2008 Woodie Awards
Students protest commencement speaker
Saint Mary's College Democrats create petition against conservative justice Alito
Kelly Meehan
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: News
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When Saint Mary's senior Meaghan Herbst sat down to have lunch Monday, she nearly choked when she saw the "Alito to address SMC grads" headline in The Observer.
Her initial shock soon turned to anger as she shared her discontent with fellow students. Herbst, the president of College Democrats, quickly e-mailed the group's members and soon found support from others ready to stand up against the administration's commencement speaker selection of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito - a jurist who Herbst said has made many court rulings against women's rights in the areas of family and medical leave, violence and sexual harassment.
"I was emotionally shocked and angered," she said. "I couldn't believe we would have someone so polarizing and misrepresenting of our mission at Saint Mary's as our commencement speaker."
Herbst, along with senior Allison Beyer and junior Giuliangela Rosato, spearheaded a mission to address their concerns with the College administration - an undertaking that gained attention Thursday in the student center atrium.
Armed with a formal letter addressed to College President Carol Ann Mooney, the three students took turns sitting at a small table in the student center to collect the signatures of those who shared their resentment of the administration's selection.
Beyer said the goal of the letter is to get the College community talking about Alito, particularly how "a big name" does not automatically guarantee a speaker will correlate to the Saint Mary's identity.
The three students said they realize Alito has already confirmed his speaking engagement at the College, and said their protest is not against the judge but rather toward the administration.
Community members were able to sign the letter from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday - an opportunity for those who are concerned with the selection to voice their opinion. Beyer said the letter will eventually be delivered to Mooney, who was unable to meet with the students before spring break.
Her initial shock soon turned to anger as she shared her discontent with fellow students. Herbst, the president of College Democrats, quickly e-mailed the group's members and soon found support from others ready to stand up against the administration's commencement speaker selection of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito - a jurist who Herbst said has made many court rulings against women's rights in the areas of family and medical leave, violence and sexual harassment.
"I was emotionally shocked and angered," she said. "I couldn't believe we would have someone so polarizing and misrepresenting of our mission at Saint Mary's as our commencement speaker."
Herbst, along with senior Allison Beyer and junior Giuliangela Rosato, spearheaded a mission to address their concerns with the College administration - an undertaking that gained attention Thursday in the student center atrium.
Armed with a formal letter addressed to College President Carol Ann Mooney, the three students took turns sitting at a small table in the student center to collect the signatures of those who shared their resentment of the administration's selection.
Beyer said the goal of the letter is to get the College community talking about Alito, particularly how "a big name" does not automatically guarantee a speaker will correlate to the Saint Mary's identity.
The three students said they realize Alito has already confirmed his speaking engagement at the College, and said their protest is not against the judge but rather toward the administration.
Community members were able to sign the letter from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday - an opportunity for those who are concerned with the selection to voice their opinion. Beyer said the letter will eventually be delivered to Mooney, who was unable to meet with the students before spring break.