LAFAYETTE, Indiana, February 16, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – An accompanist in the Purdue University Division of Dance has resigned after threatening to rape female compatriots of pro-life activists.
“Yeah, I just quit,” Jamie Newman told the Lafayette Journal & Courier (J&C) in an e-mail “Tell the world.”
A Purdue spokesperson confirmed the resignation, according to the J&C. “The University has accepted the resignation and believes this is the appropriate outcome,” said Julie Rosa.
Newman drew the condemnation of pro-life activists nationwide after he threatened to rape the “wife/daughter/great grandmother” of a pro-life activist he argued with in Live Action News comments sections beneath two articles last week.
That comment was followed by others that appeared to clarify Newman's support for raping pro-life women and women affiliated with pro-life advocates. Purdue police had concluded an investigation on Thursday that found that the accompanist had not threatened rape, with a spokesperson saying that while “the speech was repugnant and inconsistent with Purdue values” and “[w]e don't condone it … at this time no personnel action is intended.”
Police “did not find sufficient evidence to take action,” said the spokesperson. Purdue had defended its decision on the basis of free speech, though the J&C reports that university attorney Steve Schultz said on Friday that “the disruption we've endured as a community is entirely due to Mr. Newman's online posts.”
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“Anything other than a full apology and explanation from him about the intent of his statement will be insufficient to cure the harm he's done,” said Schultz. Newman responded with a letter, declaring that the threats were made up by pro-life activists. “If anything, you owe me an apology – indeed, you should probably be begging my forgiveness – for facilitating the dissemination of fabricated and defamatory statements about me, and for failing to vehemently denounce the effort made of Students for Life to destroy my life and career,” wrote the now-former staffer.
Newman, who said claims he was threatening anyone were defamation of character, said in his letter that he had been targeted with threats of violence via e-mail. Purdue police had worked with Newman “to develop a safety plan.”
The resignation headed off a planned call by the student government for Newman to apologize and receive sanctions. Student government president Mike Young said that “my only disappointment” with the resignation “is that I won't get to sign the PSG resolution asking him to be fired with a big, fat Sharpie.”
A planned rally was still intended to take place, a senior told the J&C. “What we're rallying for is still valid,” Garen Bragg said. “Threats of sexual assault are wrong.”
Over the weekend, a Purdue alumnus sent LifeSiteNews a petition that urged Purdue president and former Indiana governor Mitch Daniels to fire Newman. That petition garnered 189 signatures in approximately two days.
Here are some of the comments from Newman, provided to LifeSiteNews by Live Action:
● Like Mario, she supports letting rapists make babies with their victims. Like you, she'd probably get buzzed by watching as it happens. Every sperm is sacred.
● No, no, no. I'd only rape someone if you were watching, because i know it would turn you on to see a beautiful new baby conceived in real time. Last I checked, you weren't my wife.
● Maybe you'd get a thrill holding her down as I rape her, knowing that the three of us would be engaged in the joyful task of making a baby.
● Oh, I'm sorry. So, let me make my intentions quite explicit: I did in fact offer to rape Tom's wife/daughter/great grandmother. Free of charge, even. I'm generous that way.Here's the number for the West Lafayette Police Department: 765-775-5500. Here's the number for the local FBI office: 765-435-5619. Drop that dime! I could strike at any minute.
● If I'm wrong, then your benevolent god will send me to hell for making a mistake. That's the way he rolls, apparently. I'll deal with it. Thank you for your concern, though.
● My hypothesis is that if your wife, daughter, sister or mother were raped, you'd see to it that any resulting fetus was aborted pronto. Shall we attempt to arrange an experiment that might test my hypothesis?
