Terrorism in the Classroom: What “Fighting Like Hell” Gets You

submitted by Anna-Marie Pluymert, Director of Communication/Education, Right to Life of Michigan

On March 27, we learned that a Wayne State University English professor has been suspended. Dr. Steven Shaviro recently wrote on Facebook justifying the assassination of “right-wing” speakers on campus. While the post doesn’t specifically mention prolife people, it’s doubtful Dr. Shaviro believes prolife speakers should avoid being murdered for their views.

On March 28, we learned that a Michigan State University professor was forcing her students to subscribe to her “Patriarchy Rebellion Community” website. Dr. Wisner said she would donate 100% of the students’ fees to Planned Parenthood.

Did you hear about these stories? Did any “reputable” publications in Michigan focus on these? This isn’t just a case of one professor saying something ridiculous and getting punished for it. These are two cases of professors at public universities encouraging their students to engage in terrorism.

Yes, terrorism. That’s what you call it when someone commits unlawful violence to further political goals.

On the surface, it seems that at least our universities are somewhat functioning. Wayne State suspended Shaviro. MSU will reimburse students for being forced to subscribe to Wisner’s campaign for violence. But are they really treating these cases like they deserve?

Shaviro was suspended with pay. He still gets paid for advocating terrorism.

Wisner was suspended, but it appears that she might have successfully walked away with $120,000 in students’ money.

In the last few months, we’ve seen the widespread use of the term “stochastic terrorism.” Its definition is supposed to mean repeated demonization of a particular group that encourages others to commit terrorism against them. Instead, it’s been deployed lately to intimidate people who disagree politically with our current leaders.

So where is all the terrorism happening these days? Apparently on college campuses, where you are supposed to be highly credentialed to achieve an academic position.

And then there’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who for months has been egging on her supporters to “fight like hell” for abortion. Given Whitmer’s irresponsible rhetoric directly alluding to violence, you should expect her to feel a particular burden to denounce the violence her supporters commit.

The amount of political violence committed or encouraged in the last couple of years is becoming a very long list and it’s up to Michigan citizens to fix this.

We vote for the boards of Wayne State and MSU. We are paying to promote terrorism on those campuses. We elected our current cast of leaders who can’t even mouth empty platitudes about protecting their own constituents.

Elections have consequences, and when we let our government be run by people who stochastically support acts of terror against political enemies, we’re going to get terrorism.