Betsy DeVos to Speak at Bethune-Cookman University Commencement

StoneColdMikey wrote: »

I hope they boo her ass. ? that ?

Texas Southern cancels Cornyn’s commencement address

Texas Southern University said Friday that Sen. John Cornyn will no longer speak Saturday during the historically black college’s commencement ceremony.

The announcement — two days after Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was booed during a commencement address at a historically black college in Florida — comes in the wake of opposition to the Texas Republican’s appearance by many graduates. A petition signed by some students expressed opposition to Cornyn’s votes for DeVos’ and Attorney General Jeff Sessions confirmations, among other issues.

The Houston-based university said in a Facebook post that “every consideration is made to ensure that our students’ graduation day is a celebratory occasion.”

“We asked Senator Cornyn to instead visit with our students again at a future date in order to keep the focus on graduates and their families,” the post said. “We, along with Senator Cornyn, agree that the primary focus of commencement should be a celebration of academic achievement.”

A spokesman for the Senate majority whip told POLITICO in a statement that Cornyn “was honored to be invited to address TSU’s graduates, but he respects the administration’s decision and looks forward to continuing to engage with the university in the future.”

By Friday, 863 people had signed the petition on change.org, an online activist petition network.

Texas Southern released a statement saying that the decision was made for the sake of the students and their families: "Every consideration is made to ensure that our student's graduation day is a celebratory occasion and one they will remember positively for years to come. We asked Senator Cornyn to instead visit with our students again at a future date in order to keep the focus on graduates and their families."

In an online appeal for signatures, she said that "Cornyn and his political party create and support policies that cause harm to marginalized communities." She also cited Cornyn's votes to approve DeVos, Jeff Sessions as attorney general, and his support for voter ID law.

Sense of 'jubilation'

Word spread among students on social media Thursday night before the school's official announcement Friday, said sophomore Kernard Jones, who is studying political science.

When students realized that the speech's cancellation was fact, not rumor, there was a sense of "jubilation," he said.

He said the petition took off because many students saw Cornyn's speech as hypocritical, as they did not see the senator as invested in TSU or any historically black university.

"(Cornyn) really doesn't have a connection with Texas Southern University," Jones said. "I'm pretty sure if we were to shut down tomorrow, then he wouldn't put up that much of a fight to keep us open. And that's what really makes us as students really turn our backs on him."

Marcus Smith, a graduating senior and the student newspaper's editor, said he wasn't surprised that the university made a change based on the concerns of student activists.

Last year, a Take Back TSU campaign on social media led to safety improvements around campus.

"When the students rally together and use their voice, a lot gets done and a lot can happen," he said. "I knew it was only a matter of time before it would be changed."