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A videotape with excerpts from a forum on modern-day fascism has propelled Northern Arizona Universityinto the national debate over campus free speech and intimidation, both online and in the classroom.

Some of the fallout includes a professor who complained to police of fears for her safety after the videotape surfaced on an alt-right website, and the student videographer, who is looking to transfer because she doesn't feel welcome.

Free speech, said the professor, does not include hate speech.

Theres a difference between expressing ideas, which is different from racism and sexism, said Lori Poloni-Staudinger, the Politics and International Affairs department chair at NAU who was attacked online.

But the student, freshman political science major Melissa Miller, feels equally aggrieved.

I am being bullied by professors in their classrooms and in these faculty meetings. It's sick. No matter what your political background there is no business singling out a student publicly with no correct information, or accusing her of things when you don't have the whole story, she wrote in a recent Facebook post.

The video includes an NAU professor calling President Trump the rapist in chief and a lecturer, misidentified as Poloni-Staudinger, comparing todays politics to the conditions that gave rise to the Nazis.

Poloni-Staudinger said the flood of threats started the day after the forum and included comments such as, When are these professors going to understand that theyre going to pay for this with their lives? Theyve become the hunted. And handling things with a 9 mm.

Miller, who took the video and gave the rights to it to the alt-right website, Campus Reform, told The Chronicle of Higher Education that shes been threatened, too. She said she went to the forum because shes a political science major and recorded the event for her notes. (The forum was not sponsored by the department.)

It might have stopped there, she said, if she hadnt learned later that another NAU professor at the forum criticized her after she had stepped out of the room for videotaping lectures and posting them to another alt-right website, Professor Watchlist, for the purpose of intimidation. As a result, she sent the videotape to Campus Reform, which posted an excerpt along with a story based on its contents.

Miller states in a Facebook post that no NAU professors are on the Watchlist and a check of the Watchlist shows that she is correct. However, Campus Reform has posted another video of an NAU political science class and a letter from an NAU English teacher docking a student one point from their paper because they used the word mankind instead of a gender neutral term. In the letter the English teacher gives the student a chance to make up the 11 points they missed on the paper and leave mankind in the paper, but would still dock one point for mankind.

Campus Reform, which bills itself as reporting on conduct and misconduct at universities, is a project of the Leadership Institute, which, according to its website, teaches conservatives of all ages how to succeed in politics, government, and the media.

Campus Reform eventually corrected its error in misidentifying Poloni-Staudinger, but not before the damage had been done. Shes still getting threats and nasty comments, forcing her to shut down her social media accounts.

She also took screen shots of the threats and reported them to NAUs Police Department. She was told the department cant do anything about the threats because theyre too general -- they refer to professors and teachers, but not action against Poloni-Staudinger specifically. The universitys harassment policy also doesnt specifically include online harassment.

"NAU respects the right to free speech of all participants in the educational experience. We also expect that individuals exercise their rights with integrity, honesty, and respect for other participants," NAU Assistant Director of Communications Heidi Toth told The Chronicle, and NAU Director of Communications Kim Ott reiterated to the Arizona Daily Sun.

Poloni-Staudinger said she feels that free speech including the forum -- is open to all on campus and she didnt have any problem with conservative groups being on campus. Shes worked with the Young Republicans and Young Democrats. Her class also had a frank discussion after the November election results came in.

But Miller is still transferring at the end of the semester.

Y'all ruined my life at NAU, she posted to Facebook. People think I'm alt-right and a racist.

See more here:
Video posted to alt-right website sets off firestorm at NAU - Arizona Daily Sun

Evidence abounds that the culture war has been destructive to religion in America. The culture war battlefields are strewn with millions of religious casualties from Catholics, Southern Baptists and mainline Protestants, who engaged as culture warriors opposing or cooperating with secular forces over public policy conflicts.

All of these once vigorous and growing religions are now in rapid numerical decline since engaging in the culture war. Even Mormons, who marshaled their forces for selected battles in the culture war, are now experiencing a decline in their rate of growth. All of these religions have paid a heavy price for deploying their forces to secure public policy victories that ultimately failed to compensate for the consequences suffered by them and their adherents.

