From The State:
. . . state senators voted Tuesday to require Upstate and the College of Charleston to spend nearly $70,000 to teach the Constitution and other U.S. founding documents. That is the same cost as the colleges paid for gay-themed books that they assigned to freshmen last fall.
The two books, Fun Home and Outloud: The Best of Rainbow Radio, were called either pornographic or not in line with "South Carolina values," according to some legislators. They originally cut over $70,000 collectively from the budget of the colleges. One legislator in particular, Sen. Larry Grooms, told The State that Tuesday's vote should be considered a censure against the colleges for spreading pornography:
“We spoke to the fact, ‘You did something wrong,’ ” Grooms said. “This is a way of making amends.”
Sen. Brad Hutto, who has been a vocal opponent of legislative actions against the colleges, accused his fellow senators of getting ridiculously riled up over the fact that the books were talking about lgbt issues.
The State also said:
The full Senate voted to require the schools to use the money to teach provisions and principles of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Federalist Papers as well as “the study of and devotion to American institutions and ideals.” The budget amendment mentions an outdated state law that requires colleges to teach the founding documents for a year and graduates to prove loyalty to the United States before receiving a degree. The S.C. solicitor general has called that 90-year-old law “constitutionally suspect and problematic.” Grooms said he wanted the two schools to teach the founding documents required in that law after hearing opponents of the House funding cuts call for academic freedom in allowing the gay-themed books.
So in order to punish two colleges for offering gay-themed books for their students to read, the SC state legislature is forcing them to spend money to teach classes on documents which talk about fairness and equal treatment being important principles of America. No doubt, the irony will be lost on South Carolina's so-called "freedom loving" senators who voted for this ridiculous agreement. Allow me to offer them and certain House members a little advice. When these classes begin, I would suggest that some of them take front row seats with pen and paper in hand. It's obvious that while these legislators love talking about this country's principles of fairness and equal treatment, they have no idea what these principles mean.
Related posts:
SC senators intensely debate gay-themed issues, state budget
SC Governor Haley defends colleges feuding with legislators over lgbt issues.
For SC State Senator Mike Fair, it's all about 'gay sex'
SC lawmaker accuses college of 'recruiting' students to be gay
South Carolina's 'Axis of Jackasses' threatens higher education over lgbt issues
South Carolina legislators declare war on state colleges over gay issues
Are SC legislators harming state universities on behalf on anti-gay groups?
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