The Washington University blurb on her suggests that she's being honored for her anti-feminism, not in spite of it. Is this just an attempt to pander to conservatives by picking the first conservative figure they could book, or do the higher-ups at the University really admire this woman's accomplishments and values?

Fuck you Wash U.

I have an MA in English from Wash U. and let me just state that the graduate department in English is pretty much an infighting cliche of the worst of nonsensical academia, but this "Honorary Award" to the TOKEN that worked against the full human rights of women, just fuckin' lost any of my donation money from now to eternity.

So, once again, Fuck You Washington University in St. Louis, fuck you.

I thought she was getting the award because she was a teenage sweetheart of the school's namesake.

Ah man! I love Schlafly beers. I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for my weekend fix.

I just dashed them off a little somethin somethin...hopefully lots of others will too. Wow. I can't believe their PR department is letting them do this. Talk about bad press!

Doh. The old bag is an alum--she has a law degree from WU.

http://www.sunjournal.com/story/205234-3/LewistonAuburn/Schlafly_cranks_up_agitation_at_Bates/#

omg. I am so glad I'm not a Washington U. student.

Whether she's an alum or not, she's ridiculous. And their website is downright creepy--they sound like they're beyond thrilled that she helped block the ERA. Ugh.

Am I the only one who finds it incredibly ironic (and fucked up) that they're giving an award to Phyllis Schlafly at the same time they're giving an award to Jessie Ternberg, a "renowned researcher and pioneer of women in medicine." What a fucking mixed message.

I am willing to bet she or someone is promising a boatload of money to Wash U for this "honor". What a travesty.

Well the Facebook group has almost 1300 members now. That's great! If they can't get the university to change its mind, I hope those kids storm that shit and make a ruckus loud enough to give the old crone a heart attack. Time to STFU, granny.

Yikes, I'm starting as a MSW student at Wash U in the fall and I was looking forward to the liberal and (i assumed) pro-feminist atmosphere on campus... hopefully the actions of the administration do not reflect the attitudes of the students and profs. If so, it's going to be a long two years...

Thanks so much for linking out to folks whom we can email. It is so helpful! I emailed and am on my way to join the facebook group...

i don't even know what to say, i'm just so outraged that anyone would choose to honor someone who says that rape is okay, that women shouldn't have basic rights that every human should have. Why does she need a graduate degree anyways? so people will listen to her oppressive opinions?

You have to love right-wing conservative logic. Would the school give an honorary degree to someone who'd devoted her life to opposing the rights of black people? No, of course not. That would be racism. But sexism, fine by them!!

Comoprozac, no need to boycott Schlafly beer! Phyillis is the brewery founder's uncle's widow and not involved in the business at all- they make this very clear in their FAQ's on their website. The Schlafly Brewpubs are progressive/liberal businesses.

Also in their FAQs:

Why don't you guys have Schlafly girls?

We do, they're just too classy to dress like tramps and flaunt themselves as sex symbols (anyhow, our beer is so good, we don't need gimmicks to promote it).

Not to mention the irony of a woman "who has spent her whole career arguing against full rights for women." She's argued against HER OWN EXISTENCE. Seeing as how she has a CAREER and a DEGREE and all. Ugh.

One of her sons, Andy (founder of Conservapedia) came to my campus a couple of weeks ago. I know this will be an obvious statement to many people who read this, but their line of thinking frightens the shit out of me. Hey all, did you know that Hillary is the feminist candidate? And that those who are pro-choice are actually pro-abortion? Yeah, it was news to me too. And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

At any rate, that Washington University is honoring Schlafly in this way is horrifying. If I were graduating from Washington U, I would be ridiculously offended. Good luck to all who are protesting this!

fotini901, that's what always gets me about these female uber-conservative anti-feminist icons, like schlafly and coulter--how the hell is it ok for them to make a career out of telling other women not to have careers? it reminds me of that terrible washington post op-ed where the author rambles on about how women are dumb--if women are so stupid WHY SHOULD WE LISTEN TO YOU, A WOMAN, AT ALL?

is schlafly claiming that whole going to law school thing was just a big, youthful mistake that distracted her from her real, natural, womanly life making babies?

then again, it's probably not best to apply any system of logic to what comes out of the mouths (and pens) of these people.

I think she would explain it as making a personal sacrifice for the good of families everywhere. What a big fat conservative retard.

I didn't realize her spawn spawned Conservipedia. That is too perfect.

ah, my women's studies professor told me about this last week. she said there was a protest planned, but I'm going home that week!

even if she is an alum i would really think that the admins at wash u would be smarter than this.

Ah man! I love Schlafly beers. I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for my weekend fix.

don't worry about that! I've heard that her nephew (who started schlafly brewing) has nothing to do with her. i hope that's true, because it rests my conscience while i'm enjoying their delicious hefeweizen. i live right next to their brewery and it always smells delightful.

She definitely is hypocritical, arguing that women should not be allowed to do exactly what she has done. She's spent her entire life in the public eye, being an advocate for her "cause" and founding organizations, giving speeches, etc. Plus, not only did she go to college and law school, she put herself through college (graduating at 19) by working the night-shift at an Ordnance Plant testing weapons.
http://www.campusprogress.org/tools/209/ Which seems pretty independent to me, and doesn't really conform with her demands that women eschew any forms of "masculinity." She's a hypocrite, plain and simple.

I'm with Florynce Kennedy on the subject of Ms Schlafly, and if I can't slap her I want to tell her that she should STFU and go home and bake some cookies. Seriously tho, she really should refuse the honor in the interests of eschewing hypocrisy.

that's what always gets me about these female uber-conservative anti-feminist icons, like schlafly and coulter--how the hell is it ok for them to make a career out of telling other women not to have careers? it reminds me of that terrible washington post op-ed where the author rambles on about how women are dumb--if women are so stupid WHY SHOULD WE LISTEN TO YOU, A WOMAN, AT ALL?

I think what it comes down to is the unshakable belief that they will never have to put their money where their mouth is. Since they feel confident that they will never really be taken at their word, they can just go on making boatloads of money spewing this stuff so that right-wing guys can see "See, there's a woman saying it, so it can't be sexist!"

So that right wing guys can say, that should be.

"Nice message to send the female student body, right?"

Not to be nit-picky, but the message is also being sent to the male student body (insert post-modern pun here) (and also after the first word of that parenthesis, come to think), and that sucks too.

The women are told "you don't really belong here, will be harmed by education, and should just go home and cook"; the men, by contrast, are being told "half your classmates don't belong here, they have no intellectual contributions to offer you, you should just ignore them except as sex objects and potential cooks." Something for everyone!

I just sent in my deposit for Wash U. I was going to go to an art school, but I took a women's studies class at the U of Michigan, became a feminist , and decided I wanted a more rounded education. Irony of ironies.

I heard about this over facebook and shot Chancellor Wrighton an email. Here's his response:

"Thanks for your note re. Ms. Schlafly....yours is among many, mostly
critical, with a few that are positive. You have made a wise decision to
come here and we look forward to having you. I am sorry that the honorary
degree list disappoints you. However, we have a very robust process for
selecting honorary degree recipients. Unfortunately, not every selection
is enthusiastically embraced by our community. I give below the statement
that we have prepared to respond to the awarding of the honorary doctorate
to Ms. Schlafly.

Sincerely,

Mark S. Wrighton

Statement on the awarding of an honorary degree to Phyllis Schlafly

Over the years, Washington University, like many universities across the
nation, has chosen to grant honorary degrees to noted individuals from
around the world, as well as those alumni and members of the University
community who have become a part of the broad public discourse on vital
issues of the times — whether or not the majority of those within its
community agree with the views expressed by those individuals.

Clearly, in any community with a large number of people and a diversity of
viewpoints, it would be impossible to make a selection with which everyone
would agree. That is the very nature of a university.

Alumna Phyllis Schlafly's articulation of her perspectives has been a
significant part of American life during the last half of the 20th century
and now the
21st century, serving as a lightning rod for vigorous debate on difficult
issues where differences of opinion are profound and passionate. Not only
should a university serve as a place where such discussions take place, but
it may also choose to recognize those who provide leadership and
articulation — both pro and con — on vital issues.

