UW Student Government Rejects Boyington Memorial

DMeix · February 17, 2006, 3:43pm

<a href=“http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48808[/url]”>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48808</a>

Recently the Univerisy of Washington student government rejected a resolution to build a memorial in honor of it’s most famous alumni, Marine Corps Col. Greg ‘Pappy’ Boyington, of “Black Sheep Squadron” fame. The Medal of Honor recipient lead the most successful MC squadron during WWII. After being shot down (I believe for the second time) he spent 20 months in a Japanese POW camp.

It makes me sick to realize that I go to a school that doesn’t want to build a memorial for this man because he is likened to a ‘criminal and killer’ in the Marines. In a school full of liberals, I find it dissappointing that they would discriminate against anyone, for color, or lack thereof. “We don’t need anymore memorials to rich white men” was even a statement from one of the student senators who voted it down.

If the UW doesn’t want to produce citizens such as Col. Boyington, then the upper echelons need some SERIOUS readjustment in my opinion.

DMeix · February 17, 2006, 4:33pm

<a href=“http://senate.asuw.org/secretary/minutes/senate/12/02-07-2006.pdf[/url]”>http://senate.asuw.org/secretary/minutes/senate/12/02-07-2006.pdf</a>

There’s link to the senate meeting’s minutes.

<a href=“http://www.washington.edu/alumni/columns/dec98/back_pages1298.html[/url]”>http://www.washington.edu/alumni/columns/dec98/back_pages1298.html</a>

An article about Boyington in the UW alumni magazine Columns.

And here’s the recent response to the vote from our daily student newspaper:

Don’t forget Pappy

Last week the Student Senate failed the entire University of Washington community by voting down a resolution to honor Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, a UW graduate and Medal of Honor recipient, with a campus memorial. It was nothing short of outrageous.

Even more outrageous, however, was the reasoning that some senators offered to reject the memorial. One argued that Col. Boyington “is not the type of person we should be honoring” while another contended that “we don’t need to honor any more rich, white males.” After coming under scrutiny, the senators who I quoted in my weekly e-mail now claim the comments were taken out of context. The minutes of the meeting prove otherwise.

Amidst all the hoopla surrounding this story, let’s not forget Col. Boyington and what he did in defense of our country. Let’s not forget that our peers are fighting right now in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect the debate that we’re having. Let’s not forget all those who serve and have served our country. Let’s recognize them.

I urge the Student Senate and the ASUW to reverse course and give this great man the respect and honor he deserves.

– Brent Ludeman

President, UW College Republicans

Junior, business

Recognize your debt

What a shame that your school decided not to honor Medal of Honor winner Greg Boyington! Here’s a man who fought so you and I could live in a free society. I wonder if you ever consider what America would look like if there were not men and women such as Colonel Boyington willing to defend it from those who hate it? If we would have lost WWII, would your school even exist? Probably not, because once the Germans or Japanese would have taken over, they probably would have shut down all schools along with the government, hospitals and businesses. Hopefully, someday, your school will truly be open to diversity and honor this man and others like him!

– CPT (P) Tim J. Gawry

U.S. Army, USMC

Questions remain

I was deeply dismayed about UW’s decision not to honor one of its most famous alumni, Marine Colonel Gregory “Pappy” Boyington with a monument to the man and his legendary service to our nation.

After reading Col. Boyington’s book about his service in WWII, as well as the TV series about his personal saga, I and likely many others were inspired to join the Marines Corps.

I point out that Col. Boyington was awarded the Medal of Honor, the military’s highest award for heroism. Out of the millions of veterans who have served our country as of this writing, only 3,640 have received this highest of honors.

Why wouldn’t the UW want to commemorate Col. Boyington’s service to our country? Why wouldn’t the UW want to commemorate one of its most famous alumni? Why wouldn’t the UW do the right thing by offering proper tribute to a man who repeatedly endangered his own life in service to the United States of America? I find the UW’s actions untenable, and its apparent attitude toward honored veterans to be morally unconscionable. Until this changes, I would never send any child of mine to the UW.

I remind the UW that because of the sacrifices of veterans such as Col. Boyington, that it owes a profound debt to all who serve and defend this country. The UW needs to be reminded that the very buildings on its campus stand safe because of America’s armed services, period, end of story.

– Dr. Andrew S. Berry

Clinical Psychologist

Assistant Chaplain,

Marine Corps League

Department of Missouri

Changing face of UW?

I was saddened to learn that the University of Washington’s student governing council has voted down a proposed memorial for one of its more famous alumni, Colonel Gregory Boyington. As you may well know, Col. Boyington served in the United States Marine Corps honorably, after being a distinguished wrestler at the UW. During his time in the Marines, he was often decorated for heroism, including the nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. Col. Boyington led one of the most successful squadrons in all of World War II. He was shot down and survived more than 20 months in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. He bravely faced the enemy of our country and fought to defend his country and his way of life. It is rather confusing as to why the University he attended would not approve of a tribute to such a man.

