University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro speaks at a Senate subcommittee hearing in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, May 16, 2013, about fees being used to pay for speakers at a student-initiated Sex Week program. DiPietro told the panel that that the First Amendment requires school officials to remain neutral about the subjects that speakers want to address. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)
Joe DiPietro
NASHVILLE — University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro defended the Knoxville campus’s spring “Sex Week” program under critical questioning Thursday from state Sen. Stacey Campfield in a legislative hearing.
“In my professional opinion, it is very, very important on a university campus to have some sex education going on,” DiPietro told the Knoxville Republican at one point, adding that if a single unwanted pregnancy or sexual assault was prevented as a result, that would justify the program.
“I have to go back to the First Amendment,” he said. “I have a professional obligation to preserve the First Amendment. I’m sorry.”
Campfield replied that he, too, supports freedom of speech under the First Amendment, but the issue is “forcing students to pay for speech they find objectionable.” He cited as an example a “transgender cross-dressing show” during the April week of events.
“If someone wants to dress up like a duck, God bless them. But I shouldn’t have to pay for it,” said Campfield.
DiPietro led a contingent of UT officials at a hearing before the Senate Higher Education Oversight Subcommittee. A group from the Board of Regents system was also on hand for the panel’s review of how mandatory student fees are spent on campuses around the state.
Both groups made lengthy presentations to the legislators — the hearing lasted almost two hours — including slide show presentations.
One slide showed that from 2010 until the present, UT has paid $495,385 for 96 speakers at campus student organization events, including those speaking at Sex Week. Regents schools have paid $703,724 for 239 speakers. In both cases, that is about 1 percent of the student activity fee budget.
Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, who presided over the meeting, billed it as an information-gathering session. He said the subcommittee would compile a report for the full Senate Education Committee, possibly including recommendations for legislative action next year.
There were no recommendations for legislation at Thursday’s hearing, but there were several debate clashes between Campfield and DiPietro. Among them:
n Campfield compiled a list of paid speakers at UT in the past three years that he said, with one or two exceptions, appeared to be “left-leaning people.”
UT officials had explained that policy on speakers brought in by campus organizations, largely dictated by lawsuits and court decisions, required that the university be “content- or viewpoint-neutral.” Campfield said the list shows “there probably seems to be some content bias.”
“The list you have doesn’t reflect the whole portfolio of speakers we have on campus,” replied DiPietro.
He said many conservative speakers and Republicans appear on campus regularly, typically speaking without being paid a fee. He listed recent speakers including Sen. Lamar Alexander, former Sen. Howard Baker and Gov. Bill Haslam.
Further, he said, the College Young Republican chapter at UT has not requested funding for any speakers in the past three years and, if groups do not put in an application and go through the student-controlled selection process, they cannot get funding.
n Campfield said some Sex Week activities were apparently open to students who are under the age of 18, an assertion that one UT official acknowledged was correct. But DiPietro said that only “six out of 27,000” students were under age 18, and they were admitted under special circumstances that included counseling with parents.
The senator asked DiPietro if he considered it appropriate for underage youths to be viewing events at Sex Week.
“I have a personal opinion and a professional opinion,” replied DiPietro, adding his professional opinion was that UT policy calls for all students to be “treated the same.”
Campfield asked if the UT president would consider adjusting that policy.
“I think we would consider that, sir,” replied DiPietro.
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Comments » 207
Bitterwater writes:
Appears "The Sen" is vigilant in protecting our community by maintaining a list of “left-leaning people". Not unlike another senator (McCarthy) that maintained a list of Communists.
Republican primary Aug. 7, 2014 - vote for a candidate that won't be a source of material for the Comedy Channel.
Kasey writes:
If students found the content objectionable they did not have to attend. Fees are used to pay for many other things the some students might object to, but that's never stopped it. Homophobe Stacey just looking for more attention. Please get him out of office next election.
StateofEastTN writes:
When is "dress up like a duck" day? Election day? Send Mr. Campfield back to New York.
