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Hat's Off to UVA Student for Keeping His Hat On
Hat’s Off to UVA Student for Keeping His Hat On
Nov 7, 2024 — by James A. Bacon in Civil Rights, Individual Liberties, Culture wars
Simon Goldstein wearing the offending cap
by James A. Bacon
Simon Goldstein, a fourth-year computer science major at the University of Virginia, grew up in a non-religious family. His father’s family was Jewish and his mother’s background was Christian, but they didn’t practice their ancestral faiths beyond celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas. As he got older, some Christian friends challenged him to think about his religious beliefs. A friend took him to church, he began reading the Bible, and he came to believe that Jesus was the son of God. Today, Goldstein attends a Baptist Church in Charlottesville.
Not long ago, he spotted a cap on X (Twitter) that said, “Make America Christian Again,” which he saw as a play on “Make America Great Again,” and he bought it. ... “I like that message,” he says. “I found the hat humorous. But seriously, I would like America to return to how it was in the past” as a mostly Christian nation. He’s politically conservative, but he’s not a so-called “Christian nationalist.” He doesn’t believe in imposing his views on anyone. He’s just hoping for a great awakening. “I’m not telling anyone to leave or convert or die. But it would be my hope for everyone to become Christian.”
This fall Goldstein began wearing the cap to class and around the Grounds. Not everyone saw the humor in it. Indeed, on October 24, he received an email from Nicole Thompson, senior compliance director for UVA’s office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (OECR).
Wrote Thompson:
Our office recently received a report about you, and I write to schedule a Zoom call with you to discuss the report. This call is not disciplinary in nature, nor is it part of a formal EOCR investigative process. The goal of this informal conversation is to discuss the concerns that were reported and provide you an opportunity to share your perspective or any information and ask questions.
Goldstein had no idea what to expect.
{snip}
Nov 7, 2024 — by James A. Bacon in Civil Rights, Individual Liberties, Culture wars
Simon Goldstein wearing the offending cap
by James A. Bacon
Simon Goldstein, a fourth-year computer science major at the University of Virginia, grew up in a non-religious family. His father’s family was Jewish and his mother’s background was Christian, but they didn’t practice their ancestral faiths beyond celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas. As he got older, some Christian friends challenged him to think about his religious beliefs. A friend took him to church, he began reading the Bible, and he came to believe that Jesus was the son of God. Today, Goldstein attends a Baptist Church in Charlottesville.
Not long ago, he spotted a cap on X (Twitter) that said, “Make America Christian Again,” which he saw as a play on “Make America Great Again,” and he bought it. ... “I like that message,” he says. “I found the hat humorous. But seriously, I would like America to return to how it was in the past” as a mostly Christian nation. He’s politically conservative, but he’s not a so-called “Christian nationalist.” He doesn’t believe in imposing his views on anyone. He’s just hoping for a great awakening. “I’m not telling anyone to leave or convert or die. But it would be my hope for everyone to become Christian.”
This fall Goldstein began wearing the cap to class and around the Grounds. Not everyone saw the humor in it. Indeed, on October 24, he received an email from Nicole Thompson, senior compliance director for UVA’s office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (OECR).
Wrote Thompson:
Our office recently received a report about you, and I write to schedule a Zoom call with you to discuss the report. This call is not disciplinary in nature, nor is it part of a formal EOCR investigative process. The goal of this informal conversation is to discuss the concerns that were reported and provide you an opportunity to share your perspective or any information and ask questions.
Goldstein had no idea what to expect.
{snip}
University News
UVA No. 1 in National College Free Speech Rankings
By Jane Kelly, jak4g@virginia.edu • September 5, 2024
(Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression has named the University of Virginia No. 1 in its latest college free speech rankings. ... The nonprofit organization, known as FIRE, partnered with analytics company College Pulse to survey more than 58,000 students at 257 schools for its 2025 College Free Speech Rankings. ... UVA moved up to No. 1 from No. 6 last year, replacing Michigan Technological University, which moved to No. 2 in the latest report.
