Bravo! Northwestern University President Blasts Extremist Protesters – Wirepoints

By: Mark Glennon*

Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro has had more than enough of his students’ means of protesting for abolishing campus police. Some of their violent tactics are reported here.

Read his entire, open letter below.

His words are unequivocal and blistering: “I am disgusted by those who chose to disgrace this University in such a fashion…. I refuse to engage with individuals who continue to use the tactics of intimidation and violence.”

We’ve criticized Schapiro in the past for embracing the “safe place” culture now present on many campuses, so this is a welcome development that we hope sets a precedent not just for other universities but for the nation as a whole. He was mugged by reality, perhaps, but we’ll take it.

Bravo.

*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.

Dear members of the Northwestern community,

Over the weekend I received many messages of concern about protests organized by some of our students, among others, who are demanding the abolition of the Northwestern University Police Department. 

We, as a University, recognize the many injustices faced by Black and other marginalized groups. We also acknowledge that the policing and criminal justice system in our country is too often stacked against those same communities. Your concerns are valid and necessary, and we encourage and, in fact, rely on your active engagement with us to make your school and our society equitable and safe for everyone. That said, while the University has every intention to continue improving NUPD, we have absolutely no intention to abolish it. 

Northwestern firmly supports vigorous debate and the free expression of ideas — abiding principles that are fundamental for our University. We encourage members of our community to find meaningful ways to get involved and advocate for causes they believe in — and to do so safely and peacefully. The University protects the right to protest, but we do not condone breaking the law.

What started as peaceful protests have recently grown into expressions that have been anything but peaceful or productive. Crowds blocked the streets of downtown Evanston and nearby residential areas, disrupting businesses and local families, defacing property and violating laws and University standards. Some of the instigators appear not to be Northwestern students at all, but rather outside activists.

While the protesters claim that they are just trying to get our attention, that is simply not true. Several administrators — including our Provost, Deans, Interim Chief Diversity Officer and Vice Presidents for Research and Student Affairs — have held numerous discussions with concerned students, faculty and staff, and I am participating in a community dialogue tomorrow evening that was scheduled weeks ago.

Events in recent days seem to indicate an intent by organizers to escalate matters, and to provoke NUPD into retaliation. 

I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the overstepping of the protesters. They have no right to menace members of our academic and surrounding communities. When students and other participants are vandalizing property, lighting fires and spray-painting phrases such as “kill the pigs,” we have moved well past legitimate forms of free speech.  

I want to offer a personal illustration of the pain these protesters have caused. Many gathered outside my home this weekend into the early hours of the morning, chanting “f— you Morty” and “piggy Morty.” The latter comes dangerously close to a longstanding trope against observant Jews like myself. Whether it was done out of ignorance or out of anti-Semitism, it is completely unacceptable, and I ask them to consider how their parents and siblings would feel if a group came to their homes in the middle of the night to wake up their families with such vile and personal attacks. To those protesters and their supporters who justify such actions, I ask you to take a long hard look in the mirror and realize that this isn’t actually “speaking truth to power” or furthering your cause. It is an abomination and you should be ashamed of yourselves.

An essential aspect of education is the discernment of actions and consequences. If you, as a member of the Northwestern community, violate rules and laws, I am making it abundantly clear that you will be held accountable. 

If you haven’t yet gotten my point, I am disgusted by those who chose to disgrace this University in such a fashion. I especially condemn the effect of their actions on our friends, neighbors and other members of our community who are trying to sustain viable businesses, raise families, study and do research, while facing a global pandemic and the injustices of the world without losing their sense of humanity.

I remain as open and willing as ever to speak to any member of the Northwestern family who has concerns about the safety of this campus and everyone who is part of it. But I refuse to engage with individuals who continue to use the tactics of intimidation and violence. 

Morton Schapiro
President and Professor

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Juicy Smollier
3 years ago

Morton Schapiro

He played the game with them for years, enabled them. Why am I not surprised?

Susan
3 years ago

Looking for data to support the commonly repeated assertions of “systemic racism” in Illinois, encountered Illinois State employment percentages…African Americans hold government jobs in a statistically anomalous higher ratio than that ethic group’s percentage of both total population and workforce population.

