Being a conservative these days can literally cost you your job and it doesn’t take much either. Last week, Mount Holyoke College announced that the newly-selected Campus Police Chief Daniel Hect was placed on administrative leave after outraged students discovered he had ‘liked’ conservative tweets on his Twitter account. The tweets were from the NRA and President Trump.
Hect was appointed to lead the Mount Holyoke College and Smith College shared campus police departments. On February 6th he announced on his Twitter feed his new appointment at MHC and Smith. “I am excited to announce I have accepted the position of Chief of Police at Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges, two of the most prestigious all women’s institutions in the nation,” he tweeted.
Hect’s pride and pleasure concerning his new position didn’t last long. Students immediately started digging into his social media accounts. They found a few conservative-leaning tweets that he ‘liked’. Two tweets were from the National Rifle Association, one wishing followers a Merry Christmas and one stating, “If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.” Other tweets were from President Trump discussing the border wall and the government shutdown.
“Following the controversy, Hect and the colleges’ administrations hosted several events to try to ease the students’ worries.
“Mount Holyoke community members were able to ask him questions at a March 21 forum. According to the student newspaper, the event “hosted tension and tears.” During the event, Hect said he wanted the campus police to grow a better relationship with the community so students can get to know “the campus police as human beings.” Many of the students’ questions reportedly focused on his social media and his political ideology.
“It was clear to me during the event that I have work to do in order to better lead a campus police department charged with supporting and protecting this wonderfully diverse, intelligent and committed community of students, faculty, and staff,” Hect wrote.
“Hect also listed “immediate steps” he would take in the coming days to achieve his goal of making the campus police be “a positive influence on campus safety.” The steps included creating a Campus Safety Advisory Committee and attending an “immersive training program” to learn about “challenging biases and exploring beliefs.” His steps also included events such as meeting with a class for a “restorative justice circle,” and two “listening sessions” where community members could express their concerns about safety on campus.
“But before any of these events even had the chance to take place, MHC President Sonya Stephens announced that Hect would be placed on “administrative leave” Wednesday night.
“Stephens added that Deputy Police Chief Ray LaBarre was appointed as the Acting Chief of Campus Police.
At Denison University, Hect made significant inroads in building a bond between the police and the community. He sat in on club meetings and got to know the students. He was planning on bringing the same community policing to Mount Holyoke College and Smith College. This is a good and fair man and because he has conservative political leanings, students and evidently the administration simply won’t tolerate him.
May I ask exactly when did the students take charge of universities such as Mount Holyoke College? I was unaware that they dictated the command structure of the campus. What idiocy.
I’m disappointed in Hect as well. He was forced to kneel at the altar of political correctness and denounced his support for President Trump. He unnecessarily humbled himself and groveled before the powers-that-be for his job. He seems to be lacking in the courage of his convictions and has let liberal students who have Marxist-infected intellects bully him into submission. He has now learned the error of his conservative ways but I doubt they will ask him back. Two plus two equals five after all.