FB: American Rivers Conference

[Thunderbolt]

Free speech is also for the stupid.

It is up to his peers and those that can influence him like parents, teachers, and coaches to change his attitude.  Making these slurs criminal opens up a whole different can of worms.

Well said. Jane Fonda would probably be a poor example of someone who has learned over the years. Don't get me wrong, I speak vulger very fluently. But it doesn't take much restraint to realize when. where or if its appropriate.

[dutchfan1]

Don't get me wrong, Dutchie.  I'd be the first one to tell you what Yordi did was wrong (well, the second according to his attorney).  It was wrong, but not criminal.  The letter of the law is that he had to expect a violent reaction to what he said.  If he yells stuff at people out his dorm room all the time and nobody ever does anything, why would he expect anything different this time around?

SK, in a lot of ways, I agree with you. However, I don't think his best defense is that he "yells stuff at people all the time and nobody ever does anything" -- seems to set up a pattern of abuse, huh?

Wasn't it about 10 years ago that the Matthew Shepard thing happened? His case first brought about the term "hate crime" -- this stuff starts innocently enough, and continues and escalates when no one says anything about it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard

Obviously, I don't think Yordi would ever probably take it that far... at least I hope not. But I don't think it's being blown out of proportion.

[ramfan27]

I definitely think Yordi's situation has been blown out of proportion.  The other kid says he is still very anguished about it?  Someone called you a name three or four months ago and you're still anguished about it?  I know it was wrong and immature and a terrible decision by Nick but seriously, does everyone anguish for four months when someone calls them a name?  I'm glad I don't or I'd be suffering for a lifetime.  I know Nick personally and he is a good guy, he just did some stupid and inappropriate things for fun.  It's obviously not right but I'm betting this will probably steer him to some different habits and choices.  He probably deserves some consequences, but a criminal trial, come on.

[HoosierinIowa]

I think the Yordi situation is an example of something I tell my clients. There is our version of the truth, the defendant's version of the truth and the actual truth being somewhere between the two. I have a hard time believing Yordi didn't know the person he was yelling at was gay, but I also have a hard time believing that the trauma of being yelled at is still ongoing.
I think the gay student has an agenda to promote and has found the perfect forum to do it. Yordi comes across in the article like the poster boy for a meathead jock (I don't know him at all so I can't say if that is the actual case or not).
I still don't believe words should be criminalized unless there is imminent danger of provoking a violent reaction. That said I do think Yordi deserves whatever punishment that Wartburg has imposed or will impose on him.

[Klompen]

Yordi did something stupid.  It sounds like he makes a habit of doing stupid things.  I would say he needs to be sentenced to sensitivity training.  Yes, it seems over blown on the surface, but is it?

Maybe, maybe not?  In this day and age and considering the events at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University, I'm not so sure.  I can see where some might say this is the type of behavior that CAN lead to students who already deal with mental illness to go over the edge.    So what would you rather have, an "other wise fine" young student drug through the courts on what seems like an over blown case or a student who has had enough come out shooting on campus?  

Yesterday's events show that we are not living in the same world we used to live in.  I grew up hearing that there was too much violence on TV, then that video games were too violent, etc.  I laughed at the idea at the time.  Now who knows, but I would rather see one kid learn a lesson he should have already known like this than have any of our schools dealing with a Virginia Tech/Northern Illinois situation.  Maybe Yordi and Wartburg got lucky.  

[TheOne89.1]

Sounds like he feels bad for it and in no way meant to create any kind of violent situation.

I'm not sure how you could ascertain his true feelings by reading a few quotes from the trial.

Good point KCDutch, I really can't tell whether or not he really feels bad for what he did...I guess I am just assuming that he feels sorry since I would guess he never thought those comments would end up with him in court and facing charges like this.  I am sure many of us on here never thought that calling someone a homosexual slur would land you in court....I never knew that was a possibility.

[Thunderbolt]

I think the Yordi situation is an example of something I tell my clients. There is our version of the truth, the defendant's version of the truth and the actual truth being somewhere between the two. I have a hard time believing Yordi didn't know the person he was yelling at was gay, but I also have a hard time believing that the trauma of being yelled at is still ongoing.
I think the gay student has an agenda to promote and has found the perfect forum to do it. Yordi comes across in the article like the poster boy for a meathead jock (I don't know him at all so I can't say if that is the actual case or not).
I still don't believe words should be criminalized unless there is imminent danger of provoking a violent reaction. That said I do think Yordi deserves whatever punishment that Wartburg has imposed or will impose on him.

If memory serves me, this was during a day or event, that was designed to promote an agenda. Without Mr. Yordis actions, none of us were likely to even here about it. In a wierd way, he became the vehicle to bring their agenda to light.

[doolittledog]

I think the Yordi situation is an example of something I tell my clients. There is our version of the truth, the defendant's version of the truth and the actual truth being somewhere between the two. I have a hard time believing Yordi didn't know the person he was yelling at was gay, but I also have a hard time believing that the trauma of being yelled at is still ongoing.
I think the gay student has an agenda to promote and has found the perfect forum to do it. Yordi comes across in the article like the poster boy for a meathead jock (I don't know him at all so I can't say if that is the actual case or not).
I still don't believe words should be criminalized unless there is imminent danger of provoking a violent reaction. That said I do think Yordi deserves whatever punishment that Wartburg has imposed or will impose on him.

His punishment was being suspended from playing the Cornell game.  Make of that what you will.  There was all kind of back-and-forths on this board over that punishment.  Ranging from...he didn't deserve to sit any games, just make him run extra in practice...he should be sat for the rest of the season...he should sit out 1 game.  The fact that he was sat for the Cornell game raised a few eyebrows since it was 2 or 3 games after the story broke.  I think what was decided on here is that Wartburg took their time and investigated the incident and then handed out their punishment to Yordi.  It just so happened to be the week they were playing Cornell and therefore looked like some pretty bad PR sitting him against a team they were likely to beat with or without him in the game. 

[sportsknight]

He was benched for the Simpson game too.

[HoosierinIowa]

I remember Yordi's punishment. Was this a football punishment or a university punishment? In other words does a guilty verdict impact Yordi's status as a student or was the suspension part of his punishment by the University and the outcome of the trial has nothing to do with any further punishment.

[Thunderbolt]

He was benched for the Simpson game too.

I think he threw thirty passes against Simpson. Not sure how many were from the bench.

[dutchfan1]

He was benched for the Simpson game too.

I think he threw thirty passes against Simpson. Not sure how many were from the bench.

He sure did: http://www.iowaconference.com/TASFBC/2007-FB/HTML/war-sim.htm

[ramfan27]

The school did impose other punishments.  Like I said I know Nick pretty well and I don't know how much he wants put on here, but there were other punishments from the school.

[sportsknight]

He was benched for the Simpson game too.

I think he threw thirty passes against Simpson. Not sure how many were from the bench.

He sure did: http://www.iowaconference.com/TASFBC/2007-FB/HTML/war-sim.htm

That's my bad.  For some reason I was thinking he sat for two games.

[sc_stormchaser]

Dutchie in the words of your buddy coco "thanks for the lecture". FYI:  I have on many occasions wrote letters to the editor and Sean Keeler. I guess I should have wrote more. I know my spelling stinks, but thanks for pointing it out. I will also write down everything I have done wrong in my life and start xorrecting those errors as well.

I have 'wrote' letters to the editor and Sean Keeler. I guess I should have 'wrote' more. Are you serious? I certainly don't claim to be an excellent writer, but that's basic English. Sorry, but spelling isn't the only thing that stinks. Sorry to bust your chops, but seriously...