Controversy over California State U. – Stanislaus’s decision to bring Sarah Palin to the University’s 50th Anniversary Gala, and the surfacing of documents relating to Palin’s contract, has led to hate mail being distributed and sent to those involved.
“It is quite disturbing that such racist and homophobic sentiment still exists in our country,” State Senator Leland Yee said of hateful messages received by his office.
The controversy reached a fever pitch these last few weeks when Stan State students Alicia Lewis and Ashli Briggs delivered a portion of what appeared to be Sarah Palin’s speaking contract, along with shredded documents allegedly linking the CSU Stanislaus Foundation and University in improper behavior.
“For the most part I don’t engage with these people,” Dr. Patrick Kelly, professor of Zoology and founder of “Sarah Palin, Terrible Choice for 50th Anniversary of CSU Stanislaus,” said. Ever since founding the page that helped kick off a firestorm of controversy over the decision to bring Sarah Palin to CSU Stanislaus, Kelly has received hate mail.
“It has been viral,” Kelly said. Kelly noted that his main concern over the hateful mail he has received is that those members may intend to show up on the campus during the 50th anniversary gala and noted, “everyone needs to be mindful on our campus.”
Some have directed blame for extremist, hateful language at those hoping to capitalize on the current environment by winning seats in political offices and promote polarizing agendas, according to Adam Keigwin, Chief of Staff for Senator Yee.
“You certainly see similar rhetoric at Sarah Palin events,” Keigwin added. “We would certainly hope that she would call on her supporters to not be doing this.”
University President Hamid Shirvani condemned the hateful and intolerant attacks, issuing a press release this past week stating, “hate and intolerance have no place in our society or at our university.”
Since coming into the public sphere, Palin has been criticized for her inciteful behavior, including her most recent use of language when she Twittered the phrase “Don’t Retreat, Instead – RELOAD!” and then guiding supporters towards her Facebook page where a map of the nation used cross-hairs to target 20 pro-healthcare Democrats.
“They invited her to speak and now you see these hateful messages happening,” Keigwin said of the choice of Palin as speaker at the celebration.