For Those Who Have Passed, For Those To Come, Reach For Excellence Photo courtesy of Patty V. Photography Before you read my post, it is imperative to read the original article that I am responding to. I have linked it below: https://thefederalist.com/2019/08/14/sons-freshman-orientation-virginia-tech-full-leftist-propaganda/?fbclid=IwAR1jPLKhiXPQ40K0ebg257fENJKkfqTihFe5rb0YRm4v11_IVBIU8d0W2Yc To the author of The Federalist article "My Son's Freshman Orientation at Virginia Tech Was Full of Leftist Propaganda", I am very glad that your son made the choice to attend Virginia Tech and become a member of the Army ROTC. As a recent alumna of Virginia Tech myself, I know that he has chosen a university with a legacy of greatness and will flourish during his time there. He will grow not only academically, but personally and will begin to mold his own thoughts and perspectives as an independent adult. I wish your son the best of luck at Virginia Tech as he will be in caring hands. I am writing this article in response to the article you posted to The Federalist about the supposed leftist propaganda that you witnessed while at Virginia Tech’s orientation. I read your article this morning and immediately spent my entire afternoon combing through your article and crafting my response. There are several things that you cite in this article that are not leftist in any way, but instead promote acceptance and I want to clarify that for you and others so there is no misunderstanding of the message Virginia Tech is sending to its students. Why the University Welcome Didn’t Include Mention of Fallen Cadets and April 16th Your critique of the Virginia Tech orientation starts at the “University Welcome”, where everyone is jammed into the ballroom in Squires Student Center, listens to a few notable Virginia Tech speakers, and meets their orientation leaders as they parade on stage illuminating with Hokie Pride. You cited how families and students were separated immediately upon entering the auditorium and how there was no mention of the April 16th shooting or the fallen cadets. Let me explain why that is. Students and families are separated upon entering the auditorium as an effort to get kids conversing with one another instead of metaphorically holding onto mommy’s leg the whole time and not getting the most out of the orientation experience. Orientation is a place where you get to make a new name for yourself, meet new people, practice being semi-independent, and decide how you want to begin your legacy at Virginia Tech. As a very recent graduate of Virginia Tech and someone whose hometown is 30 minutes from the university, I know that Virginia Tech has endured much tragedy. Virginia Tech has lost many men and women who have given their lives for this country and has suffered violent tragedy on campus. The Virginia Tech community has grown tremendously from these tragedies and it has only made Hokie Nation stronger. I have heard from many authorities at Virginia Tech that this university does not want to be defined as “the school where the shooting happened”, but rather by its successful students and innovative programing. The fallen Hokies are not mentioned during the “University Welcome” because Virginia Tech is determined to create an incredibly exciting and joyous orientation experience for your Hokies while also attempting not to be defined by its tragedy. However, that is not to say that Virginia Tech has forgotten about those fallen, but instead eternally remembers our fallen Hokies in two ways. First, the Pylons have the names of every fallen Hokie who has served and paid the ultimate price etched into the Pylons. The cenotaph, which rests in the center, has the names of the Medal of Honor recipients from Virginia Tech and it is an unspoken rule that the cenotaph may never be touched out of respect and remembrance. Second, Virginia Tech has a memorial for the victims April 16th that is right across the street from Burrus Hall and serves as the focal point of the Drillfield. This memorial is beautifully ornate and has stones with the names of each individual who lost their life on April 16th. You can see students stopping by this memorial daily and paying their respects to their fallen Hokies. Additionally, every April 16th at midnight, Virginia Tech holds a silent vigil where families of the victims and survivors attend to remember these lives with us. It is the most beautiful and moving event to be a part of. So, before you insinuate that Virginia Tech failed to appropriately recognize our fallen Hokies, please understand that we, as Hokies, remember them every day as a part of the culture at this university. Hokies remain positive in the face of adversity and our fallen Hokies would want students to keep living Ut Prosim and enjoying their time on this one of a kind campus. Please remember that Virginia Tech tirelessly tries to shake the reputation of the “shooting school” in an effort to instead highlight the wonderful culture we have here at Tech. Virginia Tech’s lack of mention is not leftist whatsoever, but an effort to showcase how Hokie Nation has come together to be one of the strongest