 25th:
The ceremony begins at 2:00, but 12:00 - 2:30 is the key time - that's when people will be entering the Mullins Center. We encourage your most creative, nonviolent responses. Signs, banners, songs, drums, puppets, and street theater are all very welcome. Please stay as long as you can: commencement will last several hours.
What to do inside Mullins Center? If you're opposed to the presentation of an honorary degree to Andrew Card, here are a few things you can do: Suggestions for everyone During the announcement and presentation of Card’s degree:
For Students receiving a degree While receiving your degree:
** Volunteers will be passing them out at the entrance of
---------------------------------- HELP US GET RID OF ANDREW CARD! Sign a petition to call on the UMass administration to revoke the honorary degree for Andrew Card! For students, staff, faculty, and members of the UMass community: For everyone else (not affiliated with UMass):
If you can do more than sign a petition, please contact these people: UMass President Jack Wilson: 617 287-7000,
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
The Message: Andrew Card is responsible for the lies and distortions that led to the Iraq war and occupation. He is therefore not eligible for an honorary degree which can be awarded only to "persons of great accomplishment and high ethical standards who exemplify the ideals of the University of Massachusetts".
---------------------------------- Campus groups that have passed resolutions in favor of revoking Andrew Card's degree:
Student, Staff and Faculty governments and Unions
The Graduate Student Government
The Student Government Association
The Graduate Employee Organization
The Delegate Council of the Professional Staff Union (PSU/MTA)
The Massachusetts Society of Professors
The Faculty Senate
Departamental Graduate Student Organizations
The Sociology Graduate Student Association (SGSA)
The Political Science Graduate Student Association (PSGSA)
The Labor Center Students Caucus
Departments
Antrhopology (Read letter sent to UMass president, Chancellor, & Board of Trustees)
Social Thought and Political Economy
Women's Studies
Graduate and Undergraduate Student Groups
The UMass Anti-War Coalition
The Campus Anti-War Outreach Caucus
The Palestine Action Coalition
The Radical Student Union
UMass Amherst Students for Peace
Latin American Graduate Student Organization
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See the ad that appeared in the Daily Collegian (with an (incomplete) list of the faculty and student groups that have signed the petition to revoke Andrew Card’s honorary degree, as of May 14, 2007)
PROTESTS (for details, see below): Tuesday, May 22, 12:30: March Thursday, May 24, 4:30-6:30: Stand-out Friday, May 25, 12:00-5:00: Commencement
Please join UMass students, faculty, staff and community members in opposing UMass's plan to award an honorary degree at graduate commencement to Andrew Card. Andrew Card shares responsibility for the lies and distortions that led to the Iraq war and occupation.
RALLY AND MARCH Tuesday, May 22, 12:30 p.m. Whitmore Administration Building, UMass A final march and rally will be held to try to prevent the award. Meet in front of the Whitmore administration building on the UMass campus. March to the Amherst Town Commons. Our first rally brought 200 people; our second rally had 400. Third time's the charm!
COMMENCEMENT EVE RUSH HOUR STAND-OUT Thursday, May 24, evening rush hour Intersections at UMass or in your town If the award goes forward as planned, please make signs and stand on highly trafficked intersections on the UMass campus or in your town during Thursday's evening commute. Suggested slogans: "Honor Students, Dis Card"; "Honor Education, Not War Criminals"; "No Degree for Andrew Card"; "Protest Tomorrow at UMass, 12:00," etc.---------------------------- Previous Rallies Against Card We've had two rallies within the last ten days, each time attracting more than 300 attendees. Pictures of the May 15th rally: http://no2card.umassgss.org/ Video of the May 15th Rally (thanks to Traprock): http://www.traprockpeace.org/traprock_video/
May 8th rally: Click here to see pictures and video clips of the rally. And here to see some more... And here to see even more! |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 25 May 2007 ) |
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