I was shocked last week to learn that SMU had welcomed the FOX News network to campus to host a live taping of the “Hannity & Colmes” show in the historic McFarlin auditorium (dishonorably adorned with a huge FOX News banner).

Turns out, SMU is only the first stop on a road trip for the talk news cable show touring a total of three southern college campuses. The other destinations for the H&C show include staunch conservative campuses in Phoenix and San Diego. Apparently, the show’s road trip is part of FOX News’ “Thank You America” crusade, celebrating the famously subjective cable network’s 10th anniversary.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the show, “Hannity & Colmes” is a cable talk show that pits a polarized pair of hosts against each other for political debates. Hannity is the “conservative” host; he is a former politician, token Christian-American Hero, and self-appointed public defender of Middle America. His rigid personality is pitted against a puppet of a man named Colmes.

As the Liberal scapegoat, Colmes embodies a stereotypical empathy for humanitarian causes, environmental conservation efforts and is touted as a “friend of Hollywood and homosexuals.” Clearly, the polite and accommodating Colmes character is no match for the loud, boisterous, self-righteous Sean Hannity.

I envisioned the crowd inside the auditorium: full of a few frat types, SMU cheerleaders, but mainly right-wing talk radio listeners (namely conservative, Christian, pro-Bush, middle-aged white people). I knew then that I would have to take on an important mission – I would attend the H&C live taping and represent the liberal minority of SMU.

I had an excellent strategy; I was ready for battle, decked out in my favorite “World Peace” t-shirt and accompanied by my husband for moral support. As an alumna of Syracuse University, my husband told me that if his alma mater had hosted such a politically conservative media event, there would have been a roaring, student-wide rally against it. I tried to remind him that we, for better or worse, reside in the “Good ‘Ole South.” I explained to him what he already knew – that we liberals are not the prominent political voice in Texas.

Even so, I wondered if there had been any objections from SMU faculty or board members over the decision to allow the conservative network to film on campus. Did they consider the potential implications from SMU’s apparent close association with a conservative cable network like FOX News?

Hannity and Colmes invited a number of guests to their panel discussion, but the guest of honor was clearly former U.S. Congressman Tom Delay. It should come as no surprise that so-called “conservative Christians” provided a hero’s welcome for a clearly corrupt politician (indicted last year on conspiracy and money laundering charges).

Much to my disgust, the vast majority of audience members gave a standing ovation to this man who has brought so much disgrace to both his faith and his role as a public servant.

The hypocrisy ensued as Hannity attacked former President Clinton, reaching far back for verbal ammunition by bringing up the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Colmes was only granted a few seconds to argue the fact that our current President’s laundry list of impeachable offenses (including NSA warrantless surveillance, the constitutionality of the invasion of Iraq, and more recently, the repeated violations of the Geneva Conventions) is miles long.

I cheered until my voice gave out at Arianna Huffington’s (another guest on the panel) call for Bush’s impeachment. But unfortunately, my shouts were drowned out by the angry chants of the larger mob. It didn’t matter if no one could hear me; someone had to stand up and cheer on the truth.

At one point an angry audience member screamed at Arianna to “go back to Germany” when she countered Hannity’s xenophobic stance on immigration. I must admit it is extremely intimidating to stand up against a large, jeering crowd who despises everything you believe in.

I suppose it is ridiculous for me to get so upset over the H&C show and its unbalanced political slant. This is, after all, cable television. Which means that Hannity and Colmes are simply actors assigned to play up their respective roles.

It’s just sad that the “Right” host is portrayed as a handsome, flag-waiving, self-righteous, God-fearing American while his counterpart is a homely, whining, weak and unconfident “Lefty.” But what’s more disappointing is the fact that the crazed, immigrant-fearing crowd inside the McFarlin auditorium Friday night were not actors.

They were living, breathing, misguided human beings, fueled by political and historical ignorance and racial intolerance.

And because of that, I am ashamed of my educational institution and the implication that all of SMU student body would welcome such an appalling charade.

Julie Ann Ross is sophomore psychology and studio art major. She can be reached at [email protected].