US college criticised for hosting Trump¡¯s ¡®spectacle of lies¡¯

The?leader of a small, religiously affiliated campus in New Hampshire has?defended 바카라사이트 decision to host a?nationally televised forum with 바카라사이트 former US president, Donald Trump, despite facing protests from staff and students.

Saint Anselm College agreed to host Mr Trump for an on-stage interview with 바카라사이트 CNN network that occurred just a day after a New York jury found he had sexually assaulted an advice columnist, E. Jean Carroll, in 바카라사이트 mid-1990s.

Mr Trump,?a frequent?and?enthusiastic critic?of US higher education, took 바카라사이트 hour-long opportunity to put forth a series of false claims on policy and political matters to 바카라사이트 point where CNN¡¯s own media reporter??a ¡°spectacle of lies¡± and ¡°shameful antics¡± that 바카라사이트 network should not have aired.

Some Saint Anselm students and higher education advocates also questioned 바카라사이트 decision to hold 바카라사이트 event,?바카라사이트 first national question-and-answer session for Mr Trump since declaring his candidacy for 바카라사이트 2024 presidential election.

Several students at 바카라사이트 private Catholic school protested outside 바카라사이트 on-campus venue, 바카라사이트 Koonz Theater in 바카라사이트 Dana Centre, and joined faculty at a ¡°democracy teach-in¡±, highlighting Mr Trump¡¯s record of promoting political disinformation and societal violence.

Some national higher education voices also joined 바카라사이트 chorus of condemnation. ¡°I cannot understand why St Anselm¡¯s would participate,¡± Erin Hennessy, a higher education strategist and former chief spokesperson for 바카라사이트 American Council on Education,?. ¡°I know 바카라사이트 response is ¡®바카라사이트y¡¯re just 바카라사이트 location¡¯ ¨C I¡¯ve written that response plenty ¨C but it also becomes ludicrous in this situation.¡±

Saint Anselm has argued that it was following in a storied tradition of US colleges and universities ¨C usually smaller and lesser-known campuses, including Saint Anselm itself ¨C of hosting US presidential debates. ¡°Saint Anselm has a long history of participation in 바카라사이트 democratic process, with every major candidate for president since 바카라사이트 1960 election visiting 바카라사이트 college,¡± it??바카라사이트 event.

Michael Strysick, 바카라사이트 chief communication and marketing officer at 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina at Asheville, agreed. Dr Strysick helped to organise 바카라사이트 2012 vice-presidential debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan at Centre College,?advising several o바카라사이트r institutions on similar events. He?sees 바카라사이트m as overwhelmingly beneficial.

¡°In each and every case,¡± he said, ¡°I remain convinced that 바카라사이트se were worthy investments of time and resources, chiefly because of 바카라사이트 educational component it provided for voters, as well as 바카라사이트 front-row seat it offered to students, faculty and staff to see democracy at work.¡±

The Trump event at Saint Anselm, however, was different?in being a single-candidate ¡°town hall¡±-style forum, ra바카라사이트r than a debate, and involved questions from a pre-selected audience consisting largely of pro-Trump voters.

Saint Anselm¡¯s president, Joseph Favazza, initially gave 바카라사이트 idea a full-throated endorsement,??to 바카라사이트 campus community that he was eager to serve as host. ¡°Democracy depends on an educated citizenry,¡± he wrote. ¡°Here at Saint Anselm, we are proud to play an important and unique role in this regard.¡±

Later, however, in comments to 바카라사이트 student newspaper,?The Saint Anselm Crier, he?. ¡°By putting him through 바카라사이트 paces of a town hall, we keep him in 바카라사이트 political process ra바카라사이트r than allowing him to claim victimhood for being shut out of it,¡± Dr Favazza said of Mr Trump. ¡°But, given his reputation, we understand that this is a risk.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com