Rude dismissal of Iowa college students no accident (Video)
Top Republican Senator on education budget committee doubles down, defends telling student leaders to “Go back home.”
Iowa State Senator Shawn Hamerlinck (R-Davenport) has doubled down on his rude dismissal of student testimony in opposition to a $40 million cut to Iowa’s public universities.
At the hearing, Hamerlinck attacked students opposing rising tuition costs which will be worsened if the Republican demand for a $40 million cut to ISU, U of I and UNI passes, telling them to “go back home.”
Hamerlinck’s comments have been criticized in Iowa newspapers and are beginning to draw comment on national political blogs. Nevertheless, Hamerlinck issued a written statement after the event to stress that he stands by his claim that the students didn’t know what they were talking about and shouldn’t be listened to. His POST-hearing statement included this quote:
Posted Jun. 8th, 2011 at 4:21 pm by Senate Staff“It saddens me to see bright young Iowa students being misled about our state’s financial situation. Their view of Iowa’s budget is inaccurate and it is my hope that our Regents institutions are educating them on the facts rather than political propaganda.”
Tags: college student, go home, Iowa State University, open budget, Regents, Shawn Hamerlinck, student government, tuition, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa
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