Crock_Holliday writes:
Campfield is mad because he has to pay for his own high heels.
In related news, there was a report that one of the transgender cross-dressers was wearing a Mexican wrestler's mask.
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
When I went to school, there were always some kind of activities going on and the there were frequent themed observations (or "weeks") drawing attention to this or that. Sometimes they got my attention, sometimes they didn't.
Campfield's argument seems to be having to pay for something that you don't like, which doesn't seem to hold water. I also had a student meal ticket which allowed me to eat at the campus cafeteria. Some things they served I liked, some I didn't.
The point is if you don't like it. you're not being forced to participate...money not withstanding. I think "The Sen" is using the money argument as a crutch...and as with many of his arguments, it ain't working.
shoes writes:
"“If someone wants to dress up like a duck, God bless them. But I shouldn’t have to pay for it,” said Campfield."
Exactly. That attitude doesn't make Campfield a "homophobe," it makes him a representative who recognizes the will of the taxpayers coerced into funding that fiasco.
There's a lot of unhappiness with the way UT spends taxpayer money on all sorts of extraneous things, not just sex week. DiPietro is only feeding that unhappiness. UT can't educate, UT can't go a year without a substantial tuition increase, but UT can fund utter silliness. Bull.
lm5449#205749 writes:
Looks like the leftists and socialist are doing good with list also. You always run someone that is worse so you will lose again.
Puffy writes:
I'm glad someone is questioning the way UT spends money. Tuition has gone out of sight and I have yet to hear anyone from the University address bringing it back down. "Nothing to see here, surrender your wallet and move along"
Damitman writes:
Stacy and the rest of the right are afraid that UT will teach the actual truth and try to educate students instead of indoctrinateing them into the right wing pholosiphy of their version of the truth. If Stacy and the holy rollers on the right are so afraid of sex education, then how on earth do they think they got here? I bet Stacy spent alot of his youth in the back seat of daddy's car with somebody!! I won't say girl friend because I'm not so sure he leans that way!!!
bidnsman#244003 writes:
Sex Week was a STUPID idea and a waste of money. Does anyone think that college kids don't know about sex? The idea that this is sex education is a lie. It's all about pushing a more liberal sexual agenda, we all know that. Our university is Out Of Control !
leon writes:
......(snip) I’m sorry.....
President Joe DiPietro
I agree, Mr. President.
PotatoHead writes:
Why do we have to pay for Stacey Campfield?
tbob writes:
He got his name in the paper and on teevee and that is all that matters for him, not that he's making any sense.
Caneoverthere writes:
“If someone wants to dress up like a duck, God bless them. But I shouldn’t have to pay for it,” said Campfield.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I feel the same way about 90% of the things our HoopleHeads do in Nashville.
mysterymom writes:
UT's bought in some outstanding artists, speakers, and musicians over the years through events sponsored in part with student fees. Granted, they've also brought in some controversial ones and some real duds. As a student and a community member I attended those that I thought interesting and often ignored the others. Was amazed at some; provoked by others -- but that's part of campus culture -- learning about different views.
I'm guessing the Sex Week topics were mostly jazzed up marketing to try to attract students...and that many of the sessions were probably attended more by the committee members than independent students. Granted the committees should be good financial stewards, but sometimes this is how students/we learn -- successes and flops!
ROADFOREMAN_KNOWS_ALL writes:
I see a bit of bias in the story and in, particularly, the choice of photos. Does anyone else see what I see?
thatotherguy writes:
This is almost a good point, until you remember that the world is bigger than Knoxville. Find a four year university where tuition has gone down in recent years. Better yet, find of an R1, flagship state institution in the US where tuition is going down. If this is Campfield's main problem with the situation, it's pretty weak.
Remember that the tuition funds the course offerings, which means that students and parents are often paying for courses they don't like or wouldn't take for whatever ideological reason they have. If enough students don't sign up for the course, the course doesn't make. While students may not completely control the initial offerings (previous courses that made and professorial interest do), their willingness to sign up does control which courses are ultimately taught in a given semester.
