"Ragtime" author booed

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 11:44am

At HOFSTRA of all places?

"I thought we were all supposed to speak out," he told The Washington Post in Tuesday's editions. "Isn't that what this country is about?"



link

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 11:54am

i hate it when the wrong people are shouted down! didn't they know they are not supposed to boo legends like doc?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 11:56am

I'm just sayin. In MY day everybody at Hofstra woulda been too drunk to care. Or notice. And that includes the parents.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 11:58am

I have a friend who teaches there. This reaction isn't inconsistent with what he says about the political climate. Last week I met with another friend who teaches in the midwest, and he said the students aren't so much conservative as "please, don't bore me with that Iraq stuff" - far more upsetting. It's somebody else's problem, somebody else is fighting it, and they just want to get on with the business of makin money. It's about supporting Bush in only a half-ass way, about wanting someone unpretentious in the White House who'll just keep all that ugly stuff far, far away. I'm simplifying, and my friend no doubt was as well, but apathy costs us. Most of them don't want to even bother voting.

Updated On: 5/26/04 at 11:58 AM

[ckeaton]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 11:58am

Ah. Back to the age old argument about time and place...

I realize that opportunities to speak out publically are becoming few and far between for Mr. Doctorow, but should he use a commencement speech as a podium for this type of sentiment? Absolutely not. This is precisely the reason that Michael Moore is not doing commencement speeches. If people want a speaker to talk about issues, hire them for that. Most colleges have a full schedule of speakers.

During my tenure at Syracuse, I approved budgets to bring Pat Buchanan, Jocelyn Elders, William F. Buckley, Ellen Degeneres/Anne Heche, Dan Quayle, Hillary Clinton, and *gasp* Michael Moore to speak. They all had political messages. Right place, right time. (or in some cases, left)

Commencement isn't about that.

Updated On: 5/26/04 at 11:58 AM

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:04pm

I am torn, as I had Doctorow as a teacher when he briefly was at Sarah Lawrence.

I thought he was a pompous, self-important asshole.

And maybe THOSE qualities came across just as strongly.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:05pm

wow, what a change a few years and a few thousand miles brings...

http://www.aaup.org/publications/Academe/2002/02ma/02maSOTP.HTMhttp://www.aaup.org/publications/Academe/2002/02ma/02maSOTP.HTM>http://www.aaup.org/publications/Academe/2002/02ma/02maSOTP.HTM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:05pm

Maybe they were hoping for something inspirational, like, "Yay! It's a great time to be a college graduate!!"
Doctorow has a reputation of being a grouchy prick, but who cares? He's a genius. Read (I repeat: Read. As in, the novel.) "Ragtime" or the brilliant "The Book Of Daniel"...see what I mean.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 1:44pm

he CAN write. What i find interesting is the seeming decay of decorum at events like these. If you take offense at a commencement speaker, that's your right. But it's still free speech, and the occasion is not one to publicize your politics. Maybe Doctorow was out of line, but reacting in that way (as opposed to a well-reasoned letter to your freshly earned alumni mag) lends you no dignity. Write the Board of Governors, the commencement committee, and the school paper. "Booing" someone makes you look like a hothead.

[robbiej]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 1:50pm

Christopher,

Did I know you were at Syracuse? I was there from 92-96.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 2:31pm

Two ships passing in the night, robbiej...
1996-2000. :)

[robbiej]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 3:09pm

you youngin'!

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 3:12pm

People go to commencement ceremonies?

Nerds.