AU Students Protest Barney Frank

President Obama is not the only one having problems giving a commencement speech. A group at American University is protesting the selection of Congressman Barney Frank for an honorary degree and as the commencement speaker for the American University School of Public Affairs.

A letter written to the School of Public Affairs calls Barney Frank’s record “as a key player in our current economic crisis is almost as offensive as his endless refusal to accept responsibility for it.”  Sarah DeStefano, the founder of the Facebook group “AU Students & Alumni Against Barney Frank @ SPA Commencement ‘09”, told AU’s student newspaper, “The Eagle”, she is “sickened that the university would want to undermine the worth of my education by honoring a man with such a dishonorable record” stating that “Frank stood by and did nothing as our economy tumbled further into dismay.

On the record, he insisted that desires for further oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were ‘overblown’ and that ‘Wall Street would get over it’ if the banks collapsed.” DeStafano wonders how the Congressman “can honestly look students in the eye who are struggling to find a job.”

DeStafano said she started the group “Students & Alumni Against Barney Frank @ SPA Commencement ‘09” with the goal of rescinding the invitation and not awarding the Congressman an Honorary Degree. When asked about the political affiliation of the group Sarah said the group is mostly made up of Republicans but that several Democrats, including the Vice-President of AU’s chapter of the College Democrats, are members of the group.

The group has suggested alternatives to Frank including Elie Wiesel, Washington D.C.’s current Mayor Adrian Fenty, and John Lewis.  “There are plenty of actually inspiring individuals in Washington disposal” DeStafano says.  Someone as “dishonorable, corrupt, irresponsible, self-serving, and entirely unwilling to admit his mistakes doesn’t seem like something an academic institution would want to celebrate.”

To learn more, check out the Facebook group AU Students & Alumni Against Barney Frank @ SPA Commencement ‘09.