and most successful college/alumni communities in the country. Lastly, Virginia Tech opens orientation with a brief history lesson on how VT got its start. Virginia Tech discusses the two Native American tribes who occupied this land long before Virginia Tech existed. This discussion highlights the Native American sacrifice that helped Virginia Tech be what it is today. It is an attempt to acknowledge others’ sufferings to instill gratitude and understanding in students who may encounter Native Americans who still harbor the pain from their ancestors’ pasts. The Native American tribes are discussed during orientation because it is the beginning of the Virginia Tech story, not because Virginia Tech deems it more important than the fallen cadets and victims of April 16th. Virginia Tech does its best to recognize all the suffering that has occurred because of and within this university through sacred spaces of campus, memorials, and public acknowledgment. You may not like the way it is being done, but don’t accuse Virginia Tech of not properly remembering its fallen Hokies without understanding its culture. Why Using Pronoun Signifiers are Not Leftist, But Humanistic In your article, it seems you took offense to the mention of personal pronoun preferences coming from speakers on stage as well as on students’ name badges. The instillation of personal pronoun preferences is SO important I cannot stress this enough. But first, let me discuss the difference between gender and sex. There is a biological spectrum of sexes that differs based on the primary and secondary sex characteristics that you possess (genitalia, breasts, hormones, chromosomes, etc.). However, gender is a socially constructed phenomenon that communicates to society how people should act and look if they identify with a certain gender. Gender and sex do NOT have to agree. Yes, it is tricky. Yes, it is complicated, but that does not make it bad whatsoever. This is where pronouns come in. People assign pronouns based on their gender, not their sex. Therefore, if someone is assigned male sex at birth, but identifies as a female in gender, they can denote their pronouns on their name badge so others can know how to interact with and not offend them as it is incredibly embarrassing for anyone to be misgendered. It is the same as putting the phonetic spelling of your name below how you actually spell your name. It is so others can correctly pronounce your name without offending you or your culture. Furthermore, people with gender dysphoria can feel empowered to choose what pronouns they would prefer. This gives them the autonomy to choose how they would like to be addressed and is in no way pressuring them to choose certain pronouns. Please do not attempt to attack Virginia Tech for creating an environment where individuals can freely choose their identities. Furthermore, you came off annoyed that the orientation leaders used pronouns because every leader “looked exactly as you would expect them to identify”. That is a direct quote from your article. Politely, this communicates your ignorance concerning gender. Today, there is no one way for a male or female to look as both genders are constantly breaking their own stereotypes and being individuals not bound by the confines of societal constructs. That is beautifully freeing. As a result, these pronouns are utilized to help all individuals feel accepted and free to be themselves without fear of judgement or hate. Lastly, you had contention with Virginia Tech encouraging students to “fluidly ‘explore’ their gender and sexuality” and said that it seemed off message in “the era of Me Too”. Promoting gender/sexual fluidity and supporting the accountability of sexual perpetrators are NOT mutually exclusive. The Me-Too movement is a movement encouraging survivors of sexual assault/harassment to come forward and hold abusers accountable for their actions. Gender/sexual fluidity is being able to challenge the stereotypes of gender and move freely between the gender spectrum. Virginia Tech is communicating to its students that it is important to explore all facets of your personal identity and challenge your beliefs in the pursuit of personal growth. Why Virginia Tech Preaches Against Underage Drinking, But Teaches Kids About Important Resources That Can Be Used While Drinking Virginia Tech is a top educational institution- notice how there are no quotes around this. Virginia Tech is a phenomenal university because it is not naïve. Parents and kids are separated to have conversations with Virginia Tech authorities about underage drinking so that the kids do not feel uncomfortable in the presence of their parents and the Virginia Tech speakers can talk to them as adults who make their own decisions. Your article mentions that the parents were given the “hard line against underage and excessive drinking” while the students were given a presentation that noted that the “campus police are there to help them navigate wayward behavior, which was implied to be normal”. Here is why the parents get a whole other presentation from the students. Can you imagine being in a room with your mom while someone is talking about the use of marijuana and where to go if your marijuana is laced with something bad and you need help? Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be in that position either. Some parents freak out over the potential of their child getting into drugs or alcohol, so much so that this prevents the child from obtaining the information they need to keep them safe. Also, it is normal to dabble in “wayward” behavior such as underage drinking and it doesn’t make you a delinquent. Virginia Tech CAN be against underage drinking while ALSO providing students with resources if they do choose to partake. These two are NOT mutually exclusive and it is unsafe for universities to assume that they are. Virginia Tech provides resources such as SafeRide and the Virginia Tech campus police to ensure that any student who feels unsafe, regardless of whether they have participated in underage or excessive drinking, can reach out to these departments and get the help they need without fear of legal repercussions. So, before you take judgement against Virginia Tech, be thankful that they have so many safety nets for kids who are stumbling through the early stages of their adult lives making mistakes. Newsflash: Being a “Minority Transwoman with Food Allergies” is the SAME as “Simply [Being] an American College Student” You noted that it is “apparently cooler to be a minority transwoman with food allergies than simply to be an American college student”. This is a gross example of using characteristics of peoples’ identities to keep them separate. NEWSFLASH: being a minority transwoman with food allergies attending college is the SAME as simply being “an American college student”. This comment came with a discussion about how Virginia Tech had food options for certain identity groups, but not others. You, specifically, cited that kosher meals, which are meals that cater to Jewish dietary restrictions, were not offered at the university. Virginia Tech is the #1 college dining facility in the nation. During orientation, not all of the dining halls are open to students; therefore, you can’t really assume that they don’t have kosher options when you haven’t seen the menus at all the dining halls. Additionally, VT Dining Services is extremely accommodating to any and all dietary restrictions that they are notified of. Virginia Tech is not perfect, but it would never purposely disregard certain identity groups. Virginia Tech is NOT Asking Your Kid to be Liberal, But Just to Be a Good Human Being Virginia Tech is not a laboratory where they are brainwashing all students to become liberals, nor are they shaming people in their community who are not. There are about 30,000 students at Virginia Tech, which means there are a plethora of different opinions, thoughts, and perspectives. There is ample opportunity to meet people who think like you; however, the greatest personal growth comes from meeting those who don’t think like you and challenge your beliefs. Virginia Tech strives to shape its students into excellently educated, capable, and accepting human beings that will go out into this world with the tools they need to change it for the better. This is why I challenge your statement that states that the VT alumni do not approve of what their institution has become. I, as a VT alumna, in fact take pride in my university and at the progress it is making in ensuring all students can enjoy and grow from their experience at Virginia Tech. Furthermore, my stepdad is also an alum and he has never uttered a disappointing word about the university that has taken care of him, me, and more of my family members to come as they gear up to apply to Virginia Tech this fall. Do not lump all of the Virginia Tech alumni against their alma mater because you will find that us Hokie alum are very proud of this institution and the wonderful young people it is generating. Lastly, let’s be clear, Virginia Tech does NOT work for you. Your taxes may help pay it, but Virginia Tech works for the students, faculty, and future Hokies to ensure that it remains a leading research university that is dedicated to improving the lives of many and to promote academic and personal growth for all its students. Closing As a recent alumna of Virginia Tech, I am the most proud to say that I graduated from this prestigious university that has not only educated me about the 3 degrees that I acquired from it, but more importantly taught me about myself and how to be compassionate towards all others, unconditionally. Virginia Tech is striving to make sure EVERYONE gets a seat at the table and many of the initiatives cited in the original article that I am responding to are actually Virginia Tech’s attempt at doing so. Virginia Tech is not perfect, but it is trying. This is Home, Aubree Courtesy of Patty V. Photography I am not speaking on behalf of Virginia Tech. I am a recent Virginia Tech graduate that has spent the last 4 years immersed in Hokie Nation and am trying to provide some clarity on what I believe to be misinterpretations of Virginia Tech's actions by the author of "My Son's Freshman Orientation Was Full Of Leftist Propaganda".
