| St. Olaf prof resigns after election sign fiasco |
By: DAVID HENKE, Staff Writer
|
Posted: Friday, October 31, 2008 9:28 pm
|
 Email  Print
|
UPDATE 4:40 p.m. Monday
Philip Busse, the St. Olaf College professor who admitted to stealing campaign signs in a national political blog read by millions, has resigned.
St. Olaf spokesman David Gonnerman issued the following statement Monday afternoon:
"The St. Olaf College administration first learned of Phil Busse's self-admitted theft and destruction of campaign signs on the morning of Oct. 31 as a result of his posting on the Internet.
"The St. Olaf administration immediately referred the matter to local law enforcement authorities and commenced an investigation of its own.
"Mr. Busse has tendered his resignation and is no longer affiliated with St. Olaf College.
"In a statement issued on Friday, the administration made clear that Mr. Busse's actions were in direct conflict with the college's values and mission and that the college did not in any way condone them.
"The statement also declared that St. Olaf College deplores unlawful interference with political campaigns and expression of speech.
"Mr. Busse had a one-semester temporary visiting appointment to teach one course in introductory media studies for the college during the fall term."
Busse was also charged with misdemeanor theft after confessing to the Rice County Sheriff’s department that he took three McCain/Palin yard signs, said Sergeant Dave Stensrud of the Rice County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Stensrud, officers met with Busse at his residence last Friday
after several community members complained about Busse’s essay on the
Huffington Post, a national news Web site and blog. There, Stensrud said,
Busse confessed that he was involved with the theft of three political yard
signs. In his article, entitled “Confessions of a Lawn Sign Stealer,” Busse
admits to taking up to eight McCain/Palin signs from a stretch of Highway
19 near St. Olaf College.
For his actions, Busse could face up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000
fine, Stensrud said.
In an e-mail correspondence with the News, Busse expressed remorse for stealing the signs, saying that the thefts were “immature and impetuous.”
“Writing the essay was an opportunity to explore and talk about political speech and the desire that most of us have to express our politics — both in mature and immature ways, and sometimes a mix of the two,” Busse said in the e-mail. “I’m disappointed that most readers seem to have focused on the thefts, and not on the larger thoughts.”
In the article, Busse likened his thefts to an act of civil disobedience and said that stealing the signs was “one of the single most exhilarating and empowering political acts that I have ever done.”
UPDATE 12:08 p.m. Monday
St. Olaf College visiting professor Phil Busse will be charged with
misdemeanor theft after confessing to the Rice County Sheriff’s department
that he took three McCain/Palin yard signs, said Sergeant Dave Stensrud of
the Rice County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Stensrud, officers met with Busse at his residence last Friday
after several community members complained about Busse’s essay on the
Huffington Post, a national news Web site and blog. There, Stensrud said,
Busse confessed that he was involved with the theft of three political yard
signs. In his article, entitled “Confessions of a Lawn Sign Stealer,” Busse
admits to taking up to eight McCain/Palin signs from a stretch of Highway
19 near St. Olaf College.
For his actions, Busse could face up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000
fine, Stensrud said.
“Mr. Phil Busse has a one-semester temporary visiting appointment to teach
one course in media studies for the College. His actions, which the College
learned of through the Internet, are in direct conflict with the College's
values and mission, and we do not in any way condone them,” said Paula
Carlson, the St. Olaf College vice president and liaison to the Board of
Regents, in an e-mail correspondence given to the News by Doug Jones, the Deputy Chair of the Rice County Republicans.
“We have referred the matter to local law enforcement authorities and will
take appropriate action of our own when an investigation has been
completed,” Carlson said.
In an e-mail correspondence, Busse expressed remorse for stealing the signs, saying that the thefts were “immature and impetuous.”
“Writing the essay was an opportunity to explore and talk about political speech and the desire that most of us have to express our politics — both in mature and immature ways, and sometimes a mix of the two,” Busse said in the e-mail. “I’m disappointed that most readers seem to have focused on the thefts, and not on the larger thoughts.”
