Editorial: WT president turns his back on free speech
Picture it. Clarendon College, 1991. A group of honor students is looking for a new way to raise money and have fun. The sponsor of the organization offers a suggestion: “I think you should have a beauty contest, but all the contestants are guys dressed as girls.” The sponsor slips out the door. The guys in the group are hesitant, but the girls in the group latch onto the idea and run with it. The Miss Bulldog contest was born, the group raised some decent money, and the event continued on and off for several years. It got a little risqué at one point, but no one got hurt, and I got a Second Runner-Up sash. (The winner was a bit of a tramp, but that’s another story.)
Thankfully, this all happened more than 30 years ago and Walter Wendler was not the president of our college. Otherwise, he might have labeled it a drag show and cancelled us for being misogynistic.
That’s exactly what Dr. Wendler did last week for some students at West Texas A&M University. “A Fool’s Drag Race” was scheduled to be held March 31 to raise funds for an LGBTQ suicide-prevention group. According to reports from the Texas Tribune, WTAMU administrators guided the organizers through the event approval process starting in February, before President Wendler canceled the event last week.
“A harmless drag show? Not possible.” Wendler wrote in a column his office submitted to the Enterprise and other newspapers last Tuesday.
In the column, Wendler bases his decision to cancel the show on the grounds that drag shows are demeaning to women. He writes: “As a performance exaggerating aspects of womanhood (sexuality, femininity, gender), drag shows stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood.”
I have never heard a woman say anything like that about drag, nor have I ever heard anyone try to make that argument. Wendler’s comment, and in fact his entire column, is the most tortuous logic imaginable.
Drag shows are the fashionable thing for the far right to hate at the moment. Two years ago, no one had a problem with them. Now, they are portrayed as pure evil. In fact, Potter County GOP Chairman Dan Rogers on Thursday sent a message to the Enterprise calling for people to sign a petition supporting Wendler “in his stand against evil.”
There is evil in this world without a doubt. But it’s not a drag show. It’s the ugliness of people like Wendler and Rogers who demonize others simply because they are different.
People have been enjoying men dressed in drag for a very long time. Milton Berle, Flip Wilson, Jack Lemmon, Bob Hope, Tom Hanks, and many others have all dressed in drag. Who can forget Mrs. Doubtfire portrayed by Robin Williams? Some may say, well these were harmless, but remember, Dr. Wendler says that’s impossible.
Why? What has changed? Supporters of Dr. Wendler will tell you that drag shows today have become inappropriate. But I think really what has changed is the ability for people not to get offended and the ability of people to tolerate different points of view and different beliefs.
Dr. Wendler’s columns have run in the Enterprise for several years; and until last week, he was a man I respected. But as a president of a state-financed university, he has an obligation to stand up for free speech, free expression, and most of all free thought. It’s not only a moral obligation; it’s the law. The Texas Legislature in 2019 – in a rare act of bipartisanship, as reported by the Texas Tribune – required universities to allow any person to engage in free-speech activities on campuses.
Wendler tried very hard to avoid addressing the lightning rod issues that have lately come with criticism of drag shows and instead tried to cloak himself as the righteous defender of womanhood with a healthy dose of bible verses and references to Natural Law. What he needs is some schooling in the United States Constitution, and he’s likely to get that with the lawsuit he’s now facing for his actions.
Does Wendler really believe what he wrote or is he just trying to keep the Randall-Potter county communities happy or pacify some big donor? We don’t know, but we know what he did, and it was wrong.
Wendler’s actions are just an example of what’s going on these days. Our nation is seeing more and more of this kind of behavior. Last week, a Wisconsin elementary school first grade was stopped from performing Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus’ song “Rainbowland.” School administrators pulled the plug on the performance. They also originally canceled a performance of Kermit the Frog’s “The Rainbow Connection” but reversed that decision.
When Dolly Parton and Kermit the Frog are seen as offensive, we are living in a world gone crazy for sure.
