While the de rigueur ‘Keep Austin Weird’ signs can be seen at just about every dive bar, coffee house and organic food co-op here in the capital, this place is really no different than any other larger college town. It’s only in comparison to the rest of the Lone Star State that Austin’s freak flag stands out so prominently. Towns like Madison, Ann Arbor and Boulder, to name a few, give ATX more than a run for its countercultural money. Still, as we’ve detailed, the epicenter of lefty thought here, the University of Texas, has its fair trade, ethically sourced, non-sweat shop-produced panties in a real twist over the prospect of students carrying concealed in class next year. But while the pitchfork bearers and dildo toters get all the press, not everyone is down with all the outrage . . .
Though his colleagues in the Liberal Arts department seem to be uniformly a-feared of the prospect of a strapped student body, at least one business school prof takes a much more reasoned view of the actual risks faced on today’s campus. Senior lecturer John Doggett doesn’t want to be lumped in with the lumpen professoriate and sent this reply to Professor Jorge Canizares-Esguerra’s call to action:
From:John.Doggett@mccombs.utexas.edu [mailto:John.Doggett@mccombs.utexas.edu]
Sent: Friday, October 9, 2015 2:16 PM
To: Canizares, Jorge Canizares-Esguerra <canizares-esguerra@austin.utexas.edu>
Subject: RE: appeal to action: campus carryDear Jorge,
I am saddened that you think the best way to support your position on campus carry is to attack, insult and belittle those of us who have no problem with the law.
But what really saddens me is your profound lack of understanding about what constitutes risk or danger in a classroom.
Please read this before you flame mail any of your colleagues again. http://markmanson.net/school-shootings
BTW, never put 150 email addresses in the to: space of an email message. That’s what bcc is for.
Harambee,
John
It takes some guts to buck the prevailing hard left tilt in an academic environment, especially if you don’t have the benefit of tenure protecting your job. But Mr. Doggett is no novice when it comes to controversy and for standing up and being counted, he’s our gun hero of the day.