Media Attacks Against Dr. Mann

Due to my uncharged iPod, I was subjected to listening to the radio as I sat on the CATA bus last week.  I tuned in and out to the running advertisements until one in particular caught my attention. A deep, authoritative voice commanded attention, saying that Penn State is “going through a rough time” and that the university “needs to be careful as to whom they association with."

 The ad protested Professor Michael Mann, who gave a speech regarding global warming last night (February 9^th), as part of Penn State’s Forum Speaker Series.

                              source: http://www.meteo.psu.edu/~mann/Mann/index.php

In case you’re not aware, Dr. Mann is a professor at our university who has been at the center of the ‘Climategate’ controversy.  He allegedly falsified data to support his political views on global warming.  However, Dr. Mann was cleared of all supposed scientific wrongdoings by both Penn State and the National Academy of Sciences (among other investigations). 

The Common Sense Movement (CSM), a coal industry front group with a PAC called the Secure Energy of America Political Action Committee (SEAPAC), sponsored the advertisement.  Essentially, they campaign to implement doubt about global warming and the negative effects of coal and natural gas.

The advertisement attacked the professor’s credibility and called him “disgraceful,” as well as urged the public to call President Rodney Erickson to protest his upcoming talk. 

CSM attempted to invoke our logos, or logic, in order to scare us into believing that this man and his work are a threat to our way of living.  Interestingly, our community has rebelled against the campaign.  The intended audience has found their own exigence or call to make change.  They have attempted to hijack CSM’s letter-writing campaign, gone to their Facebook fan page (which has now stopped fans from leaving comments), and urged WBUS to yank the commercial.  Other people called President Erickson to voice their support of Dr. Mann, and blog posts are popping up all over the Internet about it. 

Our university is challenging the pricy and politically motivated advertisement, and I’m proud to be part of an institution that is invoking such change and support.  One little ad has summoned an entire group of people to speak out and incite rhetoric everywhere.