Coulter's campus visit brings controversy, interest

Ann Coulter, a republican speaker, author and correspondent, will be visiting the University Oct. 5 to discuss "Evaluating the Change in American Government.""I have seen her interviewed on TV, and she is inflammatory and has horrific things to say about pretty much everybody," Siobhan Rahilly, a Chattanooga junior, said.

Assistant english professors, Dr. Rebecca Jones and Heather Palmer, will be delivering a critique of the lecture.

They both said they are very respectful of Coulter and her beliefs and ask the students to do the same.

Jones said, "We hope that people show southern hospitality, show civility. This is a university, the point of having a university is for deliberation of topics. We hope the students show they are smart and intelligent, and they want to engage, and not shut down arguments."

Rahilly said, "Although I do not agree with her at all, it's important to listen to the other side before you condemn them. It would be nice if people got active about their beliefs and not just let her condemn everyone else in the world."

Rahilly said Coulter has been so opinionated in the past that she has been considered racist and close-minded.

Palmer said she wanted to emphasize student responsibility.

"We want to be a model of how to dissent in a productive way," Palmer said.

Jones said she has read all of Coulter's books.

Coulter's goal did not seem to be problem solving, it seemed to be inflammatory and argument for arguments sake, she said.

Jones said that has negative affect for the state of democracy, that this polar rhetoric keeps students from participating.

Both professors said they want a clean, civilized afternoon, with educated people listening to each other and discussing their arguments.

The lecture will be Oct. 5 from noon to 2 p.m. in the UC auditorium.

The lecture is free and open to the public, with a first-come, first-served seating arrangement.

More information on Coulter's visit is available at the Chair of Free Enterprise, 423-425-5218.