It is time for the religious culture warriors to stand down and withdraw from the field of battle, regroup and reorient their religion to the first and foremost missions of saving souls and building the kingdom of God upon earth.

In practical terms, what does this mean for religion's public policy engagements? It means, as just one example, that religion should not stand in the way of LGBT advocates in the pursuit of their civil rights. Religion should not oppose LGBT advocates through either legislative action or in the courtroom.

On the other hand, religion should not support the advocates either. Doing so confuses its devoted adherents. The LGBT advocates are perfectly capable of obtaining their own goals and objectives without religion distracting itself from its foremost missions by opposing or supporting their public policy agenda.

Calling on religion to stand down from the public policy battles of the culture war in no way suggests that religion should stop declaring eternal truths and doctrines over its pulpits, warning its adherents and society of the consequences associated with secular trends in conflict with those truths and doctrines. If anything, at least for those religions that have related moral standards, religion should be far more aggressive about prophetically warning of the risks in fraternizing with secular forces.

Moreover, religion should not discourage its adherents from actively accessing the public square. It should courageously teach correct principles no matter the consequences and let its adherents govern themselves in the public policy application of those principles. Religion should act as a battle hospital that provides a refuge for the spiritually wounded. Religion should spiritually heal and help recover those under siege by secular forces.

Meanwhile, religion's forces diverted to the culture war should be fully redeployed to tenaciously defend the God-given freedoms necessary to accomplish its foremost missions. Freedom for religion, its associated institutions and individual conscience of its adherents is absolutely critical for it to faithfully fulfill its divine obligations.

Where secular interests intersect with religious freedoms, religion should not oppose those interests but rather relentlessly secure exemptions from them. Religion should never be diverted by fights with Babylon. Instead, it should marshal its forces to advance the kingdom of God and nothing else.

Stuart C. Reid is a former Army chaplain, Salt Lake City councilman and Utah state senator.

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Stuart C. Reid: Time for religion to disengage from the culture wars - Salt Lake Tribune

Abingtons

Families presentation: Families Helping Families program by Abington Heights Superintendent Dr. Michael McMahon, April 26, 7 p.m., Ryon Room, Abington Community Library.

Clifford

Church dinner: Clifford United Methodist Church chicken-n-biscuit or ham dinner, May 16, 4-6 p.m., Main Street, takeouts available, $8.95.

Dunmore

School District

Open house: Dunmore Elementary Center kindergarten open house rescheduled to April 26, 6 p.m.; main office, 570-347-6794.

Forest City

Community luncheon: Stone Soup Kitchen at Christ Church free community luncheon, April 22, noon-1:30 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, Delaware and Dundaff streets.

Jermyn

Bread sale: St. Michaels Orthodox Church Easter food sale, Wednesday, noon-4 p.m., church center, 403 Delaware St.; paska and loaves (plain and raisin), kielbasi, horseradish, sopressata, rolls (apricot, lekvar, nut, poppy seed, pineapple coconut and raspberry cream); 876-1456 or fax 570-876-3454, by Sunday.

Lackawanna County

Pet walk: Fifth annual Furry Friends 5K Run/Walk to Benefit Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, Sunday, registration, 8:30 a.m., 5K Run/Walk, 10, Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, starting and ending at the Olive Street Head Scranton Trail Section; $25; proceeds benefit Griffin Pond Animal Shelter; details: Anastasia Daniels 570-586-3700, ext. 514, anastasia@griffinpondanimalshelter.com.

Basket raffle: St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen Host for a Day basket raffle April 26, 6-9 p.m., Genetti Manor, Dickson City; tickets/details, 570-342-5556.

SEEDS workshops: Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support home energy efficiency workshops in Lackawanna County, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Countryside Community Church, 14011 Orchard Drive, Clarks Summit; Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Northeast Environmental Technology Center, 1300 Old Plank Road, Mayfield, registration encouraged; info@seedsgroup.net or 570-245-1256.

