VKC Chair responds to irresponsible comments by CNN Reporter

As a Veteran and a student affairs professional I am appalled by the insensitive comments made by CNN reporter Brook Baldwin in regards to the riots in Baltimore. Specifically Ms. Baldwin said – “I love our nation’s veterans, but some of them are coming back from war, they don’t know the communities, and they are ready to do battle,” in reference to those engaged in the tragic events unfolding on Baltimore. I find comments like these to be both offensive and indicative of a subtle prejudice that is only too prevalent in today's society. 

To make these unfortunate comments in front of an audience of millions only contributes to the stereotyping of Veterans as being out of control, violent individuals who are incapable of adjusting to society after returning from defending that very same society. Facts concerning Veterans contradict this stereotype overwhelmingly. Still, due to the ignorance of reporters like Ms. Baldwin, who continue to slander people (including veterans) with no thought about consequences these negative stereotypes persist. Ms. Baldwin excused her statements on a Twitter post by saying that she was only "repeating a concern vocalized to me lately". This is a feeble and unworthy reason for insulting a group of 2 million Americans who have recently served their nation in combat.  

Eventually Ms. Baldwin made an apology.  It was on the air and she seemed sincere.  But the problem with this is that the original damage is not undone by the apology.  The fact remains that veterans are not returning from war looking for battle in the US.  Some people still think that only 3 percent of veterans graduate college because of a grossly irresponsible piece of reporting by the Huffington Post two years ago.  Still others believe that over 60% of student veterans are suicidal because of a completely bogus piece of research by David Rudd in 2011 that can no longer even be found online it was so flawed.   These kinds of gross missteps can’t be retracted convincingly.  

On the campus of the University of Utah this week, Roger Perkins heard students  discussing how Veterans were training the rioters in Baltimore.  When Roger pointed out Ms. Baldwin's apology these students thought it was a forced response from CNN and continued to believe the original false generalization.

One thing veterans in higher education, including me, are learning is a small taste of what it feels like to endure the lengthy plight that ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities have been dealing with for years, that is the spread of false and misleading information that harms progress towards acceptance and tolerance in the United States.  Please join with me in condemning the irresponsible actions of this unfortunate CNN reporter.