Everyone needs to calm down and relax. Drag shows aren’t inherently evil. Dolly Parton can’t possibly be a problem, and Kermit is cool. Instead of spreading hate and dissent, we should try loving one another and be nice to each other – even to people we disagree with.
Reinstate the show, Dr. Wendler. Show the world that you’re better than this and that WTAMU stands for freedom.
Wesley Arlyn Sharp
Wesley Arlyn Sharp passed away peacefully Monday, March 28, 2023, at the age of 89.
Graveside services will be Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. in the Alanreed Cemetery with Brother Bob Miller officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Wes was born on May 19, 1933, to Howard and Anna Belle (Patrick) Sharp. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hart and graduated from the Hart Public School system in 1951. Wes proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955.
Wes married Beth Hall on July 27, 1956, in Canyon. They moved to the Sandhills of Nebraska in 1957. Wes enjoyed ranching, roping, and raising and riding good Quarter Horses. The family moved back to Clarendon in 1983. Wes worked for the Archer Daniels Midland Company and Texas Saddlery before starting Sharp Saddlery which he owned and operated for over 30 years. He truly enjoyed the many customers and friends that he made during his travels of West Texas, Eastern New Mexico, and the Oklahoma Panhandle.
He was proceeded in death by his parents; sister, Jeannie Mosley; and great-grandson, Kashton Jackson.
Wes was a devoted and loving husband, dad, granddad and great granddad. Those left to cherish his memory and carry on his legacy are: wife, Beth Sharp of the home; son Kelvin Sharp and wife Lissa of Lubbock; daughter Evonnda Watkins and husband Joe of Claude; granddaughters Mandi Jackson and husband Blaine of Claude; Alice Conner and husband Chad of Amarillo; Kelsee Lozier and husband Clay of Claude; Lindsey Boatright and husband Brice of Lubbock; grandson John Sharp of Lubbock; great grandchildren Kaylee Jackson, Korbin Jackson, Peyton Conner, Keevin Conner, Addyson Conner, Cadyn Lozier and Kinsley Lozier and brother Jack Sharp of Georgetown.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alanreed Cemetery Association, C/O Bank of Commerce, P.O. Box 29 McLean, TX 79057 or Donley County Senior Citizens Association, P.O. Box Drawer B, Clarendon, TX 79226.
Lady Broncos’ slow start ends in loss to 5A team
The Lady Broncos struggled to find the zone early on in a game with the Amarillo Sandies varsity softball team last weekend. The 3-17 loss put the ladies at 12-3-2 for the year.
Kenidee Cummins has been solid for the Lady Broncos all season but struggled against a good-hitting Lady Sandies team. Cummins allowed 14 hits and 16 runs in her three innings on the mound. She did manage two strike-outs before turning the mound over to Tandie Cummins who finished the game with three hits, one run, and one strike-out.
Despite struggling at the plate, the Lady Broncos were able to put three runs on the board when Baylee Gabel and Mya Edward brought in one and three RBIs respectively. Gracie Wilkins also mustered one hit in the game.
The Lady Broncos will travel to Booker March 24 and take on Fritch at home on March 28 with both games beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Broncos fall to Canute
The Clarendon Broncos took on Canute, Oklahoma over spring break and came up short in a 6-16 loss on the road.
The Broncos mustered out-hit their opponent, but four errors hindered them defensively. Canute was able to turn seven hits into 16 runs to end the game in four. The Broncos worked through four pitchers trying to find the right combination to stay alive. Harrison Howard threw the first inning allowing zero hits and only one run. He turned in one strike-out and two walks before Wilson Ward, Easton Frausto, and Levi Gates took a turn on the mound in relief.
Offensively, Frausto nailed a homerun in the fourth and Jared Musick and Lyric Smith connected on two doubles each their turn at bat and the team posted six RBIs.
The Broncos are currently 7-3-1 for the year.
They will play Kress at home on March 24 at 4:00 p.m. and host Wellington March 28 in a big district game also beginning at 4 p.m.
HHS athletes competed at Groom
Hedley High School and Junior High athletes competed at the Groom Relays last week.
Running events results for the Owls and Lady Owls were: 100M – Maddie Moore 16th, 200 – Maddie Moore; Discuss – Taylee Ehlert 5th; Long Jump – Maddie Moore 14th; 100M – 24th Ray Curry 14.7; 1600M – Joshua Booth 2nd at 5:16.38; and 3200M – Javier Valles 5th at 13:29 and Isaiah Torres 6th at 13:38.
In the field events for the Owls, results were: Shot Put- Matthew Rodriguez 19th with a distance of 23-05.25; Discus – Joshua Booth 4th with a throw of 102-07; and Long Jump – Joshua Booth 16th at 15-01.25, Javier Valles 22nd at 13-5.00, and Isaiah Torres 23rd at 12.02.75.
Haynes takes 4th in steer show in Houston
Parker Haynes placed 4th with his Heavy Lightweight Black Cross when members of the Donley County 4-H Club competed at the Houston Livestock Show last week.
Levi Gates placed 6th with his Lightweight Charolais Cross, and Laney Gates placed 8th in the Senior Reasons Horse Judging and was the 18th place overall individual.
Last month, the 4-H Archery team also competed at the Houston show. Kutter O’Keefe was 5th place NASP Jr Male; Emma Howard was 6th place NASP Jr. Female; and Ronan Howard was 14th place NASP Sr. Male.
Clarendon first grade learning financial literacy
Clarendon first graders in Mrs. Wann’s class have been learning the basics of financial literacy through a game called “The Game of Life.”
Through this process, the kids have learned about income. They receive a paycheck for coming to school (it is their job). For expenses, they pay rent, cleaning charges, and other bills weekly. They also practiced savings; they tell the bank how much money they want to put into savings each week.
Students have seen an inflation of prices, unexpected expenses arise, and on Fridays they shop in the classroom store with the money they have left. If they do not have money, they have learned how to barter for their needs.
Learning the difference between needs and wants, as seven-year-olds, they have learned that wants are the fun things, but their needs are the most important.
To top off the game Mrs. Zonkger’s high school accounting class came a couple of days and played Jr. Monopoly with the students.
“This has been such a fun game and eye-opening experience for these littles,” Mrs. Wann said.
Registration still open for Jones 5K race
The 11th annual Chance Mark Jones Roar & Run 5K will be held Saturday, April 1, at the Donley County Courthouse.
The Clarendon Lions Club is hosting the event again in memory of the late Chance Mark Jones to raise awareness of Child Abuse. Jones passed away in January 2011 as a result of abuse.
Those interested in running or walking the 5K (about 3.1 miles) are encouraged to sign up. A “sleep-in” option is also available for those who want to support the cause. Registrations are $30 each.
The year’s 5K will again start and end at the Courthouse and will run through the city, around Prospect Park, which is the home of the Lions’ Chance Mark Jones Memorial Playground, and past several historic sites. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Race registrations are available at the Clarendon Visitor Center at the Mulkey Theatre or available online by clicking here.
Proceeds will go towards the many charitable activities of the Clarendon Lions Club, which includes eyeglasses for local school kids, Christmas food baskets for local families, hosting the local office of The Bridge – Children’s Advocacy Center, local scholarships, continued park improvements, and monetary support for other local charities.
For more information, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.
Mulkey Game Night to be March 30
The Mulkey Theatre will have fun for all ages next Thursday, March 30, during its first Family Game Night.
Starting at 6 p.m., multiple games of five different genres will be held for those in attendance. The well-known games like Pictionary, Charades, Minute to Win It, Watch Ya Mouth, and Friendly Feud (similar to Family Feud) are perfect for everyone, young or old. Gift certificates from local businesses will be given as prizes.
Family Game Night is the first of several Thursday Night Live events Mulkey managers are planning for this year.
Admission to the Game Night will be just $5 for all ages, and the concession stand will be serving Frito Pies and nachos in addition the regular menu.
The evening is sponsored by Mike’s Pharmacy, Shelton & Shelton Attorneys-at-Law, Herring Bank, and The Clarendon Enterprise.
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