JuxtaFeb 19, 2023

The local University #MichiganTech recently reversed a student government decision and forced them to fund a conservative speaker from Turning Point USA claiming that not doing so violated the speaker's constitutionally protected free speech. A busy week of student activism, secret meetings, and social media pressure all lead up to a fierce clash between students and administration this past Friday.

If that sounds interesting then give my story a read.

https://www.copperbeacon.org/news/2d1a6c0r65j9tjmngmz9y91c4e8ngl

#Journalism #LocalNews #Keweenaw #TPUSA #FreeSpeech

Admin at MTU subverts student self-governance — Copper Beacon

On Friday, a special meeting was convened at the request of University Administration to overturn the Undergraduate Student Government’s (USG) decision to deny a funding request of $3,500 to partially cover a $10,000 conservative speaker’s fee. USG had previously voted down the request at their We

Copper Beacon
Show threadSarah GreenMar 18, 2023

@JuxtaPrax
Important update:
Keweenaw Pride and a coalition of other student groups are organizing a counter event with the goal of sucking all the attention away from the offensive speaker.
He wants attention and controversy, ignoring him is the best revenge.

Support Spring FLARE!

https://fundrazr.com/529sX2?ref=ab_fBuRr0_ab_AzDeEGvmXOMAzDeEGvmXOM

FLARE - Festival @ MTU

We at Sustainable Futures Association & Keweenaw Pride are happy to announce Spring FLARE! Spring FLARE (Festival of Love, Arts, Radiance, and Empowerment) is a celebration of the diverse artistry, identities, & talents of the Michigan Tech &am...

FundRazr
Show threadSarah GreenMar 18, 2023

@JuxtaPrax
@blbc
@LittleTownJane
@keithbacon
@AbortTheGQPNOW
@AlliFlowers
@inklings
@GoodVibes7472

Because I don’t quite get how responses/forwarding/tagging works on Mastodon.
#míchigan #michiganTech #keweenaw

Show threadSarah GreenMar 18, 2023
@AlliFlowers @JuxtaPrax @keithbacon @blbc @AbortTheGQPNOW @GoodVibes7472 @inklings @LittleTownJane
See thread above.
I was trying to update interested people about the Michigan Tech speaker next week.
Show threadMy Blue Check is MIAMar 20, 2023

@fatamorgana @AlliFlowers @JuxtaPrax @keithbacon @blbc @GoodVibes7472 @inklings @LittleTownJane

Good to have a counter event. And how did they get to just overturn the student government on this? Does a DeSantis cousin run the joint?

Show threadSarah GreenMar 20, 2023

@AbortTheGQPNOW @AlliFlowers @JuxtaPrax @keithbacon @blbc @GoodVibes7472 @inklings @LittleTownJane

The mistake the students inadvertently made was to state that they opposed funds for the speaker based on his political views rather than pointing out his lack of qualifications or likelihood to contribute constructively to campus.

Show threadMy Blue Check is MIAMar 20, 2023
@fatamorgana @AlliFlowers @JuxtaPrax @keithbacon @blbc @GoodVibes7472 @inklings @LittleTownJane Well, let's hope the other event works out.
Show threadSarah GreenMar 21, 2023
@GoodVibes7472 @JuxtaPrax @blbc @inklings @AbortTheGQPNOW @AlliFlowers @keithbacon @LittleTownJane
Awesome turnout!! Great vibe, music, art, food, love, and enthusiasm.
>20 students and community orgs have tables. Everyone is smiling.
Show threadMy Blue Check is MIA

@fatamorgana @GoodVibes7472 @JuxtaPrax @blbc @inklings @AlliFlowers @keithbacon @LittleTownJane

So the other thing was a shambles?

Mar 22, 2023 at 2:16amWeb
Show threadSarah GreenMar 25, 2023

@GoodVibes7472 @inklings @AbortTheGQPNOW @blbc @AlliFlowers @LittleTownJane @keithbacon @JuxtaPrax

I have yet to hear a peep about the speech by the unwanted speaker. It got zero press coverage.
After much hunting I’ve found one mention of it on a bird-site account (with 23 followers) claiming an audience of 300. The photo suggests (1) the number is inflated; (2) the back rows may have been occupied by interested observers, not fans.
#springFLAME #michigantech

Show threadMy Blue Check is MIAMar 25, 2023
@fatamorgana @GoodVibes7472 @inklings @blbc @AlliFlowers @LittleTownJane @keithbacon @JuxtaPrax
Show threadSarah GreenMar 25, 2023

@LittleTownJane @GoodVibes7472 @AlliFlowers @AbortTheGQPNOW @keithbacon @JuxtaPrax @inklings @blbc

Update:
News finally appeared today in the Copper Beacon. 500+ people at #SpringFLARE.

https://www.copperbeacon.org/news/last-minute-student-event-upstages-tpusa-speaker?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=641f0033481a6d60d9520857&ss_email_id=641f646a481a6d60d9579358&ss_campaign_name=The+1st+Amendment’s+Two+Edges&ss_campaign_sent_date=2023-03-25T21%3A15%3A32Z

Last-minute student event upstages TPUSA speaker — Copper Beacon

While a conservative speaker implored his audience to “Put God First!” dozens of student organizations, local businesses, churches, and artisans celebrated diversity, shared art, and danced to live music late into the night at Spring FLARE.

Copper Beacon
Show threadJuxtaMar 25, 2023

@fatamorgana @LittleTownJane @GoodVibes7472 @AlliFlowers @AbortTheGQPNOW @keithbacon @inklings @blbc

Copper Beacon sends out their weekly newsletter Saturday afternoon, most of my stories get published then. Both me and my editor prefer keeping to the weekly schedule as that gives us more time to collect information and fact-check the reporting rather than rushing to publish immediately.

Quality > Quantity
Accuracy > Speed

Hope that you enjoyed my story!

Show threadMy Blue Check is MIAMar 26, 2023

@fatamorgana @LittleTownJane @GoodVibes7472 @AlliFlowers @keithbacon @JuxtaPrax @inklings @blbc

Very good read.