March 18, 2008

University of Virginia Newspaper Blasphemy

The student newspaper at the University of Virginia, "The Cavalier Daily" recently published cartoons mocking Christians and Christianity. The content is too vile to describe in detail on the air without offending God and our listeners--or our web audience, but the latest cartoon essentially mocks the virgin birth of Christ, using crude language and images.

The newspaper said the cartoon met its "censorship criteria" for appropriate material, but after protests began arriving at the university, the cartoon was removed. The paper posted on its website a statement saying that it "regrets any offense readers may have taken to two recent comics...", indicating that in the paper's view, the problem is with the people who are offended.

Listeners gave their comments, among which was a rhetorical question about what would have happened had a similar cartoon been proposed for publication that mocked Mohammad or the Koran.

Listeners were encouraged to contact university and Virginia State officials with their comments about the decision to publish this kind of material at a public, tax-supported university.

More Information

American Family Association
http://www.afa.net

Action Points

To comment concerning the recent blasphemous cartoons mocking Christians and Christianity, published by the student newspaper at the University of Virginia, contact the following:

Contacts at "The Cavalier Daily":

Editor-in-Chief: 434-924-1082
editor@cavalierdaily.com

Executive Editor: 434-924-1090
ee@cavalierdaily.com

Managing Editor: 434-924-1095
meditor@cavalierdaily.com

Operations Manager: 434-924-6973
om@cavalierdaily.com

Opinon:
opinion@cavalierdaily.com

Contacts at the University of Virginia:

Jerilyn F. Teahan, Assistant to the President: 434-924-6359
jaf7h@virginia.edu

Gordon C. Burris, Senior Assistant to the President: 434-924-1367
gcb2c@virginia.edu

Joan B. Fry, Special Assistant to the President: 434-982-2398
jbf2f@virginia.edu

JoAnne Birckhead, Administrative Assistant in the President's office: 434-924-6245
jbg@virginia.edu

Lois A. Lovern, Administrative Assistant in the President's office: 434-924-3787
lal5z@virginia.edu

Peggy S. Pasternak, Administrative Assistant in the President's office: 434-924-6244
psp3p@virginia.edu

Contacts at the State of Virginia:

Tim Kaine, Governor
804-786-2211
804-371-6351
Send the governor a message at this website:
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm