2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
On the Card controversy
Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Daily Collegian Editorial Board
Issue date: 5/10/07 Section: Editorial / Opinion
Andrew "Andy" Card, the former Chief of Staff of the Bush Administration, is getting an honorary degree from UMass, and our campus is up-in-arms. His speech in April angered students, and now the University is growing louder in protest. These protests have taken the form of 'Die-ins', as well as organized meetings. Now, as the time of graduation rapidly approaches along with Card's official acceptance, disgruntled resistance has reached a crescendo.
For those who are unfamiliar with Card's career and accomplishments, he started as a corruption-fighting Massachusetts State Representative, making an unsuccessful run for governor in 1982. Afterward, he worked in both the Reagan and Bush administrations and as a lobbyist in the automobile industry. Most recently, Mr. Card found himself appointed Chief of Staff for current president, George W. Bush, in 2001. Though he resigned last year, it is due to this position in the White House that such controversy emerged on our campus.
Dissidents to his honorary degree depict Card as a talking head of the Iraq War. Being in charge of the White House Iraq Group, he played an important role in lobbying the necessity of war to the American people. Going on the UMass-Amherst website, one can see the criterion for the selection process includes a statement that candidates "shall be persons of great accomplishment and high ethical standards who exemplify the ideals of the University of Massachusetts." Protesters argue that an honorary degree winner represents the University, and with it the student body - by giving Card a degree, we affirm and support the war in Iraq by association.
For some here on campus, this is enough to get them up in arms with a picket sign, and these same people will try to convince others to do the same. But the truth is, if you are not already emotional over Andy Card, chances are you never will be. Furthermore, there is no group compelled to come out and speak for his merits. One can parallel the situation to the present two moods of the United States public regarding the War in Iraq - either we are ignited or we are ignoring. In our country, there are less openly opposed, and even fewer are gung-ho.
For those who are unfamiliar with Card's career and accomplishments, he started as a corruption-fighting Massachusetts State Representative, making an unsuccessful run for governor in 1982. Afterward, he worked in both the Reagan and Bush administrations and as a lobbyist in the automobile industry. Most recently, Mr. Card found himself appointed Chief of Staff for current president, George W. Bush, in 2001. Though he resigned last year, it is due to this position in the White House that such controversy emerged on our campus.
Dissidents to his honorary degree depict Card as a talking head of the Iraq War. Being in charge of the White House Iraq Group, he played an important role in lobbying the necessity of war to the American people. Going on the UMass-Amherst website, one can see the criterion for the selection process includes a statement that candidates "shall be persons of great accomplishment and high ethical standards who exemplify the ideals of the University of Massachusetts." Protesters argue that an honorary degree winner represents the University, and with it the student body - by giving Card a degree, we affirm and support the war in Iraq by association.
For some here on campus, this is enough to get them up in arms with a picket sign, and these same people will try to convince others to do the same. But the truth is, if you are not already emotional over Andy Card, chances are you never will be. Furthermore, there is no group compelled to come out and speak for his merits. One can parallel the situation to the present two moods of the United States public regarding the War in Iraq - either we are ignited or we are ignoring. In our country, there are less openly opposed, and even fewer are gung-ho.
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