See page 9 tables of statistical reports from IDES, citing US Census source data:

“The chart below contains Illinois State employee, general population, and available labor market 
data during FY 2019. As reflected, African-Americans represented 14.6 percent of the general 
population, 12.5 percent of the available labor market, and 21.5 percent of the State’s workforce.”

Susan
3 years ago
Reply to  Susan

To source see link near bottom of page

“2020 African American Employment Plan”

https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/personnel/DEP/Pages/AAEP.aspx

Sir Tom of Northfield
3 years ago

Wonder how much “Morty” makes every year for running that silly Leftist Indoctrination Center”? What a sick joke “education” has turned into. Especially at the “Higher” “Education” level. When will the Internet replace 80% of them? They are an anachronism that, for most students, does more harm than good. It’s all about the MONEY! What a bunch of greedy and useless creeps. The “Education” combine attracts them like a rare-earth magnet.

Marge Jordan
3 years ago

Yes. Perpetrators should be held accountable for their crimes. If students, expelled. If Antifa, treated like terrorists.

Lyn P
3 years ago

Also remember the very big picture of this de-fund “small” law enforcement theme (which its SJW tools don’t have the smarts to fully grok)….a broad, directed Marxist agenda to foster chaos eventually requiring military intervention/martial law. One of the main precursors to a completely un-free society.

Platinum Goose
3 years ago

My coworker’s son applied to Northwestern. He had a perfect ACT score but he was not accepted. He must have been too white or not woke enough. Looks like their admission guidelines are biting them in the ass now.

Carrie Mendoza
3 years ago

Trying to appease bullies never has work and never will work. If you are running a University, you should know the 20th century history of Socialism, Communism, and Fascism. Their violence, disregard for individual liberty, and death toll is their legacy.

Left IL and Good Riddance
3 years ago

Morty is as bad as the black community – pulling the antisemitism card instead of the race card. This is what I love about the modern left- they eat their own. They aren’t after you because you’re a jew, they’re after you because you aren’t extreme enough. These lefty leaders are so flush with hubris that they believe they can create this monster of “wokeness” and subsequently control it through virtue signaling and meaningless gestures of solidarity. What they don’t realize is that once you give the monster a life of its own, nobody but the mob controls it. Chicago,… Read more »

Juicy Smollier
3 years ago

People come to conclusions on guys like (or named) Shapiro on the basis of their ACTIONS. Nothing else. Remember that.

Riverbender
3 years ago

The local University here prides itself on being a safe campus. I wonder how safe a campus in Evanston Illinois will be with no police?

Old Spartan
3 years ago

It is about time Shapiro stepped up and said something about this deviant behavior. Now it is time to do something. Mr. President, your speeches, actions and tolerance of these coddled losers has only encouraged the situation. Now that it hits your own home-WOW– it’s not so nice is it. Take some action instead of writing a nice letter. Suspension, expulsion, termination of set aside funding — take a meaningful step. NU alums, donors, neighbors and supporters of all types are tired of your complicity in this.

marko
3 years ago
Reply to  Old Spartan

The only acceptable action is to quit. He cant even stand by his own misguided convictions. That makes him a spineless groveling coward. He’s lower than the mob of protesters at this point. Asking him to take any step, except the one out the door, is to empower him.

NiteCat
3 years ago
Reply to  Old Spartan

Reminds me of the Vietnam War protests at Northwestern in the late 60s. I was born & raised in Evanston and watched the daily protests from the corner of Chicago Ave & Sheridan Rd as often as I could. Each day the President of NU would call out the EPD (my uncle was a LEO on the force) to help contain the protesters to the campus. But they were not allowed to interact with them and instead stood at attention on the west side of Sheridan Rd. accepting the insults, name calling, being spit upon and having things thrown at… Read more »

Daskoterzar
3 years ago
Reply to  Old Spartan

Yep agree – he enabled them…till they showed up at his front door. Gee, then they aren’t protesters…

Podein
3 years ago

Expel them. Plain and simple.

jaytrain
3 years ago
Reply to  Podein

Yeah I was waiting for that, but I’m still waiting and will wait forever . When I was in collitch guys got thrown out for truly harmless pranks. But those were different times

ML/NJ
3 years ago

That you have someone called a “Chief Diversity Officer” indicates to me that you are not doing your job properly.