In the article, Busse likened his thefts to an act of civil disobedience and said that stealing the signs was “one of the single most exhilarating and empowering political acts that I have ever done.”
UPDATE 8:32 a.m. Monday
St. Olaf College visiting professor Philip Busse should be fired and be forced to pay the Republican Party $1,000, the chair of the Rice County GOP believes.
Kathy Dodds wrote in a letter to St. Olaf President David Anderson that it was "astounding" that the college has not yet removed the professor from his position in the theater department at the college.
Busse stole eight McCain/Palin yard signs from homes along Hwy. 19 and then wrote an online essay about it on Huffington Post.
According to the Northfield Police Department, stealing political yard signs is treated as a misdemeanor theft.
The News has forwarded Dodds' letter to St. Olaf and is awaiting a comment.
(PRINT STORY)
NORTHFIELD — A visiting St. Olaf professor has confessed to stealing political signs along Hwy. 19 on a national blog.
Philip Busse, a visiting professor in the theater department, wrote an article about the thefts on Huffington Post, a nationally known, liberal news Web site and blog.
In the article titled “Confessions of a Lawn Sign Stealer,” Busse admits to stealing multiple McCain/Palin lawn signs along a stretch of Hwy. 19 near St. Olaf. All total, Busse acknowledged stealing eight signs, including at least two larger billboards. He took many of the signs at night, using his car as an impromptu getaway vehicle. Along with the article, there is a photo attributed to Busse that shows a number of the stolen signs stuffed in a recycling bin.
According to the Northfield Police Department, stealing political yard signs is treated as a misdemeanor theft.
The police department said they had received several reports about sign-stealing in the community, though they noted that few, if any, of the complainants in such circumstances decide to file a formal police report. If the police department takes a report, they will pursue charges, Northfield Police Chief Mark Taylor said.
Thefts of yard signs in Rice County don’t appear to be related to one political party or another, as there have also been reports of the theft of Obama/Biden political signs in Northfield. The News has published at least two letters on lawn sign thefts in town.
In an e-mail correspondence, Busse expressed remorse for stealing the signs, saying that the thefts were “immature and impetuous.”
“Writing the essay was an opportunity to explore and talk about political speech and the desire that most of us have to express our politics — both in mature and immature ways, and sometimes a mix of the two,” Busse said in the e-mail. “I’m disappointed that most readers seem to have focused on the thefts, and not on the larger thoughts.”
In the article, Busse likened his thefts to an act of civil disobedience and said that stealing the signs was “one of the single most exhilarating and empowering political acts that I have ever done.”
— David Henke can be reached at dhenke@northfieldnews.com or 645-1100.
|
|
|
|
Guidelines: Welcome to the Northfield News community. Please keep your comments civil. Don't attack other readers personally and keep your language decent. If you would like to report abuse click here to notify us.
|
|
Member Opinions:
By: Southfielder25 on 11/1/08
It always amazes me how people justify criminal acts as civil disobedience until they are a victim of "civil disobedience" and then suddenly they want an eye for an eye. If he was making a statement, why not take signs from both parties????? And before I get blasted about the Boston Tea Party or something, I would suggest that venue and circumstances should be considered.
By: hadenough on 11/1/08
a thief by any other name is still a thief.
By: judithod on 11/1/08
Assume the professor was further inspired in his thievery by Arianna Huffington's appearance at St. Olaf on October 27. His partisanship "efforts" are not only criminal but juvenile. Did he ever consider door-knocking or making calls on behalf of his candidate, or would those actions be too mature?
By: norcoast on 11/1/08
Why does our colleges and universities seem to attract immature and irresponsible people like Mr. Busse? And why do we rarely see faculty come forth and condemn the actions of people like Mr. Busse. Is it because there is no shame or standards left in our institutions having been replaced by attention. Busse is like a 6 year old, and an article written as his was does not change the fact that he lives and relishes being a kid without a sense of responsibility. And he is teaching our children. Were I the president of the college, I'd see that he was fired and discuss the screening processes employed by those who hired him. Poking fun at society's rules is for the theater; when it takes to the streets it's a crime and there should be consequences.