Student tuition and fees are working pretty much the same way: their interest influences what either funds and ultimately determines the attendance for these things.
southknoxone writes:
Well Stacey, the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay state senators to dress up like fools in masks and disrupt football games....but I seem to remember your doing just that a few years ago.
Crock_Holliday writes:
You mean the classic photo of Campfield with his mouth open, looking up? Yeah, I noticed.
FrankTheTank2012 writes:
Why did DiPietro just now decide to grow a pair and take on the state? He should have told Stacey to screw himself months ago when this was an issue.
martvol writes:
And if someone wants to dress up like a Mexican wrestler and get escorted out of a UT football game, God bless them too.
But do they have to be my state senator?
Bring on 8/7/14 and Dr. Richard Briggs.
bbholston#1398245 writes:
A University is a place of higher learning where traditionally important and , yes sometimes unusual issues will be discussed. Tennessee has a policy of inviting all sorts of speakers representing many different views on issues of the day. Tennessee is not a private Baptist college where only one point of view is presented. If you want a faith based education send your kids to a faith based university.
In the meantime U of T is doing a fine job of offering a well rounded education across the entire state and strange people like Campfield need to butt out and leave the people who know what they are doing to educate the students. This whole affair is silly and disgusting and shows the general lack of respect for education in this state that conservatives have. This is the same idiot who came to a football game in a mask and defied police orders to remove it and wound up on the street watching the game thru the fence. He has had a vendetta against UT ever since that incident.
The7thSon2010 writes:
Stacey 'NoClass' Campfield, the head nut on the wingnut tree, again embraces his fabricated arrogant ignorance, to 'fit in' with the radical fringe of his hate spouting political party.. A local 'sick puppy', a product of the local culture of corruption, in both politics and business, fee offices, boards, development corporations, and anonymous investment groups....
If the rightwingers didnt have liberals, progressives, the media, to hate and blame, whine about and demonize, they might take a hard look at themselves, and actually do something positive, for themselves and society, besides complain and hate..
They still worship at the feet of the millionaire, ciggys, beer, corndog and lottery ticket peddling, Haslams, even after the FBI raid on their local business.. And whine, becoming 'victims' of IRS scrutiny, after being investigated, for trying to turn 'hate Obama' TEAr Party political PACs, in to 'Social Welfare NonProfits', by misrepresenting their intent and methods.. Then theres the CIA operation in Binghaze.. Benghazi has finally 'tettered' out, after everyone discovering the CIA recommended calling the attatck, spontaneous, and involvement of the National Security folks, to cover what was a CIA operation, not a 'consolate'..
Nothing new locally.. We have many 'sunday morning christains', who faith surfaces between racial slurs, offcolor jokes, and 'hate Obama' toxic rhetoric.. We have commissioners and excommisioners, that also campaigned on 'christain family values', that wrote letters of support to the court on the SharpsRidge Flashers behalf..
We still have the untrustworthy trustee, prince of a local political dynasty, the unsecure school security chief, the 'office houseboat party animal' taxman, the SharpsRidge Flasher, and envelopes of hundred dollar bills, floatin round the arithmetic challanged, paypal fearing, mayors desk.. The exmayors, now govenors family business being raided by the FBI and IRS, over alledged 'criminal conduct'.. What does one expect from a local culture of corruption, and politics of hatred.. When the govenor rejects health insurance coverage for 300,000 or so, of the states working poor, fully federally funded, it speaks volumes about the politics, of this political dynasty, of these rightwingers, their honor, and integrity, and honesty..
After all, Campfield was endorsed by Burchette, Haslam, and the local republican political machine..
Crock_Holliday writes:
The well-rounded education notwithstanding, Campfield will always have bias against an institution to which he was acedemically ineligible to attemd.
PotatoHead writes:
More fake conservative outrage. Why would you want to discuss sex and sexuality in college when there are airport bathrooms, prostitutes, the Appalachian Trail or Argentina, and adulterous affairs available.