Rick
3 years ago

Dont be so quick to offer praise Mark. If these “protests” had happened anywhere other than his front yard, there would be no letter from this guy. These Evanston and Oak Park “types” are rabid leftists until their precious gated subdivision or front lawn is stepped upon. At that point they are praising the police because the concept of self defense is abhorrent to the left. One of the biggest things the want is to make self defense a crime. Every animal in nature enjoys self defense, every person deserves that right. So that is why the sight of a… Read more »

Lyn P
3 years ago
Reply to  Rick

Yes. Like the mayor of Portland (Seattle? What’s the diff…) who did nothing about the Chaz zone until those anarchists thought HER lawn was fair game too.

The disconnect between what these Goofist Leftist drones push and the boomerang outcomes they get is just NOT going to sink in. Persistent brain cell malfunction.

anna
3 years ago
Reply to  Lyn P

Exactly. the mayor of Oak Park did NOTHING when his own house and property were vandalized by students.

Illinois Entrepreneur
3 years ago

The Left continues to devour until there is no one or nothing left to devour. It has an insatiable appetite fueled by moral righteousness where any means is suitable to their ends. It is brainwashing and cult behavior, and it’s dangerous. I believe that most of these people are mentally ill and vastly uninformed/misinformed. Funny, they believe the same of us. When university presidents, politicians, business and community leaders all embrace these people as if they are a legitimate, rational faction, they embolden this type of “any means” behavior. Riots, vandalism, arson and human tragedy result. Everyone regrets the result,… Read more »

Brutus
3 years ago

Limp-wrsted response

Governor of Alderaan
3 years ago

Shapiro learned that the mob comes after everyone eventually

M.H. Deal
3 years ago

Shapiro’s too kindly. Too obsequious to the mythical “community” with whom he’s to “dialogue” as is said nowadays. Dialogue thusly used is similar to Eric Holder’s desire to have a “conversation” about race. These fantasies run in only one direction with unfortunate consequences for those forced to listen. Now the Washington newspaper article writer is geographically challenged about Chicago, as most East Coasters are. UC’s police department is far to the south where it faces the same demand for dispersal. I have to say, however, as a shooter myself, I was delighted to see the excellent work done by a… Read more »

nixit
3 years ago

Here’s the thing with all these “Defund the Police” protests. All these protesters have had their demands heard by their local governing bodies. They are not being ignored at all. So the argument “they’re not listening to us” falls flat. Unfortunately for the protesters, these govt bodies represent the silent majority who do not share their flavor of police reform. While the majority recognizes the need for police reform and are more than willing to make changes, they have no intention to defund the police. In other words, the protesters made their case and got a resounding “NO” in response.… Read more »

Governor of Alderaan
3 years ago
Reply to  nixit

“they’re not listening to us”= they didn’t immediately cave in to all our demands

CHARLOTTE AINES
3 years ago

I didn’t hear any objection about their behavior until these kiddies went after him personally. So own up to your many biases Morty. What a fraud this man is

CHARLOTTE AINES
3 years ago

If you believe … We, as a University, recognize the many injustices faced by Black and other marginalized groups. We also acknowledge that the policing and criminal justice system in our country is too often stacked against those same communities. 
Then maybe you should watch “Uncle Tom”
As I see it Morty created the situation so bring it on kiddies!

CHARLOTTE AINES
3 years ago
Reply to  Mark Glennon

Well as Flannery O’Connor said … Compassion lead to the gas chamber or in Morty’s case guillotine. I bet they don’t read Flannery O’Connor anymore at NU

NoHope4Illinois
3 years ago

If NU were serious they would immediately expel the ‘students’.