To better understand the current culture at the UW, I took the opportunity to visit your Web site. It quickly became apparent that strong male role models are no longer desirable at your institution when the featured person at the Graduate Diversity Fellows Dinner is none other than Gloria Steinem. She has advocated the dismantling of the core family unit for about 30 years now and finds strong males to be reprehensible. To quote Ms. Steinem, “What has the women’s movement learned from Geraldine Ferraro’s candidacy for vice president? Never get married.” This attitude is more desirable at the UW than patriotism and defending your country?

It is no wonder that the council voted down a memorial for Col. Boyington. As long as these attitudes persist at your University, I will make sure that neither of my children attend the UW.

– Brent Talbot

USMC '81-'90

Hypocritical vote

As the United States leads the world in a war on terrorism, it is with deep regret we veterans hear of such narrow thinking and a complete and utter disregard for the principles that this great nation, and its educational institutions as well, were founded upon. Col. Boyington was not only a UW alumni, but a former POW and was awarded the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest award for bravery and valor. It is hypocritical in my opinion, that your student council would not honor an American hero who also happens be a UW alumni, while exercising the very rights and privileges Col. Boyington spent a majority of his life defending.

It reflects poorly upon the UW, as well as the Pac-10 as a whole that this kind of rationale is prevalent in students (or just the council?).

– Andy Schwake

Staff Sergeant

US Marine Corps, 1981-1994

Extend due respect

I just learned of, and am sickened by, the student senate’s decision to not honor WWII fighter pilot Gregory Boyington. I find it odd that a school that hasn’t produced many alumni who have done great things would shun a war hero who risked his life to free the modern world. Because of what? We’re against the war? Get over yourselves. Because he’s white? Look around, there’s a 90 percent white population out there right now, I have a feeling it was higher in Gregory’s time. There were probably not a lot of minority students looking to travel to Seattle to get an education. Therefore there most likely weren’t many potential alums of color who could accomplish greatness back then. You call yourselves liberals yet you are bias because of someone’s color (or lack thereof). The man won the Medal of Honor. Our country found it fit to give him our highest honor that it could. The least you could do is show the same respect.

– Shane Savery

1997 Alumnus,

Political Science

prayerful_mom · February 17, 2006, 9:12pm

Nice post Dmeix, i had heard about this, thanks for the update, especially the letters…

The excerpt below regarding Pappy Boyington & UW from TCS Daily

<a href=“TCS Daily : Technology - Commerce - Society”>TCS Daily : Technology - Commerce - Society;

“…Fortunately, Pappy Boyington did not live to see this pathetic half-lit circus on his old campus. He died January 11, 1988. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with the highest military honors of the nation for which he fought with such skill and bravery. He is much more a credit to UW than all the bright young things who now populate its Student Senate.”

How quickly we forget!

shogun · February 17, 2006, 10:27pm

If this had been the actual University of Washington that had seriously considered and then sunk the memorial idea I think I would be a bit more upset. As it is, this is just a student council meeting. They hardly speak for the University Regents, its alumni, or its administrators. Most student governments rarely even reflect the majority of sentiments of their own student body. They are fairly irrelevant.

DMeix · February 17, 2006, 10:47pm

True, but if it’s so irrelevant, then why has it stirred up the community so much as indicated in the various posted letters. It’s hit the national news. And apparently, while they may not speak for the rest of the UW community, they do have a good deal of control over this matter.

A little update: Today the CO of the Army unit came to our wardroom this morning and gave us a letter and petition that they are passing to all the ROTC units to sign and submit to the council requesting a reconsideration of the resolution. Hopefully this, and all the community outcry will have some effect.

shogun · February 18, 2006, 12:02am

Unfortunately I think the story starts to get legs of its own as more and more people hear about it and assume it was the University that turned down the proposal of a memorial, not just a few members of the student government. Pretty soon everyone starts bad mouthing the University of Washington based on their drawing an incorrect conclusion. You can find a group of students with opinions like that on any campus and it doesn’t mean they reflect the views of the University or even the majority of the students there.

DMeix · February 18, 2006, 4:57am

Well, unfortunately the ‘group of students with opinions like’ this are leading the student government…and it takes more than ‘a few’ to win a vote.