Happy hour: Childrens Advocacy Center of NEPA, Greater Carbondale YMCA, Greater Scranton YMCA, Lackawanna Historical Society, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA, West Scranton Hyde Park Neighborhood Watch, & Womens Resource Center NEPA Match Day 2017 Happy Hour event April 21, 6-8 p.m. Lucchi Family Wine Cellars, 134 N. Main Ave., Scranton; http://www.safdn.org/953/double-your-donation-to-a-local-nonprofit-on-may-5th/.

Legal advice: Lackawanna Pro Bono Family Law Help Desk free legal advice for low-income family law problems, Wednesday, 10 a.m.-noon, Family Court Administration Office, 200 Adams Ave., Scranton; household income below 125 percent of poverty level, not represented by attorney; 570-961-2714.

Community event: Lackawanna County Greens events, April 17-23, week of social and climate justice action, fun, documentaries, biking for a cause, Earth Day tree-planting, free; Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LackawannaGreens/

Genealogical program: Genealogical Research Society program Remembering the Titanic and Its Shocking Local Connections by David DeCosmo, April 19, 7 p.m., society headquarters, 1100 Main St., Peckville, light fare, free, reservations recommended; 570-383-7661.

Anti-racism speaker: Penn State Worthington Scranton hosts program by anti-racist essayist author and educator Tim Wise, Wednesday, 7 p.m., Study Learning Center, 120 Ridge View Drive, Dunmore; free.

Montrose

Choir performance: First Presbyterian Church presents Madrigal Choir of Binghamton concert, Iberia in the Americas, April 22, 7 p.m., 367 Church St., spiritual music and folk songs, free-will offering, no tickets necessary.

Olyphant

Bunny visit: Olyphant Easter egg hunt April 15, 1 p.m., Monsignor Hrynuck/Wargo Sports Complex, 700 block of East Grant Street.

Regional

Alumni gathering: Mansfield University Alumni Association gathering for alumni and friends, April 29, 5-9 p.m., Merts-Harrys, 302 Penn Ave., Scranton, hosts: Marirose Murphy 79 and Lisa Chipak Spangenberg 81, $20, includes appetizers, finger foods and soft drinks, cash bar; pay online with credit card at alumni.mansfield.edu or by check, made payable to Mansfield University, Alumni Relations Office, Alumni Hall, Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA 16933, by April 17; alum

ni2@mansfield.edu or 888-305-6505.

PROSPER conference: Carbondale and Riverside PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER) teams recognition/press conference, April 21, 9-10 a.m., Electric City Trolley Museum, 300 Cliff St., Scranton; update on research results from the PROSPER study including prescription opioid misuse outcomes, remarks by officials; Penn State Extension, 570-963-6842.

Barrel sale: Monroe County Conservation District rain barrel sale order deadline Wednesday, pickup, April 22, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., Monroe County Earth Day, Monroe Campus of Northampton County Community College, Tannersville; Pennsylvania-made, screened lid, brass ball valve spigot, bottom drain, overflow fittings, on repurposed barrel, $80 plus tax; call Annie, 570-629-3060, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or visit http://www.mcconservation.org.

Susquehanna County

Sunday devotions: Divine Mercy Sunday devotions, April 23 (Sunday following Easter), 2:45 p.m., St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 380 Franklin St., Great Bend; Mass, exposition of the blessed sacrament, Divine Mercy Chaplet, praises to the Divine Mercy, rosary, St. Faustinas Litany to the Blessed Sacrament, veneration of the relic of St. Faustina; refreshments follow in parish Trinity Center; Lorraine James, 570-465-3393 or parish office.

West Scranton

Bake sale: St. Ann Maronite Church Palm Sunday bake sale, Saturday, 3-6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., North Sumner Avenue and Price Street; homemade Lebanese pastries, baked goods, spinach pies, meat pies and Lebanese thin bread available; 570-344-2129.