I have never heard of anyone so hung up on sex and sexuality as Campfield. He always seems to be worried about what other people are doing.
Hey Stacey, why don't you try it? Maybe it will relieve some of that te-----nsion.
gbl24 writes:
Grow up Stacey, get your head out of the sand. The students of today will seek information from all sides, including their experiences at UT. Without these experiences they will end up ignorant, which is exactly what you are preaching. Information is power, ignorance is failure for all mankind.
The7thSon2010 writes:
........
Thats the thing, the TEAr Party, rightwingnuts, are wanting to be 'victims' now.. Victims of abuse, victims of the IRS, victims of the media.. Conservatives are whining they are 'targets', after trying to disgiuise what were PACs, political 'hate Obama' campaigns, as 'social charity' nonprofits, that garnered IRS attention.."501(c)(4)
These are civic leagues, social welfare organizations, and local associations of employees. They promote community welfare, charitable, education or recreational goals. They apply using IRS Form 1024. They file annually 990 or 990EZ"
KNS Strickland Says:
Ownby had campaigned on a very conservative platform — families first and such. I don’t recall him specifically campaigning against gays and lesbians, but the implication was certainly there in the midst of his church, prayer and tea party forever flag-waving...
... given that severe lapse in judgment, we have to hope that the Knox County Commission censures him, and if he insists on continuing his public embarrassment that the good people of the 4th District vote him out in 2016.
So Staceys typical pic, his mouth open, spewing hatred and toxic rhetoric, is not 'apprpriate'??
What would be, a picture of him in his wrestlin mask, the anonymous varmit, getting kicked out of a UT football game?? A loser is just that, a loser.. Name recognition just makes him a well known loser..
ROADFOREMAN_KNOWS_ALL writes:
Yes, the photo was distinctly unflattering. The pose made Campfield look almost Neanderthal-like. I am sure there we other photos the editors could have selected, shots that were slightly more flattering.
It's an old trick, using images to create a "soft bias." Both sides use it. Nevertheless, readers should be aware of it.
PS: I have my media pundit robes on today. Watch out! Kelley Leiter, Thornburg, Kalshoven, and Puett will be proud.
tireofdidiots writes:
Dress like a duck I don't want to pay for it how about people living on welfare for years and generations I don't want to pay for that but I do
Caneoverthere writes:
Are you suggesting UT has higher admission standards than Broome Community College and good ole Excelsior College?
marbles writes:
Right on, Senator!! Don't back down. God Bless Ya.
marbles writes:
What's DiPietro's real agenda?
retfaredtri writes:
I don't like that some of my tax dollars are being used to fund the salary of a homophobic jack..s who shames the office of State Senator. Stacey, I demand that you step aside so that my hard earned money is not spent so frivolously on something I object to.
bobo1593028 writes:
Perhaps this is what Staci X has in mind for Dress Like A Duck day? It's probably one of his favorite outfits.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...-MsS_pzd6hM&sa=X&ei=GBuWUZXBBo_G9gTQvYGQBg&ved=0CD8Q9QEwBA&dur=905
TNMugwamp writes:
I don't agree with having to pay additional per diem ($176 plus mileage) to legislators after session is closed just so they can grand stand. In this battle of wits I am afraid Stacy was way out gunned.
bobo1593028 writes:
Hey, Staci, I never went to one single sports event during the time I was a student at UT. Can I get a manual rebate for all the student activities fees I paid for all those violent, testosterone-driven, crime-riddled events I never supported?
Wait, on second thought, forget the "manual" part.
bobo1593028 writes:
Staci X appears to be a Darryl Issa wannabe. He should start coloring his hair with black shoe polish instead of Tang.®
neelysmom writes:
Stacey Campfield is guilty of the worst kind of ignorance - - willful ignorance.
LouisVol writes:
Let's see, Stacey objects to paying for speech with which someone may disagree, but then he argues that his side (to which a lot of people object) is not represented. Stacey, why don't you decide what you want and then have the hearing? If you don't want to fund speech that may be controversial, then argue that way. If you want speech representing your point of view to be funded, then argue that way... You can't have it both ways though.
nosir writes:
DiPietro is typical of the liberal rot that has infested our public universities.