Washington University has honored many individuals in the past from all
aspects of the political spectrum, including civil rights leaders Jesse
Jackson and Julian Bond; political leaders as diverse as Madeleine
Albright, John Major, Patricia Schroeder, John C. Danforth, Paul Simon and
Richard Gephardt; educational leaders such as Ruth Simmons and Henry Louis
Gates; and members of the media including Tom Friedman, George Will, Tim
Russert and this year’s commencement speaker, Chris Matthews.

The Board of Trustees awards honorary degrees recommended by a committee of
the Board. The Honorary Degree Committee is one of the committees of the
Board of Trustees. The Honorary Degree Committee is chaired by a member of
the Board of Trustees and includes about 20 Washington University students,
faculty, staff and other members of the Board of Trustees. The Committee
reviews candidates nominated for an honorary degree. Any member of the
Washington University community can nominate candidates. The Committee
reviews candidates in at least two meetings, and each Committee member has
the opportunity to discuss the candidates and their credentials. The
Committee must vote unanimously to recommend all candidates for
consideration by the full Board of Trustees. The full Board of Trustees
must also vote unanimously to award the honorary degrees recommended by the
Committee. Careful consideration is given to the selection of a balanced
slate of distinguished individuals to include local, national and
international figures. ___________________________________
Mark S. Wrighton, Ph.D.
Chancellor and Professor of Chemistry
Washington University in St. Louis
Campus Box 1192
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
314-935-5100
314-935-4744 (Fax)
wrighton@wustl.edu"

The Chancellor's phone number at the university is 314 935-5100 and the Trustee Coordinator's is 314 935-5105,
in case anyone has the urge to, you know, reach out and touch someone.

The whole response of "not all of our honorees can possibly be embraced by everyone" is such a fucking cop out. This woman favors limiting people's rights. That is bullshit. Again, they wouldn't exactly be honoring a KKK leader, now would they?

Hate to break it to you, Schlafly, but your attempt at becoming an Honorary Man will never be successful.
What an insult to the women of Washington U.

thank you jessica! I like it when posts recommend a way to take action on something. I just sent an email to the two addresses:

As a PhD student at ----, I am shocked to hear that Washington University is going to applaud Ms. Phyllis Schlafly.

I feel that this undermines the work of any female (and male) student at your school and other universities across america and it also undermines the meaning of a doctorate degree. I hope that you withdraw this offer.

Thank you

Variations on a theme by Feministing: http://blog.crispen.org/no-bozo-phyllis/

I usually have the subtlety of Gallagher, so please let me know if it inadveretently splashes watermellon on our friends.

Variations on a theme by Feministing: http://blog.crispen.org/no-bozo-phyllis/

I usually have the subtlety of Gallagher, so please let me know if it inadveretently splashes watermellon on our friends.

To give Phyllis Schlafly any kind of honorary degree, a university must be reaching into the bottom of the dumpster, avoiding all the dirt it must touch in order to reach its objectives. Phyllis is a mean, old woman whose respect for her own gender portrays the hatred and ignorance that surround her.
Chances are, of course, that she will spend profusely in order to have her EAGLE FORUM gang of glue-haired old ladies of both sexes appreciate her beyond her accomplishments in forgetting that, given her skills, she could have been a worthy human. But,
then, given her sickness of soul and blindness to humanity and its goals, could that Phyllis Schlafly have ever been possible?

For shame, Washington University. For shame...

Azorean, I don't think age should be a factor, here. Most of us know strong women of Ms. Schlafly's age who disagree entirely with her opinions.

http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/AshleyHerzog/2008/05/07/not_only_a_housewife?contact=true

please read this article.
I puked a small bit.
The best part, this is what she included in her facebook post to advertise her article...

Dear feminist sheep herd,

I wrote this for you. Here you go.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/AshleyHerzog/2008/05/07/not_only_a_housewife

Love,
Ashley

PFLAG has urged WU not to give her the award:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/05-08-2008/0004809690&EDATE=

How interesting that she has a gay son. He must be so proud of his mama.