UAF suspends DJ for anti-Reagan show

please write or call the regents to support this poor kid.


http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/5179652p-5112190c.html

"FAIRBANKS -- Managers at a University of Alaska Fairbanks radio station have suspended a disc jockey who turned a Sunday radio show into what he called a "celebration" of the death of former President Reagan...."

"Brookes said the station is still receiving complaints about the show and questions whether the student crossed an ethical line in making so many "pointed comments" about Reagan so soon after the former president's death.

"Regardless of how you feel about (Reagan) or what he did ... we can all agree on a certain boundary of poor taste," Brookes said.
No tape of the show is available. According to Spider Bui, he spent much of his time slot berating Reagan for his support for violent revolution in Latin America, his involvement in providing aid and weapons to Iraq and to Afghanistan rebels, and what the student called a "homophobic" response to the AIDS epidemic."I said that I was sick of all of the media that was glorifying Reagan and rewriting history that was pretty despicable," he said. "Basically, what the gist of the show was, it was a celebration that Ronald Reagan was dead, was finally dead."".

contact these people

UNIVERSITY BOARD OF REGENTS

Michael J. Burns, President (1997-2005)
SYMJB@orca.alaska.edu or M_BURNS@KEYCORP.E-MAIL.COM
Key Bank
P. O. Box 100420
Anchorage, AK 99510
564-0250 (work) 563-1764 (work FAX)
346-3276 (home) 346-1836 (home FAX)

Elsa Froehlich Demeksa, Vice President (1997-2005) - elsa.demeksa@alaska.edu
1785 Evergreen Avenue
Juneau, AK 99801
586-2806 (home) 586-6048 (FAX)

Chancy Croft, Treasurer (1995-2003) - chancy.croft@alaska.edu
738 H Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-272-3508 (work) 907-248-2727 (home) 907-274-0146 (FAX)

Mary Jane Fate, Regent (1993-2001) - SYMJF@alaska.edu
P.O. Box 71111
Fairbanks, AK 99707
907-457-6860 (home-office) 907-457-6861 (FAX)

Robert Malone, Regent (1999-2007) malonera@alyeska-pipeline.com
Alyeska Pipeline Services Inc., MS 528
Anchorage Alaska 99512
(907) 265-8449 (wk) and (907) 265-8924 (fax)

Brian D. Rogers - Regent (1999 - 2007) brogers@infosights.com
751 Old Richardson Hwy, #235
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
(907) 452-2461 (wk) and (907) 452-3143 (fax)

Francis H. Rose, Regent (1999 - 2007) frances.rose@alaska.edu
Alaska Permanent Capital Management Co.,
900 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 601
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
(907) 272-7575 (wk) and (907) 272-7574 (fax)

R. Danforth Ogg, Regent (1993-2001) - danogg@ptialaska.net
Box 2754
Kodiak, AK 99615
907-486-4711 (bus/mes) 907-486-4714 (FAX)

Joe J. Thomas, Regent (1995-2003) - joe.thomas@alaska.edu
879 Vide Way
Fairbanks, AK 99712
907-452-3139 (home) 907-457-6710 (work) 907-452-6285 (FAX)

Joe Usibelli, Jr. Regent (1999 - 2007) joe@usibelli.com
Usibelli Coal Mine Inc.,
P.O. Box 1000,
Healy, Alaska 99743
(907) 683-3139(wk) and (907) 683-2253 (fax)
***************************************************

I am in favor of people openly debating the nature of Reagan's policies. But calling his show a "celebration" was perhaps a lapse in judgement -- if a right-wing person were to call for a celebration after Bill Clinton dies, I'd think we would agree that it was a lapse of judgement that justifies a consequence. Being "fired" is a bit extreme, but people need to understand that we are faced with extreme circumstances. From the part you cover, it looks like the kid doesn't take any responsibilty for his error. Were he to demonstrate that little bit of insight, I would then be happy to try to reason with those who "fired" him.But the ball is in his court.

I posted this in the
Alaska forum so that Alaskans can respond to this. Since you live in New York...your comments to the UAA board of regents would be superfluous.

about only wanting folks from your state to take part in this. You might find that the more attention an issue gets, the more positive a response you get. Good luck.

your input is appreciated...but We Need Alaskans to respond to this.

None at all. Tough situation. Also, you certainly did post it in your state forum. My error completely.

One last thought: the people who you are hoping to have people e-mail are very likely to be far more prone to re-hiring this fellow if he says, "Gosh, I got carried away. Sorry." If he takes the "I did nothing wrong" stance, it intensifies the conflict. Always better in these cases to take the "youthful lapse in judgement in the heat of political debate" route. Most "adults" can relate to that approach.

If not, the kid can take some pleasure in being in the company of Malcolm X, who got "fired" for a error in judgement similar, perhaps, to the one you describe. Again, good luck!

A little bit of groveling might save his ass. But Talk Radio here are making this their cause and hundreds of conservatives are flooding the regents with demands to have this kid expelled.

Said it was an over reaction and he would be re installed.