No Responsibility for UCSC Activists

I recently commented on the death of UCSC Chancellor Denice Denton, and how the activist community in Santa Cruz has to bear some responsibility for their actions in making the school an uncomfortable place for those not in the lefty-loop. School and town administrators constantly bare a bulk of this harassment.

Seems like I am not the only one who feels this way.

“I get the feeling that Denton was under a lot of stress, and your protest action certainly played a role in that stress, along with unflattering cartoons and slings and arrows from the public about Pay, and Dog run's etc.

For your part though, I would think you should be apologizing for detaining her for your "skit" and protest action. It is quite self centered and chicken hearted to attack someone like Chancellor Denton on issues like the ones you attacked her for.

If you want to save the world go do a skit in the Lobby of a Federal Building or the Chinese Embassy or something and protest against people who can make some changes. Instead you go for a "soft target" like Denton. You knew she would not react strongly, so you attacked her.

I get the feeling that Denton was more a friend of the underprivileged than you thought she was, and to extract from her the toll of being detained by your skit is really kind sad.” – Paul Sosbee

Furthermore…

"“Spin is nothing new in news reporting. If Denice Denton's opponents feel misquoted and abused, imagine what she must have felt.

I found the personal attacks on Denice Denton way out of bounds, and if they contributed to her depression and suicide, I hope all who played any part in those attacks will do some deep soul-searching. There are ways and ways of bringing about change, and ridicule, name-calling, and scapegoating are both unacceptable and ineffective." - Catherine M. Wilson

And my favorite…

“Turnabout has it right. It will be a long time before anyone with any kind of talent and sincere interest in the improving UCSC will consider taking on the chancellor's job. And I believe that while the right wing did its share of the damage, it is the left that should really be ashamed. Who do you think is going to become chancellor? Che? Hugo Chavez? For pity sake, Denise Denton was an out lesbian, a defender of women's rights, opposed to racism, and genuinely devoted to a multicultural perspective. But that wasn't enough -- she had to endure childish "skits", name calling, denigration of her work, etc. The idea that Mr. Sonnenfeld is complaining about "irresponsible" journalism would be funny if it weren't so outrageously infuriating.” – another alum

Of course, our friendly neighborhood activists feel their actions have been misrepresented. How surprising.

I also can’t help but feel that the activists who constantly assailed Denton are now trying to retcon their past actions and statements…