89 Comments
Mom
8/14/2019 06:41:39 pm
Love this!
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Aubree Harrington
8/15/2019 05:05:19 am
Thank you mom!
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Jenna
8/14/2019 07:48:55 pm
Go Aubree! I absolutely love this. Well said.
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Aubree Harrington
8/15/2019 05:05:38 am
Thank you so much Jenna!
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Brad Lanza
8/14/2019 08:56:38 pm
This is so well written and straight to the point with everything. Thank you so much for writing it and repping the Hokie nation with the reply. I couldn't not agree more with everything you mentioned
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Aubree Harrington
8/15/2019 05:06:16 am
Thank you so much Brad! I am hoping to make my fellow Hokies proud by educating others on who we are and what we stand for!
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Mistress J
8/16/2019 07:57:04 am
As a fellow graduate of the Virginia public higher education system (Tribe not Hokie) I am so proud of this woman's response. She is a credit to her school. If W&M had done this kind of thing back in the 90s it would have saved me a lot of therapy and trauma. I am proud to see VT treating all of their students equal. They are a credit to their legacy.
Dolores
8/15/2019 04:00:20 am
A beautiful message, beautifully written. ❤️
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Aubree Harrington
8/15/2019 05:06:38 am
Thank you so much Dolores!!
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Kara Lattimer
8/15/2019 05:38:49 am
Thank you. #HOKIEPRIDE #thisishome
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Beth Edwards
8/15/2019 05:40:18 am
You are a very mature young woman and on the way to adulting beautifully. Thank you for taking the time to respond so compassionately and intelligently to this woman's concerns and defending humanitarianism and Virginia Tech without shaming her.
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Betsy Woodruff
8/15/2019 06:01:41 am
The author of The Federalist article does not like the way it’s being done precisely because he DOES understand the Hokie culture.
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Christi Boone
8/15/2019 06:58:11 am
It's acknowledging what we already know -- that the land our institution is founded on was once the land of native americans. As in, Columbus didn't "discover" the US. :) While the history has been around forever, it is only in the last few years that these type of formal acknowledgements of thanks have begun at many large events (not just VT, but nation wide). The first time or two you hear it, you might raise an eyebrow, or say "huh." But as it's said/heard more often, it's a reminder that we didn't get here alone; others blazed this trail.
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VT 2018 grad
8/15/2019 07:07:12 am
Draper’s Meadow massacre, July 8, 1755
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Sam ‘16 & ‘17 Graduate
8/15/2019 06:12:18 am
Just to add to the portion about the Jewish population at our university; we have a Jewish center where many students go, “Hillel at Virginia Tech,” as well as a Jewish fraternity. Just some resources if they had more questions about VT’s accommodations for those who have food restrictions. As you also mentioned, they can go to a dining hall and ask about accommodations (though there used to be a dining hall list through a Hokie campus app), as well as the dining hall main office. It makes me sad that an orientation can be seen in such a way. It’s an orientation! You aren’t going to see and hear everything, which is why you should ask questions instead of sitting silently and seething from your unknown answers.
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Maddie
8/15/2019 06:27:51 am
I am currently an Orientation Leader at the University of Minnesota and these are a handful of the disconnects we face. Thank you, thank you for publishing this response! This content is absolutely critical for educational institutions to make progress.
