By Mary Beth West, APR

A few months ago, when I read the Knoxville News Sentinel story of what took place on the UT campus the week of March 7, and then later the campus newspaper story as well, I was left more than a little flabbergasted, as were many of my colleagues. 

Activist organizations like the “Yes Men,” such as they are, have become something of a growth industry in this past decade worldwide, using unconventional and sometimes downright unethical communications tactics, largely fueled by the Internet, to make their political or social statements. 

This session was orchestrated by a UT professor in the School of Art (part of the Humanities Department), who is quite respected and accomplished in printmaking and other fields, but who has an interesting take on hoaxes in general, apparently viewing them as more of an artistic endeavor than the more pragmatic reality that constitutes my worldview.

I’ve been trying to understand this perspective but can’t quite seem to get from Point A to Point B on it.  It’s a situation where I want to be respectful of other viewpoints, but at the same time, I feel like the viewpoint I represent on behalf of my profession needs to be heard, too.

That’s why I appreciated New Sentinel Business Editor Bill Brewer publishing my column this past Sunday in response to the presentation at UT.  I hope that if nothing else, it will make the point that there is an ugly flip-side to engaging in this kind of behavior in the name of activism (or art) that can permanently haunt one’s résumé, not to mention create a major public disservice.

I also hope it will make the point to UT’s administration and the bizarre litany of underwriters to the Yes Men event that next time a group like this one is invited to campus, it sure would be a great idea to present an alternate point of view – hopefully one that offers just as much persuasion to students to take a different path to achieve their goals.

Incidentally, kudos to UT College of Communication & Information Dean Mike Wirth, who chose not to be an underwriter of the Yes Men presentation.   I think it was the right decision and certainly one that admirably rejected the type of message that was put forth back in March, virtually unchecked at the event itself.