If the student senate doesn’t reflect the views of the majority of the student body, what does that say about our idea of government in general? Based on my exposure here as a student and a midshipman, I believe the senate does in fact accurately reflect the ideas and views of the majority of the student body. When walking around in uniform, I look people in the eye as they pass me, but I am amazed at how many avert their eyes when they see someone in a military uniform. Recently, during an exhibition drill practice in a field next to the tennis courts, one student asked us if we ‘actually like spinning rifles’ and why we don’t just ‘send them over to Iraq to blow more peoples’ heads off.'

As far as I know, the University has done nothing regarding this matter. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

prayerful_mom · February 18, 2006, 10:27am

Dmeix…I just read that the student government plans to vote again on this issue. Just wondering what you have heard relating to feedback from the alumni, administration, &/or trustees?

Not to cast aspersions on UW; however, as the vote was split with the deciding vote cast by the pres.of the student council, one can conclude that their opinion is at least a reflection of a large percent of the student government. If the senate is “irrelevant” in the treatment of this matter, perhaps that will best be demonstrated by the number of signatures from the student body on the petition you mentioned. I would hope that the sentiments expressed by a member of the senate are NOT those shared by the majority at UW.

This from Sat, 18 Feb '06

"Student senator Jill Edwards spoke for the student body when she “questioned whether it was appropriate to honor a person who killed other people.” She “didnt believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce.”

Click on link to continue reading:

<a href=“Get Thee Behind Me, Pappy Boyington | Aero-News Network”>Get Thee Behind Me, Pappy Boyington | Aero-News Network;

prayerful_mom · February 18, 2006, 10:31am

“We don’t need anymore memorials to rich white men” …Col. Boyington was part Native American, Sioux.

shogun · February 18, 2006, 10:43am

In the world of politics, just because one is an elected official does not indicate that everything that comes out of their mouth is with the full support of the electorate. Two examples that immediately come to mind are the womens right to choose and stem cell research controversies. Polls show most Americans support both yet they elected a President that does not (based on other factors).
I still would like to hear the UW official response rather than bash them around for what their student government says. In the end, its the university that determines what gets built on that campus, not the students, and its the students who have the power to replace their leaders if they don’t agree with them.

Frankly, I am getting pretty sick of both the left and the right, and I suspect the rest of the country will be as well by 2008.

Spidermom · February 18, 2006, 12:08pm

I’m with you Shogun. Whatever happened to independent thinking and common sense? Enough with the polarization, the PACs, etc. We need a modern Ben Franklin imo.

That’s as political as I’m, gonna get. Respect to all points of views <spidermom bows=“” to=“” the=“” left,=“” right,=“” and=“” center=“”></spidermom>

Spidermom · February 18, 2006, 12:14pm

ack. Posted twice. Was arguing with Spider and lost my train of thought.

aspen · February 19, 2006, 4:02pm

Take a look at the vote before labling the university population. It was 45-45-10 and required a tiebreaker. That means half the voters favored the motion. Makes those blanket statements about Unv. of Washington harder to apply. (Darn. Blanket statements make things so much easier to understand.)

Making the unsubstantiated assumption that the UW student senate is composed of students rather than faculty/admin, I am pleasantly surprised the vote was evenly divided. It gives me hope to know that half the group still sees the value of honoring our nation’s warriors.

prayerful_mom · February 19, 2006, 9:56pm

C’mon folks this is a story that is out there for all… not an indictment of left, right, center, north, or south… gee! (BTW, see post #8 about the deciding vote, NOT a “blanket statement”)

My understanding of Dmeix’s initial post was as an expression of concern as a student at that particular university where over half the student government decided to reject a memorial to Lt.Col. Boyington a WWII hero, Medal of Honor recipient, former POW, and an alumnus of UW. No doubt, expecting that parents of service academy students would want to know about this story and frankly share in that concern.

Thus, I thank you Dmeix for the information and am saddened that the heroics of such a man would not be acknowledged by half of the young people on the student council. Yet, there is cause for optimism now that the council is going to reconsider the issue and the outcome may reflect favorably on honoring a WWII hero. What’s more, from what I have read they may be including 2 other MOH recipients. I expect that Shogun’s remarks about the building of such a monument will indeed require the approval of the administration.

As I asked several posts ago, please let us know the administration’s response to this matter. I still have not read anywhere an official statement from the school…has anybody?

Hang in there Dmeix…my son, who was Army ROTC, for a year at an East Coast university had a nasty encounter with a civilian student. The good news is that the majority of the students he knew were very supportive.

DMeix · February 19, 2006, 10:21pm

I have been unable to find any official statement from the school concerning this matter, and there’s been no new news in the school paper.

Thank you for the remarks, PM. I find it disconcerting to read what some of the senators said about Col. Boyington (“not the kind of person UW wants to produce”, likening him to a murderer, killer). I’m afraid to hear what they would think about the service academies (most likely “hell holes that train cold-hearted butchers”).