Pasta dinner: St. Lucys 40th annual spaghetti dinner, April 26 and 27, 5-8 p.m., St. Lucys Church auditorium, 949 Scranton St.; takeouts start, 3 p.m.; $10/adults, $5/children under 12, at door

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be emailed to yesdesk@timesshamrock.com or mailed to Clipboard, c/o the YES!Desk at 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

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Community Events Listings, April 7, 2017 - News - The Times-Tribune - Scranton Times-Tribune

Rev. Al Sharpton claimedthis weekend that former National Security Advisor Susan Rice is just the latest victim of a Republican campaign of calumny against influential African-American femalesan effort the black activist argued has already targeted California Congressman Maxine Waters and journalist April Ryan.

Reports aroselast weekthat Ricewho served under ex-President Barack Obamarequested the names of Americans citizens caught discussingPresident Donald Trumpon surveillance recordings withRussian government agents prior to the inauguration in January. GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas have pointed to as proof the former White House aide was behind recent leaks to the media about Trump advisors and associates who had contact with Kremlin officials, while South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr have called for an investigation.

Rice has denied these insinuations and assertions, and Sharpton declared during his weekly rally on Saturday that the allegations are part of a pattern of conservative attacks on black women.

Same time we saw that they want to jump on Susan Rice. Now, how many black women are yall gonna try to demonize? Sharpton told anapplauding crowd at the Harlem headquarters of his National Action Network. We are not going to stand by this litany of our women being the target practice.

The controversial civil rights leader tied the scrutiny on Rice to a February confrontationat the White House between Trump advisor Omarosa Manigault and Ryan, a correspondent for American Urban Radio Networksboth of themAfrican-American women. He also linkedthese incidents to Fox News host Bill OReillys mockingof Waters, the California congresswoman, for her James Brown wig.

You start by this fighting with Omarosa and April Ryan. Then you go from that to you going to jump all over Maxine Waters. Now this week its Susan Rice, Sharpton said.

Sharpton revealed that National Action Network personnel would join Public Advocate Letitia James at a protest Wednesday evening outside Fox News headquarters. Demonstrators will call for OReillys firing amid mounting allegations of racial discrimination and sexual harassment against the television and radio personality.

Continue reading here:
Al Sharpton Stands Up for Susan Rice and the 'Litany of Our Women' Attacked by GOP - Observer

A civil-rights activist affiliated with Al Sharptons nonprofit is under fire after making racist comments about Middle Easterners.

The controversy began when James Johnson, president of the Charleston, South Carolina chapter of National Action Network, held a March 29 news conference responding to video footage that shows local store employees beating a man they said tried to steal from their store.

In a 10-mile radius, we have 34 Arab or foreign stores within our community, Johnson said. Were not going to allow them to rape our community anymore. They need to go back to their country, where their laws are different for from our laws.

The controversial comments were covered in local mediabut Johnson didnt back down from them.

By no means is this an apology, he said Wednesday. To clarify, Johnson said, his go back to their country remarks were directed at the two people shown beating a man, not at Middle Easterners as a whole.

I think the word rape may have been misused, Johnson said, but its as proven fact that those 34 stores within the community do not put any money within that community.

In response to Heat Streets inquiry, the national National Action Network office sent a written statement by Rev. Nelson B. Rivers, III, the organizations vice president of religious affairs and external relations.

Rivers called Johnsons comment unfortunate and said the organization will discuss Johnsons leadership status at their national conference in New York City, held from April 26-29.

The national organization only revokes local elected National Action Network officials status after a vote by the national board. Otherwise, the local chapter could hold a vote to decide whether to expel Johnson from their group.

Rivers said a meeting was long overdue to discuss blacks complaints about their treatment by Middle Eastern business owners.

While we believe that it is important to reassure members of the Middle Eastern community that we do not support discrimination but [sic] at the same time we must have a serious conversation about interactions between members of the African American community and these business owners, Rivers statement said.

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Activist from Al Sharpton's Group Calls Arab Store Owners 'Rapists' Who Should Leave the Country - Heat Street