WASHINGTON (AP) — The No. 2 Senate Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, has been pulled from the commencement program at Texas Southern University after students at the historically black university protested his planned appearance.
In a statement Friday the university said that Cornyn has been asked to “instead visit with our students again at a future date in order to keep the focus on graduates and their families.”
The development comes days after Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was booed and heckled as she delivered a commencement speech at a different historically black university, in Florida.
In a petition protesting Cornyn’s planned appearance Saturday, students had cited various stances he has taken, including his confirmation votes in favor of DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and his low rating by the NAACP.
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University officials said his visit is tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2079.
Face it, John. This isn’t a free speech issue. As a captive audience, they’re just not that into you. Now perhaps if you were to bring yourself to the quad along with a strong wooden box, well…
Profiles in cowardice. Require reading for a young GOPer in college.
Whose bright idea was it to invite Cornyn - CORNYN - in the first place…???
What are these universities thinking in extending these invitations?
“Sure we could invites someone to address our student’s whose life in service of civil rights is an inspiration to all of us, but why not someone whose public life has been in opposition to the advancement of our students? Their commencement address seems like a perfect opportunity to hear from the other side.”