The local University #MichiganTech recently reversed a student government decision and forced them to fund a conservative speaker from Turning Point USA claiming that not doing so violated the speaker's constitutionally protected free speech. A busy week of student activism, secret meetings, and social media pressure all lead up to a fierce clash between students and administration this past Friday.
If that sounds interesting then give my story a read.
https://www.copperbeacon.org/news/2d1a6c0r65j9tjmngmz9y91c4e8ngl
@JuxtaPrax
Important update:
Keweenaw Pride and a coalition of other student groups are organizing a counter event with the goal of sucking all the attention away from the offensive speaker.
He wants attention and controversy, ignoring him is the best revenge.
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https://fundrazr.com/529sX2?ref=ab_fBuRr0_ab_AzDeEGvmXOMAzDeEGvmXOM
@JuxtaPrax
@blbc
@LittleTownJane
@keithbacon
@AbortTheGQPNOW
@AlliFlowers
@inklings
@GoodVibes7472
Because I don’t quite get how responses/forwarding/tagging works on Mastodon.
#míchigan #michiganTech #keweenaw
@AlliFlowers @JuxtaPrax @keithbacon @blbc @AbortTheGQPNOW @GoodVibes7472 @inklings @LittleTownJane
See thread above.
I was trying to update interested people about the Michigan Tech speaker next week.
@fatamorgana @AlliFlowers @JuxtaPrax @keithbacon @blbc @GoodVibes7472 @inklings @LittleTownJane
Good to have a counter event. And how did they get to just overturn the student government on this? Does a DeSantis cousin run the joint?
@AbortTheGQPNOW @AlliFlowers @JuxtaPrax @keithbacon @blbc @GoodVibes7472 @inklings @LittleTownJane
The mistake the students inadvertently made was to state that they opposed funds for the speaker based on his political views rather than pointing out his lack of qualifications or likelihood to contribute constructively to campus.
@fatamorgana @AlliFlowers @JuxtaPrax @keithbacon @blbc @GoodVibes7472 @inklings @LittleTownJane Well, let's hope the other event works out.
@GoodVibes7472 @JuxtaPrax @blbc @inklings @AbortTheGQPNOW @AlliFlowers @keithbacon @LittleTownJane
Awesome turnout!! Great vibe, music, art, food, love, and enthusiasm.
>20 students and community orgs have tables. Everyone is smiling.
@fatamorgana @GoodVibes7472 @JuxtaPrax @blbc @inklings @AlliFlowers @keithbacon @LittleTownJane
So the other thing was a shambles?
@GoodVibes7472 @inklings @AbortTheGQPNOW @blbc @AlliFlowers @LittleTownJane @keithbacon @JuxtaPrax
I have yet to hear a peep about the speech by the unwanted speaker. It got zero press coverage.
After much hunting I’ve found one mention of it on a bird-site account (with 23 followers) claiming an audience of 300. The photo suggests (1) the number is inflated; (2) the back rows may have been occupied by interested observers, not fans.
#springFLAME #michigantech
@LittleTownJane @GoodVibes7472 @AlliFlowers @AbortTheGQPNOW @keithbacon @JuxtaPrax @inklings @blbc
Update:
News finally appeared today in the Copper Beacon. 500+ people at #SpringFLARE.
@fatamorgana @LittleTownJane @GoodVibes7472 @AlliFlowers @AbortTheGQPNOW @keithbacon @inklings @blbc
Copper Beacon sends out their weekly newsletter Saturday afternoon, most of my stories get published then. Both me and my editor prefer keeping to the weekly schedule as that gives us more time to collect information and fact-check the reporting rather than rushing to publish immediately.
Quality > Quantity
Accuracy > Speed
Hope that you enjoyed my story!