2008 Woodie Awards
Right to Life group to press charges against protestors
Students plan vigil to protect display
Sarah Loman, Amy Ehrnreiter and Amanda Joering
Issue date: 4/12/06 Section: News
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Members of the Northern Right to Life are camping out Thursday to protect their display of anti-abortion crosses, following the damage and removal of the display on Wednesday by protestors.
The group has decided to press charges against those responsible.
"We called the police and told them that we decided to press charges," said Julie Broering, treasurer for the group. The members reached their decision after a day-long deliberation.
According to University Police reports, several young females removed about 400 white crosses from the grass in front of the University Center plaza at about 5:30 p.m. on April 12.
Northern Kentucky University President James Votruba has confirmed that Dr. Sally Jacobsen said that she encouraged students to practice their freedom of speech by pulling down the crosses during her British Literature class, which meets on Wednesday evenings.
Jacobsen could not be reached by The Northerner deadline.
"I am very disappointed that this happened," Votruba said. "At a university, the opposing views should be able to bump up against each other. Responding with pamphlets or speeches would have allowed the power of ideas to compete."
Approximately 10 students accompanied Jacobsen to the crosses and helped her to remove them. The group knocked the crosses down and piled them in trashcans around the plaza, and removed the "Cemetery of Innocents" sign.
Police arrived at 7:15 p.m. and found the crosses in trash cans throughout campus, according to David Tobergte, an administrative sergeant with the University Police. Tobergte said once those responsible for the vandalism of the crosses are identified, they could face felony theft charges. If those responsible for the vandalism are students, then they will also face university sanctions, Tobergte said.
Dean of Students Kent Kelso said he learned of the incident a few hours after it occurred and asked the police to investigate. Kelso said that he is unaware of the identity of any person involved in the vandalism, but is talking with witnesses. If students are responsible for the vandalism, Kelso said that he will have to determine if they have violated the student code of conduct.
"I profoundly regret that the incident happened. My hope is that we can have a dialogue or discussion on what's happening on campus with some sense of civility," he said.
The newly formed Northern Right to Life group at NKU created the anti-abortion display on April 9, and after being notified of the vandalism, the group came to NKU that night to repair and replant the crosses.
In a letter to The Northerner, signed by Nancy Slonneger Hancock, a member of The Educators for Reproductive Freedom, Hancock said that the group "neither knew about nor participated in this act of vandalism, and we most certainly do not condone it." Hancock said that the group sees the cross display as "protected free speech, no matter how strongly we may disagree with the message. It is of the utmost importance that we all respect each others' free speech rights."
NKU officials and university police are currently investigating the vandalism. Police reports list damages at $600; group members stated they paid $1.50 for each cross.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 130
mtnbiker
mtnbiker
posted 4/14/06 @ 10:51 AM EST
Destroying the display was clearly a violation of the student code of conduct as an offense against the university community and against property. The question is now: will the university enforce its rules against the students involved, and, more importantly, will the professor involved be held to the same standards as students. (Continued…)
adkinsa
adkinsa
posted 4/14/06 @ 11:40 AM EST
I am absolutely appauled that something like this has happened on our campus. I am ashamed to be a part of such an environment. I did not participate in the display, however I fully respect the message and the attempt that was made by young people to stand up for something they believe in. (Continued…)
fabred1
fabred1
posted 4/14/06 @ 11:40 AM EST
I believe this act is offensive and down right disappointing of the NKU community that believe that this act is a way to show freedom of speech. What are they speaking about? It's just cruel vandalism! This could be considered a hate crime. (Continued…)
TexasRainmaker
TexasRainmaker
posted 4/14/06 @ 11:41 AM EST
The NKU Policy Manual (http://access.nku.edu/hr/policy/policyc.htm#C7) says:
C 7.4
Misconduct
A staff member who conducts himself in a manner that reflects unfavorably upon the University, the department, and himself will be subject to immediate discharge, without advance notice and without further pay. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/14/06 @ 12:39 PM EST
Is it possible that Ms. Jacobsen was won over to the pro-life side of the debate and was just doing this to symbolize the disposal of aborted children in the trash? I say give her the benefit of the doubt. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/14/06 @ 1:02 PM EST
progressives oppose free speech and elections.
pstumler
pstumler
posted 4/14/06 @ 1:06 PM EST
Question: What if this was a more conservative minded professor who tore up crosses planted by anti-war demonstrators to represent the fallen U.S. soldiers???
Anonymous
posted 4/14/06 @ 2:38 PM EST
Whether or not you or pro-life is not the point. What happened here was an attack on freedom of speech here on our campus. It was an immature action done by people who were supposed to be a little bit more mature. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/14/06 @ 2:46 PM EST
I am so outraged to hear about the crosses. It breaks my heart to see people turning around the message we are trying to spread and say how we are hurting them. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/14/06 @ 2:56 PM EST
progressives don't believe in free speech, they believe instead in "fair" speech. this means this speechwhich they consider "divisive" or disagreeable to them may be repressed the same way that theft or rape would be. (Continued…)
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