FIRE considered several factors, including students’ perceived ability to have difficult conversations, their comfort expressing views on controversial topics and perceptions of their administration’s support for free speech.
{snip}
The Board of Visitors unanimously approved UVA’s statement on free expression and free inquiry in 2021. The statement reads, in part, “The University of Virginia unequivocally affirms its commitment to free expression and free inquiry. All views, beliefs, and perspectives deserve to be articulated and heard free from interference. This commitment underpins every part of the University’s mission.”
------
Media Contact
Jane Kelly
University News Senior Associate
Office of University Communications
jak4g@virginia.edu (434) 243-9935
UVA No. 1 in National College Free Speech Rankings
By Jane Kelly, jak4g@virginia.edu • September 5, 2024
(Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression has named the University of Virginia No. 1 in its latest college free speech rankings. ... The nonprofit organization, known as FIRE, partnered with analytics company College Pulse to survey more than 58,000 students at 257 schools for its 2025 College Free Speech Rankings. ... UVA moved up to No. 1 from No. 6 last year, replacing Michigan Technological University, which moved to No. 2 in the latest report.
FIRE considered several factors, including students’ perceived ability to have difficult conversations, their comfort expressing views on controversial topics and perceptions of their administration’s support for free speech.
{snip}
The Board of Visitors unanimously approved UVA’s statement on free expression and free inquiry in 2021. The statement reads, in part, “The University of Virginia unequivocally affirms its commitment to free expression and free inquiry. All views, beliefs, and perspectives deserve to be articulated and heard free from interference. This commitment underpins every part of the University’s mission.”
------
Media Contact
Jane Kelly
University News Senior Associate
Office of University Communications
jak4g@virginia.edu (434) 243-9935
University of Virginia president rightly defends student’s ‘F— UVA’ sign amid backlash
by Katlyn Patton October 6, 2020
{Snip picture in unrecognized format.}
"[T]here is no doubt that the speech on the sign is protected by the First Amendment," said UVA President Jim Ryan.
Last month, a University of Virginia student and resident of one of the university’s coveted residences on the Lawn decided to use the space on her door to say “FUCK UVA” and express critical views of the university. Although the student’s door sign elicited strong criticism from UVA alumni and staff alike, UVA President Jim Ryan responded by defending the student’s expressive rights, illustrating why UVA is one of the relatively few institutions in the country to earn FIRE’s highest, “green light” rating.
The student told local reporters she was prompted to express her criticisms of UVA after she broke her ankle and felt that administrators were not sufficiently responsive to her concerns about accessibility. She said she hoped to encourage the university to listen to its students.
On Sept. 20, President Ryan responded to the controversy and stated correctly, as FIRE has reminded colleges and universities time and time again: “The answer to speech that offends is more speech.” Ryan also explained:
{snip}
by Katlyn Patton October 6, 2020
{Snip picture in unrecognized format.}
"[T]here is no doubt that the speech on the sign is protected by the First Amendment," said UVA President Jim Ryan.
Last month, a University of Virginia student and resident of one of the university’s coveted residences on the Lawn decided to use the space on her door to say “FUCK UVA” and express critical views of the university. Although the student’s door sign elicited strong criticism from UVA alumni and staff alike, UVA President Jim Ryan responded by defending the student’s expressive rights, illustrating why UVA is one of the relatively few institutions in the country to earn FIRE’s highest, “green light” rating.
The student told local reporters she was prompted to express her criticisms of UVA after she broke her ankle and felt that administrators were not sufficiently responsive to her concerns about accessibility. She said she hoped to encourage the university to listen to its students.
On Sept. 20, President Ryan responded to the controversy and stated correctly, as FIRE has reminded colleges and universities time and time again: “The answer to speech that offends is more speech.” Ryan also explained:
{snip}