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A hokie
8/15/2019 09:45:40 am
Yes!!! Say it louder for the people in the back! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
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Nadine Hughes
8/15/2019 09:50:20 am
Wow.
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MMM
8/15/2019 10:14:46 am
You dear recent graduate have had a big glass of liberal coolaid
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VT
8/16/2019 01:55:23 pm
How very, very sad for you, MMM, that you obviously feel so threatened by Americans who, unlike you, don't live in fear and hatred of fellow Americans who are not cookie-cutter images of yourself.
Wahoo
8/17/2019 12:35:40 am
Maybe recent graduates just happen to be more informed than you and are, in fact, the inspired generation. Expand your knowledge and read more than just Fox News.
Casey
8/15/2019 09:56:44 am
Yessss! I have the gender/sex discussion all. the. time. and it is hurtful when others have a blatant disregard for the crucial difference.
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Fellow Hokie
8/15/2019 10:31:19 am
VT is far from a "liberal" school anyway - there are several (highly popular) right-leaning student organizations such (i.e. YAF) that raise money and host right-wing guest speakers like Sean Spicer and Dinesh D'Souza. To say VT is trying to indoctrinate its students is not only offensive; it shows a complete lack of research and understanding for the university and its policies.
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Pam
8/15/2019 10:33:25 am
Aubree,
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Emma C
8/15/2019 01:39:13 pm
This article is inspiring, I am so proud that you are able to put your opinions and facts together to prove a point that means so much to you. Truly amazing writing.
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Kitty
8/15/2019 01:41:56 pm
Bravo! Your eloquent words and well-organized counter-arguments are just what we can expect from a Virginia Tech grad.
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Julie
8/15/2019 03:08:22 pm
❤️
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Jake goldberg
8/15/2019 03:12:24 pm
VT moght have the #1 dining but does not caterer at all to the kosher.
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Doug Tischler
8/15/2019 04:42:03 pm
To clarify, although there is no Kosher dining hall at the university, observant Jews can enjoy Kosher meals at the university’s Hillel House, just as they do at every other major university in the US. VT dining services recently began offering Halal meat when a group of Muslim students requested it. The vast majority of food served by the university is undoubtedly Kosher, too...the vegan meals she speaks of are, by definition, likely Kosher. But for a strictly observant Jew, a truly Kosher dining hall would have to use separate facilities to ensure that those Kosher food products never came into contact with something non-Kosher. The same is true for Muslims and the Halal meat: strictly observant Muslims would not eat Halal meat in a dining facility where non-Halal foods are also served. So it is a false equivalence.
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pm
8/16/2019 03:39:27 pm
It is in no way true that "strictly observant Muslims would not eat Halal meat in a dining facility where non-Halal foods are also served." If *an individual* Muslim feels that way, it's their own preference but has NOTHING to do with Islamic dietary laws. And yes, I'm speaking AS a Muslim, not veering out of my lane as a non-Muslim speaking FOR Muslims.
Doug Tischler
8/15/2019 04:39:44 pm
I always read Nance’s articles when I need to get angry. How does she feel that it would be appropriate to have the first thing a school discusses with new students—many of them young people nervously leaving the safety of their childhood home for the first time—be that a bunch of students were massacred on the very spot just a few years back? She says “Instead, the administration made the stunning choice to open orientation by recognizing two Native American tribes on whose land the college was built (with the implication that it was stolen).” Was anyone really “stunned” by this? Why is it “leftist indoctrination” to “recognize two Native American tribes?” She’s upset that the 32 students killed in the shooting or the approximately 500 students killed in various wars listed on the Pylons were not commemorated, while more than 100 million Native Americans were killed in the founding of America. I guess they don’t count for her since they were not white middle-class evangelicals.
