U. of Iowa president Sally Mason apologizes for (human nature) remarks

[Gingersnap]

U. of Iowa president Sally Mason apologizes for remarks

Posted: Feb 26, 2014 2:02 PM MST
Updated: Feb 26, 2014 2:02 PM MST

IOWA CITY (AP) -
The University of Iowa president has apologized for a remark she made to the student newspaper about sex assaults on campus.

In an interview published Feb. 18 in The Daily Iowan, President Sally Mason said she was dismayed by the reports of sexual assaults. She said "the goal would be to end that, to never have another sexual assault. That's probably not a realistic goal just given human nature, and that's unfortunate. ..."

Criticism erupted over the phrase that includes "human nature."

The Iowa City Press-Citizen says Mason apologized during a President's Forum on Tuesday.

Mason said she's been told by several people in the campus community that her remark was hurtful. She said she was "very, very sorry for any pain that my words might have caused."

Someone will have to explain this one to me.

KWWL

[phillygirl]

Someone will have to explain this one to me.

KWWL

Human nature implies a shrugging of the shoulders as to the conduct, and therefore minimizes the conduct by indicating that people are hard wired to rape.

[Adam]

Human nature implies a shrugging of the shoulders as to the conduct, and therefore minimizes the conduct by indicating that people are hard wired to rape.

Inartfully stated by her, but pretty pearl-clutchy for those who are freaking out over it, too. If someone said "it would be nice if we could eliminate all crime, but owing to human nature, that unfortunately will never happen," no sane person would question that or get upset about it.

And yet that is effectively what she has said here, and people are having a meltdown.

[phillygirl]

Inartfully stated by her, but pretty pearl-clutchy for those who are freaking out over it, too. If someone said "it would be nice if we could eliminate all crime, but owing to human nature, that unfortunately will never happen," no sane person would question that or get upset about it.

And yet that is effectively what she has said here, and people are having a meltdown.

Agreed. But it's a college campus. Meltdowns are normal.

[Billy Jingo]

Gay married, rape culture, and white privilege.

Why do I get the feeling we are arguing about the wrong things?

[Adam]

Agreed. But it's a college campus. Meltdowns are normal.

True. True.

[Novaheart]

Inartfully stated by her, but pretty pearl-clutchy for those who are freaking out over it, too. If someone said "it would be nice if we could eliminate all crime, but owing to human nature, that unfortunately will never happen," no sane person would question that or get upset about it.

And yet that is effectively what she has said here, and people are having a meltdown.

I agree with you. My first thought went to "It would be great if no one would rob another, but it appears human nature that there will always be those who do and all we can do is try to protect ourselves."

I wonder if she had said, "… the way of the world being as it is." if it would have had the same response.

[Gingersnap]

Human nature implies a shrugging of the shoulders as to the conduct, and therefore minimizes the conduct by indicating that people are hard wired to rape.

Really? I never in a million years would have seen that as her take-home message.

I think it's an obvious statement that no amount of security, policies, or laws can eliminate all violent crime since violent crime is, indeed, well within the expression of human nature! As are many good things.

I wouldn't think touchy-feely people would want to go near your argument. After all, don't they believe that homosexuals are hard-wired in sexual expression? Or that men are hard-wired to oppress? Or that women are hard-wired to be thoughtful, kind, generous, smart, and selfless? I mean, the list of supposedly "hard-wired" behavior identified by progressives is truly comprehensive.