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U. Oregon ‘taking action’ to make sure its ads don’t appear on Breitbart.com

Talk about your ever-lovin’ First World problems: The University of Oregon said it is “intending to take action” to make sure advertisements about the school do not appear on Breitbart.com after receiving complaints from “campus community members.”

Last week, an ad about the college’s Strategic Communications Master’s Program showed up on a 2015 article by noted rightist provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos which “slander[ed] women and describ[ed] why they should not strive for a mathematics or science degree.”

According to the Daily Emerald, UO alumni took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction.

“They [UO] tweeted me, in response to my tweet expressing dismay, that they were sorry and that it was just an algorithm,” said UO Law School alumna Janet Johnson. “However, I know many companies have managed to stop their ads from appearing on Breitbart.”

The Emerald notes that Johnson, “like many others,” demanded the university do something or they’ll withhold donations.

From the article:

“I would first make sure they understand the horror of seeing my alma mater not only advertising on a Breitbart story, but that the story being about why women should not become scientists made alumni like me feel horror and shame,” Johnson said.

The university has made recent efforts to foster diversity and create a safe campus space. However, some in the community feel the advertisement set the university back, as many continued to share their frustration, including Johnson.

“I’d want their assurance that it will never happen again. That one ad undid years and years of reputation building by UO,” she said. “It was heartbreaking.”

Oh, for Heaven’s sake. “Heartbreaking?” I’d say “let’s not overdo it” but I know that’s futile. In today’s day and age, no amount of silly hyperbole is surprising.

Last December, the University of Minnesota went through a similar gripe fest regarding Breitbart.

Read the full story.

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About the Author
Associate Editor
Dave has been writing about education, politics, and entertainment for over 20 years, including a stint at the popular media bias site Newsbusters. He is a retired educator with over 25 years of service and is a member of the National Association of Scholars. Dave holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Delaware.