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Val
8/16/2019 02:09:33 pm
It's crapola like Penny Nance's response to you that make me wish, wish, wish that all their fantasies about Rapture and etc. were true -- if, for nothing else, to see the look on their faces when the rest of us (who lived based on similar values to what Christ and other religious deities preached) were wafted up to heaven, happily waving bye-bye while their sorry butts burning with Trump in h-e-double-toothpicks. Unfortunately, I don't think any of the Revelations stuff is true, so none of them will ever have to be held accountable for their nasty, hateful behavior here on Earth. :-(
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pm
8/16/2019 03:42:24 pm
It is in no way true that "strictly observant Muslims would not eat Halal meat in a dining facility where non-Halal foods are also served." If *an individual* Muslim feels that way, it's their own preference but has NOTHING to do with Islamic dietary laws. And yes, I'm speaking AS a Muslim, not veering out of my lane as a non-Muslim speaking FOR Muslims about Islamic dietary law. Others would do well to stay in their lane.
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MP
8/17/2019 11:21:15 pm
SHE IS STAYING IN HER LANE—LANE STADIUM <3
William Atwood
8/15/2019 04:43:49 pm
I am a 1987 graduate of Virginia Tech. I feel so proud to be an alum of a university that is turning out graduates like Aubree.
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Hokie ‘08
8/15/2019 04:58:09 pm
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Could not agree more with these thoughts.
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Susan Ahern
8/15/2019 07:44:54 pm
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Mikhelle Taylor
8/15/2019 08:05:27 pm
Great response, and it makes me even prouder to be a Hokie!
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John Greene
8/16/2019 04:26:00 am
Great response!!! As a former student athlete and retired staff in Student/Affairs, I've witnessed a few other uninformed parents. By the time their daughter/son graduates, most have become ardent VT supporters.
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Sarah Davis Dean
8/16/2019 05:24:08 am
Thank for this excellent response, Aubree. I was hoping someone would put on paper my feelings on the subjects brought up in Nance's piece.
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Craig Tollin
8/16/2019 05:32:29 am
This is wonderful, Aubree. Thank you for articulating the values of our community so well.
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Kevin Osborne
8/16/2019 05:41:40 am
Very well said.
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JC
8/17/2019 11:24:28 pm
Off the betrayal haha. But congrats to you for letting her consider tech :)
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Craig Kidd
8/16/2019 07:33:10 am
I am a Hokie, my two children are Hokies (one is a rising junior), and I am ecstatic you have the forum and took the time to respond to the overly publicized commentary of Nance. It is vitally important to respond and to correct so many misrepresentations stated her piece.
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Shane
8/16/2019 09:03:58 am
Thank you for this well-written and reasonably thought out response to an article that frankly made me angry. Penny Nance has no idea what it is to be a Hokie. Maybe her son can teach her something one day when he has graduated from the university that I am so proud to be an alumnus of.
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Chris Henson
8/16/2019 09:40:37 am
As a Virginia Tech grad from three decades ago, I agree completely. The world has changed a great deal since I was a student in Blacksburg and I am pleased that my alma mater is changing with it.
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Morgan Carson
8/16/2019 11:33:15 am
Aubree- your words are EVERYTHING that I felt and didn’t know how communicated. I remember being your Hokie Camp counselor 4 years ago and could not be more proud of the Hokie you’ve become ! :)
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Jenn
8/16/2019 11:50:57 am
I'm a 2006 VT grad and was disgusted at the article published in the Federalist. So many of those points that were written are so close minded. If they had started the orientation by remembering the fallen, both military and from the school shooting, would that really start the weekend on a good tone for either group? So many things were missed in that article, but this response really spells out some of the thoughts they missed. Perhaps her son will learn at Virginia Tech how to think for himself and have understanding versus his mom who never learned that.
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Nannie B.
8/16/2019 12:24:43 pm
The article in The Federalist has made me even more proud that my son chose to not attend VT this year (among many, many other reasons). He opted for a more prestigious institution where his conservative viewpoint is just as welcome as all others. The new mantra embraced by VT is not one of inclusion; rather the intent is to quash viewpoints that do not align with what is considered to be "mainstream" thought.
