It seems that the College Republicans at the University of Connecticut recently invited Jim Hellwig, aka former wrestler "The Ultimate Warrior" to speak at their school. The results were not what they expected, as Warrior launched into a homophobic, racist tirade.
People started yelling at Warrior as he spoke. Warrior at one point started yelling and stomping his feet, telling everyone to not talk while he is and to ask questions after his speech. Officers were eventually called in to calm things down.
The group that brought Warrior in, the College Republicans, apologized heavily for bringing Warrior in after the speech ended. Statements that really got the crowd upset were when Warrior said "queering don't make the world work" and told an Iranian girl to "get a towel."
The club released an apology for Warrior's appearance.
We brought Warrior to campus because we wanted to host a thought-provoking discussion from an individual who, given his celebrity status, would appeal to a broad range of students.
Sadly, the presentation degenerated into a relay of ad-hominem attacks between the audience and the stage. Though the first amendment fully protects all forms of speech, deliberately inflammatory insults are not what the conservative movement is about. In the future, the College Republicans will be sure to choose speakers that will be more likely to promote intellectual discourse on the UConn campus.
This is too good to pass by.
Then the apology form the UConn Republicans:
Statement to the University Community
Regarding the Warrior Event of April 5, 2005
To the University Community:
Last night, during the College Republican sponsored speech by the "Warrior," there were many comments made that were offensive to many members of the UCONN community, including the College Republicans. As an organization, we brought Warrior to campus, and we acknowledge our part in this disappointing event.
We have written letters of apology to several groups and organizations on campus that represent the people toward whom many of the Warrior's comments were directed. We are strong proponents of free speech, but comments that attack the person and not the issue accomplish nothing, and are therefore inappropriate in a lecture setting.
We brought Warrior to campus because we wanted to host a thought-provoking discussion from an individual who, given his celebrity status, would appeal to a broad range of students.
Sadly, the presentation degenerated into a relay of ad-hominem attacks between the audience and the stage. Though the first amendment fully protects all forms of speech, deliberately inflammatory insults are not what the conservative movement is about. In the future, the College Republicans will be sure to choose speakers that will be more likely to promote intellectual discourse on the UConn campus.
Emily Salisbury
Chairman of the UConn College Republicans
And the Warrior's response (oddly written in third person and too long and rambly to include in its entirety):
In closing, Warrior emphatically rejects and dismisses any attempt to
portray his appearance at UConn as anything other than it was – a
straightforward, honest discussion of Warrior’s philosophical beliefs. That
his words have been mischaracterized and that the speech was occasionally
interrupted by a relative handful of students (who, for some reason, all
seemed to smell like patchouli oil and burnt flag) does not detract from the
fact that the overwhelming majority of those in attendance had a wonderful
time and agreed with most of Warrior’s points – a fact that is corroborated
by dozens upon dozens of emails that Warrior has thus far received from
attendants. Warrior thanks all of his true fans and all of the true
Conservatives who took time out from their studies to welcome him back to
Connecticut, and hopes to see them all again very soon.
Always Believe,
Warrior
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