Coulter Leads Circus at McAlister Auditorium

October 24, 2007

Nick Marinello
mr4@tulane.edu

At the podium in McAlister Auditorium, political commentator and author Ann Coulter addresses a large audience that braved inclement weather to listen as well as protest her appearance on campus. (Photos by Paula Burch-Celentano)

Coulter’s controversial and ultra-conservative stands on issues brought protests from some audience members.

Security was tight for Coulter’s talk, with police checking bags at the entrance.

Despite flash flood warnings, the roll of thunder and showers that threatened to turn into a downpour at any moment, hundreds of Tulane students gathered in front of McAlister Auditorium Monday evening (Oct. 22) in order to attend a presentation by political commentator and conservative firebrand Ann Coulter.

“You have to admit she’s a success,” said one student to a group of friends. “You get a bunch of people who hate you to come out in the rain to see you, then you’re a success.”

Coulter, who was invited to campus by Tulane University College Republicans, was not without visible supporters, however. Braving the rain, one male student held aloft a sign that read “Ann Coulter — Feminism at its best.”

Coulter, who is currently promoting her new book If Democrats Had Any Brains They Would Be Republicans, has said that the country would never have another Democratic president if it were to repeal the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees women the right to vote.

That view was among a number of controversial positions taken by Coulter during a 30-minute speech that was often rendered unintelligible by eruptions of cheers and jeers from the audience.

Coulter, who called Islamic terrorists “head-chopping savages” and the Democratic Party a “national psychosis,” spoke mostly in support of her view that liberal Americans and Democrats are “doing nothing” to respond to Islamic terrorism.

During a question-and-answer period that followed her address, Coulter routinely belittled students, who at the outset of the evening were instructed to behave in a courteous manner.

“That’s a stupid question,” Coulter told one student. “Is that the best you guys can come up with?”

When asked if she honestly believed the polemic views she espoused, Coulter responded, “I was wondering if someone would be dumb enough to ask me that. Yes, I believe them.”

As the evening turned more circus-like, Coulter said that “if things get out of hand I will start having to check the SAT requirements for the school where I’ll speak.”

McAlister Auditorium was filled to near capacity, although many students began to leave during the question-and-answer session.