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Alix
8/16/2019 02:05:37 pm
Well, seeing as more students than ever applied and decided to go to tech, I don’t think Tech is crying itself to sleep over missing your son. But I’m glad your son decided to remain somewhere that is simply an echo chamber of his parents’ thoughts.
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Valerie Tensen
8/16/2019 01:51:45 pm
Well, obviously Virginia Tech is providing an outstanding education for its students because this article was much deeper, fact-based, thoughtful AND well-written than the screed that the obviously attention seeking do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do Penny Nance originally published. Thank you for keeping it real, Aubree.
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pm mp
8/16/2019 03:49:51 pm
It is completely inappropriate for this woman to try to speak for Muslims about pronoun use. Last I checked, she isn't a scholar of Islamic theology or Islamic law and has absolutely NO authority to lump us Muslims in with her hate. If *an individual* Muslim feels hateful like her, it's their own preference but has NOTHING to do with Islamic law. And yes, I'm speaking AS a Muslim who intentionally and proactively states my pronouns (which match how I present) in my email signatures, nametags, etc. I'm not veering out of my lane as a non-Muslim speaking FOR Muslims. She needs to stay in her lane.
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lora
8/16/2019 08:06:47 pm
Great article! I'm a VT alumna as well and agree with virtually everything you said. Good job! The only concern I have is the reference to only two biologic sexual forms. Not only are there a variety of x and y chromosome variations in humans, but 1 in 2000 babies are born with genitals so ambiguous that the doctor is unable to identify the sex. And intersex, aka hermaphrodite, is a long recognized gender as well, going back as least as long as the written language.
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Aubree Harrington
8/16/2019 08:17:00 pm
Hi Lora! Thank you for your kind words! I actually had a discussion with someone else about my mention of binary sexes about an hour after I published this article. They reminded me of what you have listed above! I was completely embarrassed that I forgot to include those individuals in my discussion as I had learned about this in my neuroscience classes at VT. I in no way meant to not include people in my preach of acceptance. I honestly just forgot as these individuals are not typically brought up in mainstream discussion, which they should be! I have not changed the article as I have not had time, but I will make sure to do so to ensure that my message of acceptance of EVERYONE comes across clearly! :)
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Donna O
8/16/2019 08:58:06 pm
What a thoughtful well written piece. I’m not an actual member of Hokie nation, but rather have crime to connect with VT through my BIL who has been on the faculty there is since 1997. I feel very connected to this university despite having never attended anything other than sports & cultural events.
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Jessie
8/17/2019 04:32:17 am
This is wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to write and share this response.
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Stefanie
8/17/2019 06:40:16 am
Thank you for writing such a strong rebuttal. Although I am not a recent graduate of VT I did graduate within the last 20 years and do go back at least once a year now with my family and kids. The original article was very upsetting and I think this was the perfect response to someone who has a very narrow point of view. Thanks for representing VT so well!
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Candice Barbara
8/17/2019 07:54:36 am
Thank you for this wonderful response! I too am a Virginia Tech Alumnus, though not as recent as I’d like to believe, however I appreciate your well thought out response. Virginia Tech was the best decision I ever made and I am so thankful for the growth I experienced while there.
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Jeff
8/17/2019 09:13:54 am
Well said. Thank you for responding to the original article and attempting to open its author’s mind.
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Assad al-Jahili
8/17/2019 09:39:04 am
Compare these two passages:
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Jose
8/17/2019 11:15:42 pm
I mean—wouldn't you get offended if someone called you a "she" (if you're a him)?
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Rick
8/17/2019 01:11:43 pm
Glad you are so compassionately inclusive of every one except those that don’t agree with you....
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Rick's Mom
8/17/2019 11:00:26 pm
* disappointment intensifies
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Aubree Duncan
8/17/2019 03:33:26 pm
From another VT alumna and an Aubree you are spot in this response. Something that is clearly missed in the federalist article is that college is about expanding your horizons and challenging yourself to grow. Maybe she went to UVA?