By: northfielder on 11/1/08
Were you the president of the college, it would be alarming that you could craft a sentence like "Why does our colleges and universities seem to attract immature and irresponsible people like Mr. Busse?" What evidence have you that he is part of a group rather than just one irresponsible individual? And should all of the other employers of all of the other sign-stealers fire their employees as well, or only if they "teach our children"? I love it how choosing a teaching career signs you up for a higher moral standard (but not a higher salary) than the rest of humanity. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he should have done it. But I think the confession sparks some interesting conversation.
By: AnObserverNoMore on 11/1/08
because northfield doesn't need any more bad press...
By: sheesh on 11/1/08
Northfielder - You have no idea how much I appreciate your comments. Thank you.
By: dapa2 on 11/2/08
I am waiting for St. Olaf to offer up its public apology for this smuck along with a pink slip. Think that will be coming anytime soon? I doubt it. It will be shrugged off but I full expect the Rice COunty Attorney's office to persue formal charges. This was not merely a prank. Professor Phil Busse's own words from his post on Huffington Post: "Even so, yanking out the signs and running like a scared rabbit back to my idling car was one of the single-most exhilarating and empowering political acts that I have ever done." And the smug little visiting professor goes on stating, "Today, national politics amounts to slick TV ads and choreographed stump speeches. A vote often feels like a raindrop in an ocean. But this illicit act of civil disobedience was something visceral. It was unscripted and raw expression. It was a chance to stop talking about theories and projections and get my hands dirty. Of course, I realized there was the very real chance my antics in rural Minnesota would be met with a shotgun, or at least a hockey dad tackling me. Mature? No. Illegal? Yes. Satisfying? Definitely." This was not an essay as the Professor claims but an outright attempt to get recognized for his illegal efforts on the national level. Well I hope he gets recognized with the stiffest penalty afforded under the law and dismissed for a code of conduct violation. If this isnt one I don't know what is. I full expect a press release on the website, to the local papers, to the Republican Party renouncing this so-called professors actions by the President coming from Mr. David Gonnerman, in Media Relations: gonnermd@stolaf.edu I also expect a personal apology from this so-called scholar to those he has embarrassed; the College, his colleagues, the College Republicans, the local Republicans, the State Candidates, and the community. It is time to make an example that this behavior is not to be condoned at any level. This is not a expression of free speech it is a blatant attempt at stifling free speech in the form of short term thrills and notoriety and since criminal should be treated as such!
By: Outof on 11/3/08
It seems odd that someone who would be the first to claim freedom of speech under the disguise of academic freedom would deny that same right to an average citizen.
By: cupersd on 11/3/08
Philip Busse is an idiot. Please explain to me why liberals think that breaking the law during an election year is their God given right. I know that I will be attacked for my use of the general term "leberal", but just think back to the convetion in St Paul.
By: dapa2 on 11/3/08
Still no official statement or apology on the St. Olaf website.
By: northfieldseniors123 on 11/5/08
Maybe these liberal college professors can start "spreading their wealth around" versus being selfish and getting their kids' college tuition paid for free!! It's sad that other middle-income families are gouged $30K+ a year to be subjected to professors like this.
|
|
| Login and voice your opinion!
|
|
|
|
|
Top Jobs | Top Homes | Top Cars
| Top Jobs | Retail--
Account Service
Manager
Mature, hard-working,... | Industrial-
Platers-
All Flex Currently has
several... | TRYSTAR is looking for a full time Logistics
Coordinator to... | Agriculture
Monsanto, a leading
company in the seed
t... | General--
Cannon Valley
Vet Clinic
Northfield
Open P... |
| Top Homes | 2 BR Townhomes-Nfld
$619-$690/month Washer/Dryer hookups a... | Rent in
Northfield
*Maple Trails Apartment Homes*
Re... | Executive Home For Sale
One of Northfield’s finest homes ... |
| There are no current ads for this category |
|
Digg
Del.icio.us
Facebook
MySpace
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!
