Regent University Swiftly Silences Dissent....

Regent University sends a clear message to students: There’s no humor in making fun of Mr. Pat Robertson…second year law student’s mental status questioned, told to take a hike…but Adam Key isn’t going without a fight.

If you attend Regent University in Virginia Beach be warned that school administration has zero tolerance for dissent, or well maybe humor? Poking fun at the "Great Leader", no not Kim Jong Ill, but Pat Robertson will lead to swift punishment and you might find yourself in a straight jacket too! Just ask second year Regent law student Adam Key...

You know college kids, always "pushing the envelope", taking things too far, always trying to prove a point….ahhh, the days of student activism... Mr. Adam Key, a second year law student at Regent University, made the mistake of poking a little “college fun” at THE CREATOR of Regent University, Mr. Pat Robertson...yeaa, that guy...you know the old guy who claims he once leg pressed 2,000 pounds...or who once used his divine connections to redirected a hurricane from hitting Virginia Beach...yes, that guy! Who would ever think to poke a little fun at him?

Well, apparently Mr. Key didn't read his student handbook? Because the second year law student would have known that posting a picture of Pat lobbing "the bird" on his “facebook” page (albeit I assume a slightly photoshoped picture) could get you booted from school...Remember Adam, people are watching…the place is crawling with informants, even in cyberspace! Therefore Mr. Key found himself in “hot water” when his transgression was exposed to Regent’s Administration. The good folks at Regent didn’t find much humor in Adam’s facebook picture and in matter of fact Mr. Key is now banned from the University….Yes, banned! Wow!

In an article appearing today in the Richmond Times-Dispatch Regent's Associate Dean for Student Affairs L.O. Natt Gantt II indicated that several students have come forward expressing concern about Key's behavior this semester and have reported that Key said he brought a gun onto campus.

Please read carefully..."several students have reported that Key said he brought a gun onto campus"...hmmm, sounds a bit circumstantial if you ask me, would that hold up in Court? Could these be "trumped up" allegations as a means to show Mr. Key what happens when you make the slightest bit of fun of Pat Robertson?

After all, anyone insane enough to overtly make fun of Pat Robertson while attending Regent must be dangerous? Right? I mean do you think North Koreans go around making fun of Kim Jong Ill’s hair? Come on Adam!

But Adam Key isn't backing down and he is quick to point out that he feels that Regent is exploiting the Virginia Tech shooting as justification for their recent actions against him. Mr. Key states, "There's a big difference between someone who was incredibly violent, like the Virginia Tech kid, and someone who disagrees with the administration," he said. "At the time we start labeling people who have dissenting voices as dangerous, we start losing the freedom that makes us Americans."

Ahhh, now it appears we are getting to the root of the problem and I'm sure such statements by Mr. Key are indeed why Regent officials are not too thrilled with the second year law student...I mean did you read that quote? "At the time we start labeling people who have dissenting voices....we start losing the freedom that makes us Americans?"

Sounds like some fancy ACLU attorney doesn't it? Using phrases like "dissenting voices" and "losing the freedom"...geez...

We here at the Iconoclast wish Adam the very best, and we hope he continues to "fight the good fight"...but in the end, I think it would be best if Adam considers a school where his dissent will be appreciated and celebrated as a core American value; a school where making fun of a school's "leader" will not get you tossed...sounds like the University of Richmond would be a perfect fit for Adam!

As for Regent University...I mean is this really a surprise? We are talking about Regent University, Adam you chose to go to Regent, you must have had some idea of the climate on campus? Still,I guess in order to attend Regent one must quickly come to the realization that certain Constitutional Rights are null-and-void while on campus…fair enough, it’s their school, do as you wish…but for all current students beware, you are being watched…..reading this post might even get you in trouble…..

Best of luck to Adam, we admire your spirit, for now please take comfort in the words of Clarence Darrow, "lost causes are the only causes worth fighting for..."

Sounds like a lost cause to me...