Guest speaker causing quite a stir on College at Brockport campus

Posted at: 09/20/2012 5:26 PM | Updated at: 09/20/2012 6:06 PM
By: Ray Levato | WHEC.com

Tucker Max is creating quite a stir on the campus at the College at Brockport. Max is an author and self-described misfit.

Students are protesting his visit to campus next month because they say he’s someone who denigrates women and promotes a rape culture.

Max came on the national stage with a book titled, “I Hope They Sell Beer in Hell.” He says what he thinks and what he thinks about women at times isn’t very nice, using words News10NBC cannot post on our website.

Students are already planning to protest Tucker Max's appearance on October 2. The event is sponsored by the Brockport Student Government. Samantha Wheeler is the organization's president.  She said Max was popular in previous student surveys. 

Samantha Wheeler Brockport Student Government President, said, “I want to focus on what he talks about in his lecture. And he talks about the evolution and going against societal norms and doing what's right for you. He also has a large section of the lecture dedicated to question and answer, which I think is a great opportunity for students who like his books or dislike his views to really voice their opinions.” 

The Brockport campus newspaper, Stylus, is not taking sides on Tucker Max, but encouraged students to voice their opinions for and against. And the “against” crowd has been very vocal. 

One woman accuses Max of covering topics that degrade women and promoting a rape culture, things she says the Brockport campus is trying to eliminate. The college issued a statement saying it supports efforts by students to debate the appropriateness of Max's appearance on campus. 

David Mihalyov, College at Brockport Spokesman said, “While the campus administration may not agree with the choice of who they're bringing, we're not in the business of censoring who they program.”

Cassie Negley, The Stylus Editor, said, “Personally I feel it is fine he comes here but it depends on the material he's presenting.” 

The editor of the student newspaper is Cassie Negley. 

Negley said, “I think him explaining his books and telling funny stories about it isn't necessarily a good idea, but I like that people are going to be able to ask questions, that allows people who support him to ask questions and people who don't support him.  So when you open it up like that and create a discussion, that's fine.” 

Tucker Max is being paid $20,000 by the Brockport Student Government, which rankles some students who don’t want their college fees to support this kind of thing. The Stylus editor says if students’ fees are being used to hurt someone and people feel that bringing Tucker Max hurts women then she said it’s unacceptable.

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