The7thSon2010 writes:
Funny, local republicans circled the wagons, defended, and remain silent about Knoxvilles own SharpsRidge Flasher.. His 'sex week' got spoiled by the local police, not Stacey 'NoClass' Campfields efforts to cut funding..
What a dim bulb, making his reputation spewing toxic rhetoric, and advancing wanton ignorrance, throwin redmeat to the local 'hate Obama', blame the poor, minoritys, immigrants, rightwing radicals.. And from a area dependent on government, for its prosperity, TVA, DOE, DOD, ect ect.. Thought the republicans were yelling jobs, jobs, jobs... That was until they got elected.. LOL..
So as the fool continues his 'dog and pony' show, pandering to the Hoots, we all watch the theatrics of politics play out, in a sick 'soap opera', of the radical rightwingers, playing victim and whining..
Guess a republican county commissioner, charged with having public sex, in a park, is 'forgiven', by party affiliation, and Staceys 'gay hatred', doesnt extend to his fellow republicans, and the other 'christain value' commisioners that wrote letters of support to the court on his behalf.. Go figure..
martvol writes:
I'm thinking you know very little about the UT president and that you have limited knowledge about public universities in general, and UT Knoxville in particular. Am I right?
cejensen writes:
shoes writes:
"“If someone wants to dress up like a duck, God bless them. But I shouldn’t have to pay for it,” said Campfield."
Exactly. That attitude doesn't make Campfield a "homophobe," it makes him a representative who recognizes the will of the taxpayers coerced into funding that fiasco.
There's a lot of unhappiness with the way UT spends taxpayer money on all sorts of extraneous things, not just sex week. DiPietro is only feeding that unhappiness. UT can't educate, UT can't go a year without a substantial tuition increase, but UT can fund utter silliness. Bull.
----------------------------------
I take exception with how UT conducts some of it business....sex week is no one of them.
Axemanagain writes:
If I had to venture a guess I would say because this is when the legislature scheduled the legislative hearing.
joseph_mccarthy writes:
Yes, God bless ALL the homophobes and idiots and jacka##s. Lord knows they need it.
marbles writes:
You say ignorance, I say good sense.
PetulantVol writes:
My tax money helps pay the salary of the Republican members of our federal, state, and local governments. I do not like that. I do not think that as a left leaning citizen that my money should pay people that have a different viewpoint than I do and differing policies. Therefore I want it added to tax codes that each person's share of taxes should be paid toward their particular political party members. If I'm paying them to work I want the only ones to get paid with my share of tax money to be Democrats. (See how asinine that sounds? That's basically what is going on here.) It's being (sex week) done at Harvard for Pete's sake. People in the South just need to learn that it's not the Victorian Age any longer.
http://www.hsexweek.org/
The7thSon2010 writes:
We had to pay for BillyBobs bowing to the radical fringe, Bush's unfunded wars, the CIA's waterboarding and torture, and gave tax exempt status to local megachurchees to have republican campain rallys in their holy sanctuarys.. We had to suffer a collapsed economy, as a result of the republican deregulation, of WallStreet, paying dearly through retirement savings, and lost home equity..
So, you, Stacey, object to paying for 'sex week' at UT??
Really?? Like most on a low wage, you most certainly get more back in federal revenue than you ever paid in.. But reality doesnt really matter, does it??
Psst, Stacey, Science is not a liberal plot to discrdit the Bible..
vq4nfo writes:
Jenny (student affairs director) gets fired just before DiPietro has a "scheduled" meeting in Nashville about sex week? I am sure one has nothing to do with the other. LOL
One of these days Stacy will get caught in Sharps Ridge with his pants down!
atlkevin writes:
Campfield says the issue is “forcing students to pay for speech they find objectionable.”
Staci, I have to pay your salary through taxes. If I don't pay my taxes, you seize my property.
And I highly object to the mind-numbingly stupid things you say.
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