In Defense of Student Who Pied Friedman
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On April 22, Brown University student Molly Little threw a pie at New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman in protest of his pro-war, pro-corporate views, and the prominence he receives in promulgating those views while others are suppressed. Friedman received no injuries from the fluffy pie, and resumed his full lecture after five minutes. Due to the harmlessness of the incident, no legal charges were pressed by any party.
Nevertheless, on May 15, after a hearing conducted by Brown's Office of Student Life, the administration sentenced Molly to a 'suspension'--in fact an indefinite expulsion. As a result Molly is unable to enroll at Brown in the fall semester, or even set foot on the campus. She is not guaranteed readmission, but must reapply to the same administration which has committed this miscarriage of justice.
The punishment imposed on Molly is severely disproportionate to the incident to which it supposedly responds. It is not compatible with Brown's mandate as an educational institution. The University has put its desire to draw 'marquee' speakers--regardless of their intellectual value--and control student activism above its mission to teach.
Further demonstrating Brown's abandonment of responsibility to students is its indifference towards the actions of Assistant Professor Stephen Porder, who physically attacked and detained Molly in an absurd act of self-righteous vigilantism. The dean who is supposed to be investigating the matter simply refuses to return calls.
We, the undersigned, categorically reject the so-called 'suspension,' actually indefinite expulsion, of Molly Little. We demand her unconditional readmission to Brown University without fines, fees, or red tape.
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Goal
897 signatures
Goal: 5,000
Latest Signatures
19 February 2016
14 February 2016
896.
Stephen H
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Mr. Friedman has advocated far worse than a pie in the face for civilian populations he deems to be enemies of "American interests". If he isn't interestd in pressing charges, why is Brown University acting as his surrogate enforcer?
1 February 2016
895.
Sam Andpats
|
The punishment far exceeds the "crime" in this situation. Why not ask Molly to do something academic---like do a study on the history of non-violence-- and then participate in a student forum on dissent. A consequence of such magnitude will certainly have
29 January 2016
27 January 2016
893.
Sonny Estrada
|
He's lucky that pie wasn't loaded with Feces.
Institution or Affiliation
Dallas Citizens Against The Bush Li[ar]brary
24 January 2016
19 January 2016
5 January 2016
890.
Lyrr D
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Lighten up Brown University, or at least recognize Molly Little's right to have her 15 minutes of fame as a counterweight to the disproportionate visibilty proponents of the Iraq War like Thomas Friedman enjoy.
29 December 2015
25 December 2015
888.
Mehmet B
|
The university should be proud that a brave student chose to use her freedom of speech to expose a pro-Nazi. She needs an award!
20 December 2015
17 November 2015
10 November 2015
29 October 2015
884.
Jason S
|
Some people deserve to be publicly shamed. Thomas Friedman is one such person. He provided a "liberal" gloss to a war of agression. Molly's "crime" pales in comparison. Reinstate her!
Institution or Affiliation
City University of New York
28 October 2015
883.
Gregory S
|
think of it as free trade . in return for friedman's simplistic and morally repugnant views . molly traded a pie to his face . see , under free trade everyones a winner !
28 October 2015
24 October 2015
20 October 2015
880.
Matt S
|
As always, the Brown administration loves to protect the free speech of neo-liberal cheerleaders and anti-muslim hate mongers like Friedman, but tramples all over the free speech of any student who dares to challenge such bigotry
Institution or Affiliati
19 October 2015
18 October 2015
17 October 2015
877.
Byard D
|
If Molly had pied another Brown student or a hobo on the street would she have faced similar consequences?
2 October 2015
876.
Ray M
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Where has democracy gone in the USA. No one even cares that it is gone...We deserve whatever we get for our ignorance
30 September 2015
18 September 2015
12 September 2015
873.
Dave F
|
The pie throwing was a non-violent expression of political speech and should be sanctioned by Brown, an institution claiming to stand for academic diversity.
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