Vice President of the prominent club sends Facebook message to 400, later apologizes for content.
AIRAN SCRUBY
News Editor
The vice president of the Pepperdine College Republicans has been removed from his position as a communication liaison for the club after sending an anti-John Kerry e-mail to about 400 members through the club’s Facebook group.
Ben Seale will continue to serve as one of two vice presidents for the organization, but will no longer be involved in communication for the club, according to the club’s adviser Dr. John Jones.
Jones, a professor of Communication, is on sabbatical this semester but met with Seale and the club’s president, Kate Black, yesterday to discuss the mass e-mail.
The communication was sent in August, and was criticized by professors and students, including members of the College Republicans. In it, Seale expressed his displeasure with the announcement of the senator’s scheduled visit to campus.
Jones said Seale’s actions were unacceptable, and though he will retain his position as vice president, he will be on a “zero-tolerance policy” regarding any future offense.
“When something like this occurs, the important thing is for the person to acknowledge the mistake, offer sincere regret, learn from the mistake and not repeat it and for forgiveness to occur,” Jones said.
Seale’s e-mail called Kerry a “F-ing/Flip-Flop/Voted for the $80 Billion Before I Voted Against It/He Ain’t Nothin’ But a Gold Digger/Fake Purple Hearts/American Traitor.” Seale also said the university had a history of inviting too many liberal politicians to campus.
“I think we have a duty as College Republicans and responsible citizens to speak out against this—both chastising the dean and whoever is responsible, and make Kerry’s stay here unwelcome,” Seale wrote.
Seale issued an explanation on Facebook of his comments as sarcasm after group members and faculty expressed disappointment in his statements, but after the meeting with Jones and Black, chose to issue a second statement. Seale said he would place the statement on Facebook today.
In his final statement, Seale said his actions were not on behalf of the College Republicans and that he regretted having sent the e-mail.
“The message was careless and inexcusable, and I humbly ask for forgiveness from anyone who was hurt by my words,” Seale said.
Seale said in his second message that he wrote much of the message in jest.
Seaver College Dean David Baird said Kerry was invited to campus after the university received word that Kerry was looking for a Christian university, where he could address his own faith as an important part of his political agenda.
Baird said he extended the invitation to Kerry and felt the senator’s presence could enrich campus life.
“I am well aware, of course, that Pepperdine’s public image politically is conservative and Republican, but I am also aware that an educational institution that is worth its salt welcomes diverse perspectives in the public square,” Baird said.
Baird called Seale’s comments unfortunate and anti-intellectual.
Dr. Dan Caldwell, a distinguished professor of political science, said he was very upset by Seale’s comments and was among the first to express his disagreement by contacting Seale, through a phone conversation and e-mail.
“I was deeply offended by it as a citizen, as a veteran, and as a member of the Pepperdine community,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell also disagreed with Seale’s suggestion that Kerry’s purple hearts were not earned and that he is a traitor to the United States. Caldwell said he believed these insults were the worst that could be dealt to a veteran.
Caldwell said he planned to make sure that disruptions or disrespect during Kerry’s speech do not occur.
“I will do everything I can to prosecute anyone who disrupts the talk,” Caldwell said.
Kate Black, president of College Republicans, also said it was important to respect Kerry when he comes to campus, and that College Republicans would do nothing to protest his visit to campus.
“To get the campus involved in any kind of politics is great,” Black said.
Black also said she wanted to make it clear that Seale’s comments did not express the views of the College Republicans or its members.
“John Kerry deserves our respect,” Black said. “If there’s any protest, it is not on behalf of College Republicans.”
09-07-2006