Left-wing professors at Furman University claim "conscientious objector" status so they won't have to listen to Bush speak at commencement

                   

College graduation ceremonies are for celebrating the achievements of graduates and the families who supported them. But for self-absorbed liberal professors, it's a time to show off how self-righteous and enlightened they are by protesting George Bush.  GreenvilleOnline:

With a silent protest by some faculty members pending, at least 31 Furman University professors have been granted "conscientious objector" status by school administrators exempting them from President Bush’s commencement address Saturday.

The professors represent just over 7 percent of the university’s 230 faculty members, said Furman spokesman Vince Moore.Moore said the university would not release the names of the professors who sought the exemption. Another 194, including about 10 administrators, have said they will attend, Moore said.Any professor can be exempted from attending commencement for "a valid excuse," and objection to the Bush appearance falls into that category, he said.Bush will address the approximately 650 graduates, plus more than 9,000 parents, family members, students, faculty and Furman staffers in Paladin Stadium.

Commencement will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. In the event of a forecast of bad weather, officials will decide by Friday evening whether to move the event indoors to Timmons Arena -- and reduce the crowd by more than half. There will be no public access to the commencement.

Paul Thomas [above], an education professor, said informal discussions are underway about whether there should be a faculty protest and, if so, what form it should take.

Thomas said he objects to Bush’s visit but will attend commencement "because I thought it is important to be there."

"There will be arm bands worn by a good bit," himself included, Thomas said. He described them as plain white, unadorned cloth "to clarify that these are people who don’t want to be associated with supporting the Bush administration."

He said the armbands were being distributed on and off campus along with a summary of objections to Bush’s appearance.

Thomas said he and others have purchased $8 white T-shirts with "We Object" in black letters, "not necessarily for the ceremony."

If I was in charge at Furman, I'd give them "weenie" status instead of "conscientious objector" status.

There is something about Liberalism that keeps people in a perpetual state of immaturity.