Two Trump supporters at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, may be facing expulsion because they dared to celebrate Trump’s victory in the presence of Hillary Clinton supporters.
Following Trump’s presidential election, students Edward Tomasso and Parker Rander-Ricciardi jumped in a pick-up truck that was waving a Donald Trump flag and drove around campus in celebration, reportedly “whooping and hollering.” According to the Daily Caller, Tomasso’s and Rander-Ricciardi’s joyride continued onto the all-female Wellesley College, Clinton’s Alma Mater, much to the upset of the local student population.
Wellesley student Sydney Robertson was one of the students who were offended by Tomasso’s and Rander-Ricciardi’s behavior. She took to Facebook to condemn their actions. Her angry post levied accusations that the two spat on a passerby, though two of the videos she included in her post did not capture that behavior. Robertson takes particular issue with the fact that the celebration continued in front of the Harambee House, an affinity house that houses black Wellesley students. She angrily denounced their actions:
Today, Wellesley women, like a lot of America, were in mourning.
Edward Tomasso and Parker Rander-Ricciardi, two students at Babson College, decided to drive around our beautiful campus with a Trump flag in a pick up truck. They laughed, screamed and sped around campus. Then, they parked in front of the house for students of African decent, and jeered at them, screaming Trump and Make America Great Again. When one student asked them to leave, they spit in her direction.
This is not my America, this is Trump’s America filled with hatred and bigotry. This is what he has provoked. Please help us get these faces out there, they cannot get away with this.
Tomasso and Rander-Ricciardi are now facing disciplinary action by Babson College for their behavior, which is being labeled as racist. “It is important to understand that our students’ behavior was experienced by many students of color and perceived by many others … as racially offensive and gender demeaning,” Babson Student Affairs Vice President Lawrence Ward said in a statement.
The two students are now under investigation by Babson officials and have been expelled from their fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Wellesley campus police Chief Lisa Barbin stated that her department will be working with town police in the investigation.
Babson president Kerry Healey indicated that there have been 40 “bias incident reports” filed in connection with the boys’ actions. The reports claim that the two boys “antagonized” students, and investigators will determine if any laws or standards were violated.
The Boston Globe reports that Healey apologized to the Wellesley College community claiming that the students’ behavior was “at a minimum, insensitive, unacceptable, and contrary to our core values.”
To be clear, there appears to be no evidence that Tomasso or Rander-Ricciardi engaged in racist behavior or belligerent behavior, such as spitting. They are being chastised for driving through campus with a Trump flag. The only thing for which they are clearly guilty is having a belief system antithetical to the brainwashed masses on campus and their higher education overlords.
Unfortunately, the left-wing machine has successfully stomped at least one of the students into submission, as Edward Tomasso was compelled to take to Facebook to apologize for his actions, despite his continued assertions that he did not spit at anyone or use racial epithets, or even use profane language.
It’s likely Tomasso has succumbed to what can only be described as bullying. A flier featuring his and Rander-Ricciardi’s images, as well as their names, has been circulating on Babson’s campus. The flier labels them as “racists” and asks that students demand their expulsion.
Tomasso’s Facebook apology likely meets the standards of the thought police as it comes complete with admission that he is privileged as a white male and validates the idea that members of the LGBTQ, African American, Muslim, immigrant and sexual assault victims population were somehow negatively impacted by his celebration of a candidate who apparently instills fear in them:
I’m sorry. My actions have reflected terribly on my institution, my family, and myself.
I’m not a racist. I’m not a bigot. I’m not homophobic. On Wednesday, in an act of extremely poor judgment I drove through Wellesley campus yelling trump 2016 and make America great again. I didn’t spit on or towards anyone. In fact, I didn’t spit at all. I didn’t use profane language. Not even a single time. I didn’t go to the harambee house intentionally. I didn’t even know what that was. However, this post is not intended to deflect responsibility. Nevertheless I hurtfully displayed a flag that symbolizes fear for many people and my actions caused pain that I am responsible for.
For anyone part of the LGBTQ, African American, Muslim, immigrants, sexual assault victims, and another other community or individuals impacted by my actions: I can never understand what you are going through right now. I have perpetuated the fear that exists throughout the world today. That was not my intention and I am deeply sorry that this has happened. Although I do not support prejudice or discrimination of any kind, I’ve trivialized the suffering by the hands of those who do.
As a white male, I do not feel threatened by the new president. I have not had to work for that privilege. It was something I was born with. However, I’m willing to listen to how I can use this privilege to help those impacted by it and promote unity, equality, and prevent the marginalization of those afflicted.
Sadly, Tomasso’s apology reads like a list of talking points approved by the liberal and leftist protesters who have taken to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with Trump’s victory. Has Tomasso become another victim of higher education — a mindless drone who believes what he is told he should believe?
The hypocrisy and double-standard here is brazen. Tomasso and Rander-Ricciardi are not allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights in such a way that celebrates a political candidate of their choosing, but other students can exercise their First Amendment rights to slander Tomasso and Rander-Ricciardi. The two boys are branded for life and will likely find no solace so long as they remain at Babson.
