1010. "WHEN GOOD MEN DO NOTHING!!" -- We must stand up for those who need support!

As the great parliamentarian Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” In 1968 the quotation appeared in the 14th edition of the seminal reference work Bartlett's Familiar Quotations.

If you can't read this -- it says "  The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing", by Albert Einstein

And:  in Proverbs 29:2 -- 

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

I guess I am a crusader!  I found a side of me in the last 2 days that has really become appalled, and disappointed and wants to speak out!  I plan to go to St. George, my home town, tomorrow and help crusade, protest, or whatever it takes, to help 2 tenured professors who were terminated 2 days ago at Dixie State University!  You can read many comments, on one post about the situation here:  There are many others, and I have made comments on all!
   
Copy and paste the following:

https://www.facebook.com/ernie.doose/posts/1816428488367491?comment_id=1816433641700309&reply_comment_id=1816543888355951&notif_id=1520180543305387&notif_t=feed_comment_reply&ref=notif


As many of you know, I was born and raised in St. George, Utah.  That is the home of what was then a 2 year College. I went there and graduated in 1954.  I had accompanied the choirs there and received the music award when I graduated.  My father, Orson Pratt Miles, attended Dixie College the first year it was started -- 1911.  My mother, Ruth Allen Miles, had a beautiful soprano voice, and with her music scholarship, sang the lead in several operas in the old Opera House there.  Out of my 9 children, 8 of them attended Dixie, and several of them graduated with their Associate Degree, when it was a 2 year school.  

We lived away from St. George from 1956 until 1981, when we were able to go back with my husband Wayne as an elementary teacher in the local schools.  We lived there for 35 years before my husband Wayne passed away, and I stayed for over a year before moving up with my oldest son, also Wayne, to West Bountiful, north of Salt Lake City, to be nearer to 5 of my children, and many grand and great grandchildren in my older years.  

But tomorrow I will return!  I feel impelled to go back to St. George, for this week, and do whatever I can to help those two professors, Dr. Ken Peterson, and Dr. Glenn Webb.  I played the piano many years for Ken's vocal students, and we have been long time personal friends!  I didn't know Dr. Webb, but I know he was a phenomenal teacher and performer in percussion -- taught jazz band, etc. and many students are absolutely devastated by their dismissal.  Their crime:  speaking out for their colleague, Varlo Davenport, an equally amazing drama coach who was terminated 3 years ago for a situation with a student.  He lost his job, and finally with a lawyer, was acquitted, and still not hired back!  The Spirit of Dixie, which was a powerfully strong school spirit is broken at this time!  There may be other reasons, but they are being hid behind closed doors, and trying to be squelched!  They are both men of integrity!

I have spent so much time on the computer in the last 2 days that I will let some of these articles suffice.  I am posting just a couple of comments on some of the posts.    

1. Spencer Potter There is excellence but this is the tip of the iceberg. The artists are speaking out, as artists tend to. There is sweeping intimidation and oppression on campus. I’m glad other departments are not as visibly shaken, but rest assured it is there. More than 20 faculty members have contacted local lawyers. The silence about these issues on campus, and many, many, other reports of administrative bullying and intimidation across campus, is due to fear and intimidation not out of peace. It breaks my heart because I was a very involved student. I was a student senator, served on committees, close with many professors in many departments, was awarded male student of the year by the college, and student of the year/semester several times. I think I was even technically the valedictorian for my respective school (education since that’s where integrated studies was based out of. This didn’t make me the valedictorian for the entire graduating class). Long story short, Dixie was so good to me and gave me so much. I love it so much that I can’t stay quiet and let the current state of affairs continue as the status quo there. Sarah, I sincerely wish you success and hope this is a time for many generations of students and alum like me, you, and Paralee to come together and fight for the school we love.

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Another comment--

 I've had such bad feelings for DSU since I went back and got my Bachlors Degree in 2011-2013. It's changed, and not in a good way. It's cold, rigid, and very socialist in its teaching and administration. I'm sorry I went back and won't be advocating DSU to family or friends. This Rebel is done with the bull!

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Another comment--

DSU is forcing professor's to teach and be a lot like those at Berkley... At least in my wife's education department and in my communication department. We both got BS degrees in 2013. As an adult senior citizen it was scary. I won't allow any of my 28 grandkids go their, if I can help it. I use to LOVE Dixie...

I have a grandson, Ben Lieske, who, on a scholarship, chose 4 years ago to go to a neighboring university, 50 miles north, Southern Utah University, to get his degree in Music Education.  At the time, I was disappointed he wasn't staying at Dixie, but since then I have been glad!  The Fine Arts department, especially music and drama, have deteriorated so quickly, they are almost non-existent as we speak!  I also know of other professors who either have been terminated or put on administrative leave -- quietly, with students and others questioning why, and being left in the lurch as to their quality education!

I WILL FINISH THIS POST SAYING THAT I BELIEVE IN SPEAKING UP FOR THE TRUTH, SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MISTREATED! AND FOR THE QUALITY EDUCATORS THAT ARE BEING DISMISSED FOR NOT BEING "POLITICALLY CORRECT"!  I KNOW THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN MANY UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER PLACES IN OUR OWN UNITED STATES, AND ALL OVER THE WORLD!  

For those of you who have read to this point, I invite you to go to my posts on Facebook, and other places, and read for yourselves ---

https://www.facebook.com/paralee.eckman

I need to get packing!  After I go to Church!