Not happy about Bush, but don't protest event

I realize that the chance of President Bush speaking at commencement in May is slim, but if that were the case, I am glad I am not graduating yet. First of all, let me just say that regardless of who it is, having the president visit your university is a huge honor. However, I was disappointed to see there are already talks of protests if Bush does accept the invitation. I will be the first to admit I am not a fan of Bush; and I can give you a thousand reasons why. But commencement is not the time or the place for protests. Most students look forward to receiving their degrees and getting out into the world or whatever they plan to do next. The last thing I would want to see as one of those people would be a protester. I have nothing against free speech, but to protest at a graduation is just in bad taste, even if the speaker happens to be a controversial figure. [Read article]

Brace yourselves, loyal readers, for we are about to take a trip. We are going to delve into the minds and thought processes of the ultraconservative to try and make sense of them.

That's right, we're going to try to understand those strange people who walk among us with their Bush-Cheney stickers neatly affixed to the precise center of their notebooks. We will try to see the world from their point of view so that we may better understand where they are coming from whenever our next political argument may arise, whether it be in a class, in an office or at an Ann Coulter book signing. [Read article]

If President Bush accepts UA President Peter Likins' invitation to speak at this spring's commencement, then it should not overshadow the accomplishments of graduating students and evolve into a political event.

To have a sitting U.S. president speak at UA - let alone at a commencement ceremony - would be a very high honor and very beneficial event not only to the university, its students and faculty, but also to the state of Arizona. [Read article]