Governor of Alderaan
3 years ago

And arrest the trespassers

Riverbender
3 years ago

So let’s see. We have a group of fresh faced young students that generally have not held a full time job for any duration, never bought a home, never supported themselves much less a family, paid utility bills, grocery shopped for themselves and so on and so forth yet seem to have the answers to everything that is wrong with society. Sometimes my thoughts go to perhaps a one or two years working a full time job before college might be a better way to fully educate today’s youth because then they would learn the realities of life instead of… Read more »

Joey Zamboni
3 years ago
Reply to  Riverbender

The *Know It All* generation…

Soon to be *gut punched* by reality…

They are woefully unprepared for real life…

anna
3 years ago
Reply to  Riverbender

The stereotype that college students leave their woke-ism behind when they leave the college campus is badly outdated.
They bring their social justice ideals with them and push for “corporate social responsibility” which means progressive cultural politics.
90% of the Fortune 500 companies have diversity offices which enforce these politics and anyone who doesn’t tow the line jeopardizes their career.
“‘Woke capitalism’ is now the most transformative agent within the religion of social justice, because it unites progressive ideology with the most potent force in American life: consumerism and making money.”- Rod Dreher, “Lve Not by Lies”

Last edited 3 years ago by anna
anna
3 years ago
Reply to  anna

“Live Not by Lies” by Rod Dreher

CHARLOTTE AINES
3 years ago
Reply to  anna

just purchases it 2 days ago.

anna
3 years ago

I cannot put it down!

Lyn P
3 years ago
Reply to  anna

“Woke capitalism” may be the worst of the themes yet as its off-shoots can actually bankrupt the country via domino-style breakdown of functional economy.

Marko
3 years ago

Lay in it Morty. Roll around in it. This is the bed you made Morty. LMFAO!

Joan
3 years ago

Can you imagine walking around NU with no campus police — in Evanston!! Maybe not unless you are a woman. Thank you, Mr. Shapiro.

nixit
3 years ago
Reply to  Joan

That’s the flip-side, isn’t it? I’d wager the presence of campus police is primarily to ease parents’ minds their kids won’t be preyed upon their first time away from home and for the safety and protection of the female student body. Furthermore, less privately-funded campus police would probably put more work on the publicly-funded Evanston police.

Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  nixit

A university has more control over campus police vs the municipal police department.

Staffing levels, where to deploy personnel, hiring / firing, promotions, press releases, how the department interacts with the public, etc.

There’s all sorts of crime that happens on campuses (rape, assault / battery, drugs, underage drinking, theft, etc.).

Mike
3 years ago

we want NUPD. they protected us when there was an active shooter on campus. they are brave and courteous.

Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

What a coincidence, same user name.

3 years ago

great post

Mike
3 years ago

As a refresher from June 3, 2020 and for some historical perspective, read this document and the links about the call for Northwestern to invest in Black students, divest from law enforcement.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UMB2Swb3dHFOWibpvfOdL2d7CDorBf94jqfUfhrY8qg/edit

Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Coalition NU and Students Organizing for Labor Rights are two additional groups involved in the ongoing protests at Northwestern.

https://twitter.com/gradcoalitionNU

https://twitter.com/solr_nu

Today’s protest is at 4:45PM at Allison Dining Hall, 1820 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois.

https://twitter.com/copsoutofNU/status/1318418860056469505/photo/1

Mike
3 years ago

The radical bullies at Northwestern intimidated at least one sorority to the point where the sorority announced it is closing its Northwestern chapter.

Last edited 3 years ago by Mike
Ex Illini
3 years ago

So they went after him and now it’s a problem. Got it.

What about all the innocent people without a position and pulpit from which to speak, that have been terrorized by these lowlifes.

Better late than never sir, but make no mistake, law abiding citizens have seen enough. Get your students under control or send them back to Mom and Dad.

George P. Burdell
3 years ago

Well looks like he’ll be cancelled soon.

Greg M
3 years ago

Excellent! He should run for Chicago mayor…!!!

Heyjude
3 years ago

Amen!! Bravo to you President Schapiro! Finally someone has the guts to stand up to thugs claiming “free speech”. I hope other university presidents take note. This madness started on university campuses, I hope they can take the first steps to ending it.

Marko
3 years ago
Reply to  Heyjude

This isn’t guts. This is spineless cowardice. Mort was fine with the protesting mobs until it got too close to home.

Joey Zamboni
3 years ago
Reply to  Marko

Exactly…!

Ironic how the mob seems to be targeting *their own* more than the right…

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