Miss-Delectable
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Democrat & Chronicle: Local News
Degrading comments about deaf people made by "insult comic" Lisa Lampanelli during a local radio interview earlier this year have sparked controversy at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she's scheduled to perform tonight.
Lampanelli, who apparently delights in her moniker, "Comedy's Lovable Queen of Mean," was interviewed Jan. 31 on WCMF (96.5 FM), where she said God hated deaf people and suggested that deaf students may actually be "just retarded, and they're trying to sneak by saying they're deaf." Stan Main, the station's operations manager, confirmed Thursday that the exchange took place.
Lampanelli was unaware that 1,100 deaf and hard-of-hearing students attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, a college of RIT.
"What I am is an intelligent human being who just happens to hear differently," said RIT graduate student Joshua Berman, 26, who said he is proud of his deaf heritage.
Berman said Lampanelli should apologize for "her narrow-minded comments."
In a message to RIT students and staff members Thursday, RIT President Albert Simone said he met with student leaders, including some who are deaf. Refunds will be given if requested prior to the show, but the show will not be canceled. Signs were posted saying her comedy may be offensive.
"There have understandably been a number of people who have been offended by Ms. Lampanelli's remarks, including myself." Simone wrote. "At RIT, we deeply believe in treating others with respect. But we also value free speech — and sometimes those principles conflict."
Lampanelli's publicist, Liz McComb, said the comic's entire act pokes fun at stereotypes.
"People who aren't familiar with her comedy, it's easy to get offended by it," McComb said. "She loves everybody. She's not hateful in her act. The reason she gets away with things like that, people know when you're hateful about it and it doesn't work."
Simone said that while Lampanelli may have crossed the line between humor and hate speech, "at an institution of higher education, however, it is best to allow our community to make that distinction for itself."
RIT Student Government President Lizzie Sorkin said the show wasn't canceled because Lampanelli would appeal to "a certain crowd who likes insult comedy. ... I do not believe canceling the show would have healed any open wounds; it would have made things worse. It would not have allowed us to address issues that have been brought up; it would not have woken up certain people to voice their concerns."
Sorkin, who is deaf, said she doesn't consider insult comedy entertaining but understands that others do and it is Lampanelli's job to insult.
RIT student Matt Shand, who wrote an editorial about the comments in the March 16 issue of Reporter, RIT's student magazine, said the College Activities Board, which booked Lampanelli, should have canceled the show. He urged students to tell the board "that you care about the reputation of this institute, and that you won't allow it to be tarnished by hosting a hate-spewing harlot."
Degrading comments about deaf people made by "insult comic" Lisa Lampanelli during a local radio interview earlier this year have sparked controversy at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she's scheduled to perform tonight.
Lampanelli, who apparently delights in her moniker, "Comedy's Lovable Queen of Mean," was interviewed Jan. 31 on WCMF (96.5 FM), where she said God hated deaf people and suggested that deaf students may actually be "just retarded, and they're trying to sneak by saying they're deaf." Stan Main, the station's operations manager, confirmed Thursday that the exchange took place.
Lampanelli was unaware that 1,100 deaf and hard-of-hearing students attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, a college of RIT.
"What I am is an intelligent human being who just happens to hear differently," said RIT graduate student Joshua Berman, 26, who said he is proud of his deaf heritage.
Berman said Lampanelli should apologize for "her narrow-minded comments."
In a message to RIT students and staff members Thursday, RIT President Albert Simone said he met with student leaders, including some who are deaf. Refunds will be given if requested prior to the show, but the show will not be canceled. Signs were posted saying her comedy may be offensive.
"There have understandably been a number of people who have been offended by Ms. Lampanelli's remarks, including myself." Simone wrote. "At RIT, we deeply believe in treating others with respect. But we also value free speech — and sometimes those principles conflict."
Lampanelli's publicist, Liz McComb, said the comic's entire act pokes fun at stereotypes.
"People who aren't familiar with her comedy, it's easy to get offended by it," McComb said. "She loves everybody. She's not hateful in her act. The reason she gets away with things like that, people know when you're hateful about it and it doesn't work."
Simone said that while Lampanelli may have crossed the line between humor and hate speech, "at an institution of higher education, however, it is best to allow our community to make that distinction for itself."
RIT Student Government President Lizzie Sorkin said the show wasn't canceled because Lampanelli would appeal to "a certain crowd who likes insult comedy. ... I do not believe canceling the show would have healed any open wounds; it would have made things worse. It would not have allowed us to address issues that have been brought up; it would not have woken up certain people to voice their concerns."
Sorkin, who is deaf, said she doesn't consider insult comedy entertaining but understands that others do and it is Lampanelli's job to insult.
RIT student Matt Shand, who wrote an editorial about the comments in the March 16 issue of Reporter, RIT's student magazine, said the College Activities Board, which booked Lampanelli, should have canceled the show. He urged students to tell the board "that you care about the reputation of this institute, and that you won't allow it to be tarnished by hosting a hate-spewing harlot."
