In my opinion, what they did was disgusting, on top of being illegal. Even if the motivation was a “prank” required or suggested via a frat (or any other reason), they still carried out something that they should have seen as repugnant bigotry, racism, anti-Semitism, desecrating a chapel, etc. The fact that they were willing to carry it out, even if they don’t even share those beliefs, is still terrible. There is no place for that in our society, but surely not on a college campus. I have to say that no matter what these two kids genuinely feel in terms of their views, it was plain stupid and horrible of them to do this. I say it is dumb for their own sakes because they are smart enough to get into such a selective university and did something so bad, illegal, and stupid, that they have marred their own futures over it.
PS, @jonri I think ANY parent would be furious that their kid got into this kind of trouble and the marring of their educational (and other) futures, and the poor reputation they will be known for. Yes, one boy might be the son of someone who is in a high public position, though if that is the case that it is that person, this kid surely will have the best legal representation.
From what I gather, and this is really just hearsay from Yik Yak, some people think that they were trying to make it seem as though they were writing from the perspective of a Trump supporter in order to make him look bad. I can’t confirm or deny that. I have no clue.
One of these kids won a slew of graduation prizes for both academics and character at his boarding school. Hard to imagine what happened between then and now. Completely inexcusable, of course, but also very worrisome on many levels.
I had seen that boarding school award info too, @siemom. I guess the “pretending to be a Trump supporter” when vandalizing does make more sense as their motive than the accused boys actually holding the vile viewpoints themselves.
Either way, a new low in stupidity.
I’d love to know more about the accused kids. Were the 2 students “leaders” of the kind that Owen Labrie was? Had they gotten away with hateful, impulsive things before and did their highs schools just sweep those things under the rug? Could their HS or their parents have done anything differently during their adolescence?
While possible, one cannot rule out the possibility they actually held those vile viewpoints or were Trump supporters at this point. And being an alum of a NE boarding school doesn’t necessarily mean one is immune from such viewpoints/political perspectives.
Especially considering Trump himself is an alum of a NE boarding school.
I don’t think they will be expelled for more than a semester. It is spray paint vandalism, and while the words are offensive, it is free speech. I don’t see this as a hate crime because no one was hurt, and they didn’t make any explicit threats as far as I can tell. If an insult can be a hate crime, then Trump would be in jail.
They did not destroy the building like the Michigan students last year, and those students were not expelled. Why expel students for this stupidity when they rarely get expelled for rape?
“Free speech” in the way you used the term only means the government can’t regulate your speech (well, not without good cause at least). If a private university deems the student’s words to be hateful/offensive/intimidating, and if that is against the code of conduct, then the students will suffer whatever consequence are laid out in the school’s rules and regulations.
A university expelling a student is wholly and completely different from a government putting someone in jail.
@Much2learn They were charged with institutional vandalism, hate crime to a place of worship, and criminal damage of properties. Those are all felonies in the state of Illinois.
It also seems like you don’t know what a hate crime is. According to the FBI, a hate crime is:
"don’t think they will be expelled for more than a semester. It is spray paint vandalism, and while the words are offensive, it is free speech. "
I think you’re confused on free speech. It simply means the govt cannot punish you. NU is a private institution. There is a code of conduct students are expected to follow or they can kick you out which (duh) includes not destroying university property. Just like how religious colleges can kick you out for drinking or short skirts or whatever else is in the code of conduct.
“Were the 2 students “leaders” of the kind that Owen Labrie was? Had they gotten away with hateful, impulsive things before and did their highs schools just sweep those things under the rug?”
Every bad person has a “first time.” It’s quite possible this was their first bad act, as opposed to their tenth. everyone tries to look for warning signs. But maybe there were none.
I don’t see why it even matters if they are Trump supporters or not, or whether they even hold the beliefs they spray painted. The point is, they carried it out. (in fact, it is even dumber to take the risk and do this act if they didn’t even align with the graffiti itself). I agree with those who say that hate crimes don’t fall under free speech, as well as those who clarified that besides the law, there is the code of conduct a college can enforce.
As an aside, they damaged school property, and a place of worship, and even if they drew rainbows and hearts, that is still damaging school property and a house of worship.
This is a very sad situation for the Northwestern community to have happen. The reports are terrible…and the names of these young men will be forever associated with this incident, regardless of the legal or school discipline outcomes.
It is very possible that this was a first time…and hopefully isolated event for these young men. It doesn’t make,the situation less horrible…but it is possible.
I can’t imagine how their parents are feeling right now.
I expect that they’ll be expelled, and I think that’s the right consequence from the school. I expect that they’ll plead guilty to misdemeanors, the felonies will go away, and they’ll get community service, probation, and/or fines, which I also think is the right consequence.
I’ve been wrong about all of the above before, but those are my predictions.
I agree with others that there may be more to the story, whether this was a nutso attempt to smear Trump fans or an attempt to impress some older guys/frat members with their daring exploits. It’s also possible that it was just rage and a childish way to give a big middle finger to the university and its students.
Exactly. NU has no obligation to keep on campus someone who vandalized their property, much2learn. I don’t get your free speech argument. It’s not free speech for me to paint something on your wall.