My friends are really supportive of me and ask me what I do alot…most seem to take an enthusiastic interest in all the cool stuff I’ve done in the unit. It’s the ones who don’t know me who seem to label me as a ‘baby killer’ when I’m walking to class in uniform. Oh well…I don’t waste my time trying to change their minds.

GEB · February 19, 2006, 10:25pm

The idea of voting again and that the original vote was a tie (recognizing that some abstained) is still sad. The man is a HERO in every sense of the word. The very ones that expect to be able to have the freedoms that they have now do not recognize the sacrifices of those that came before them. Whether they vote again or not is of no consequence. They have already shown their true convictions. I expect that the administration will try to downplay this after seeing the public sentiment on the issue.

DMeix · February 20, 2006, 4:02pm

Here’s the letter that went around with the petition in the ROTC building:

An Open Letter to the University of Washington Student Senate From The UW Military Community.

Student Senate,

Of the many student organizations on campus, the military community often holds a negative image. The various Reserve Officer Training Corp programs are frequently criticized by some as producing trained killers. Yet these programs are designed with considerable effort to produce leaders of integrity, courage and dedication. The individuals thats come out of ROTC are some of the brightest leaders our nation is capable of producing. They are exactly the sort of people the UW should strive to produce.

The military community does not desire parades, monuments or banners. We do our jobs not for thanks nor praise. We do our duty because we believe we serve a purpose greater than ourselves. However, we resent the fact that some members of the student government would liken us to criminals or murderers. It is true that the profession of arms is a violent one. But as a professional military, our services put an unbelievable amount of effort to accomplish the mission with as little damage and loss of life as possible. The world is still a violent place and the only thing that keeps violence off of our doorstep, is that other men and women stand ready to absorb that violence.

Soldiers are not responsible for making policy. We are assigned missions by the duly appointed civilian leadership, one not unlike the concept of the student senate. Like the American public we each have our own political opinions and beliefs. The ideas and politics of each person in uniform is as diverse as can be found anywhere on campus. Yet we all share one commonly parroted ideal; that freedom of thought and liberty are divine rights to be enjoyed by all humankind.

To this day there are millions of people who live under the weight of oppression. Few people around the world enjoy the same security, luxury and freedoms that are so openly taken for granted in our nation. Gregory Boyington and men like him literally bled to protect liberty from a growing oppressive empire. Many before him, many of his peers, and many future graduates from his Alma Mater have, and will continue to pay the price of liberty with their own blood.

So easy is it to condemn and criticize others. And so easy is it to give way to ignorance and preconceived notions. We are all guilty of it, all of us. While it is not uncommon, it is also not fair that some confuse the necessity of violence with murder or fascism. No American warrior fights for his appointed Commander in Chief. No American warrior fights for oil. Americans take up arms not to force their choices on others, but to give and protect the liberty of choice.

Despite all the criticism and the apparent negative feelings of all involved parties, we are PROUD to be members of the University community. The UW may not always support the military community, but we strongly support the University of Washington. The UW is and will continue to be a main center of academic achievement, as well as a diverse community of politics and ideas. We firmly support the University of Washington because great minds do not think alike. Great minds think for themselves.

With Genuine Respect,
The Military Community of the University of Washington

prayerful_mom · February 20, 2006, 9:41pm

Well said…kudos to you and the rest of your military community at UW…thank you & God bless all of them for their service!

drbott · February 20, 2006, 9:54pm

So, I may as well state my opinion, given that I am a student (freshman) at the UW currently (though I’m not in the Student Senate). I do definitely disagree with the idea that we shouldn’t erect a monument to Boyington just because he is (well, maybe not, given what prayerful mom said) a “rich white male.” In deciding who to erect monuments for, we definitely shouldn’t decide based on socioeconomic status, race, or gender - this is, quite obviously, discrimination.

However, I do agree with some of the sentiments expressed by the Senate. Do the students of the UW really want to establish another monument to a hero of war? I think that it’s time that we establish some prominent statues of academic titans - maybe even contemporary academics. Now, I’d like to establish that I’m not necessarily categorically against having statues of war heroes, but given that we already have a number, can’t we memorialize another type of person that inspires us? These people, namely, are scholars.

prayerful_mom · February 20, 2006, 11:39pm

Drbott…you may want to re-read the posts… I DID NOT refer to Lt. Col Boyington as another “rich white male”. The quotes in the above post were there to indicate what was said by a member of the student council at UW. I added the clarifying remark attesting to Boyington being a Native American.

I’ll quote GEB here, as he wrote it beautifully, “The very ones that expect to be able to have the freedoms that they have now do not recognize the sacrifices of those that came before them” …Amen!

UW Student Government Rejects Boyington Memorial

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