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New Hokie Mom
8/18/2019 08:31:46 pm
Well said and very well written !! ❤️
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New Hokie Dad
8/19/2019 08:43:54 am
Bravo!
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Mike
8/21/2019 07:08:27 am
the Pronoun thing is a bunch of leftist nonsense-Go Hokies
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Chuck Conway
8/22/2019 04:56:47 pm
Thank you for your response to Ms. Vance's essay. I encourage others to reach out to the university leadership and let them know that we continue to support their efforts and that they should not let this article detract from the great work that occurs at every day Virginia Tech.
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Draper
8/24/2019 12:03:20 pm
Well said, thank you. Your point was made with grace and kindness.
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Tom Sturgis
8/26/2019 09:39:18 am
Well written. Proud of my niece, Liz, who works at the cadet dorm.
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Rob
9/5/2019 08:22:06 pm
Great job, young lady. Universities are for learning, inclusion, exploring, and growing. The lady with her Federalist article is just grandstanding to make a political point. You have responded with grace and eloquence. Hopefully her child will grow past the small-minded upbringing she had provided.
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8/20/2022 05:40:18 pm
Sizde NestaCloud ile aradığınız sunuculara ışık hızında erişebilirsiniz. en güzel en kaliteli sunucu hizmetlerine erişmek artık çok kolay. Sunucu hizmetlerimize güveniyoruz. Haydi hemen indirimli paketlerimizden deneyin. Pişman olmayacaksınız. bize güvenebilirsiniz.
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8/21/2022 09:48:38 am
Mp3Video.org'u tercih etmelisiniz çünkü Youtube Mp3 ve Youtube Video İndir alanında lider teknoloji sağlayıcılarındandır. Hızlı altyapısı güvenilir sistemi. reklamsız ara yüzü ile kalite odaklı bir hizmet sunmaktadır. pişman olmama garantili bir servistir.
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8/22/2022 01:43:19 am
DonghuaTR Türkçe Anime ve Donghua izleme adresi. Bir çok çeşit Animeyi sitemizde HD kalitede izleyebilirsiniz. Anime bölümleri her zaman güncel olarak sitemizde yayınlanır. Aradığınız tüm animeleri DonghuaTR'de bulabilir ve izleyebilirsiniz.
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9/3/2022 11:25:57 am
Hacklink satın almak isteyenler için muhteşem bir site hacklink.gen.tr güçlü hacklink panel satışı ile sizde sıralamalarda yükseleceksiniz. Hemen sizde hacklink satın alın
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9/25/2022 12:53:47 pm
En güncel urfa haber için sitemizi ziyaret et! Site adresi https://haberurfadan.com/
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10/5/2022 10:44:19 am
7/24 hizmet veren adresimiz ile kaliteli sonuçlar almak çok kolay. Garantili takipçi satın alma seçeneği ve en güvenilir hizmetlerle sizleri bekliyoruz.
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10/6/2022 04:01:49 pm
istanbul kepenk tamiri sitesidir! Kepenk tamiri hizmetleri için ziyaret et! https://kepenktamiriistanbul.net/
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10/19/2022 08:02:06 am
Please check your ZAFUL account (My Ticket) and reply to the message we have sent to you regarding your particular case.
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10/22/2022 12:46:40 pm
Get 47 active SHEIN discount codes to get up to 80% off your next order. Use SHEIN voucher codes to save on SS23 fashion for everyone.
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12/20/2022 09:24:49 am
İnstagram takipçi satın almak istiyorsan tıkla.
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6/28/2023 05:11:17 pm
En iyi adıyaman ilan sitesi burada. https://adiyaman.escorthun.com/
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Aubree HarringtonClinical psychology student based out of Louisville, KY, trying to figure out this whole "adulting" thing. ArchivesCategories |