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Education

Furor Erupts After Gov’t-Chartered College Puts Administrator on Paid Leave for Opposing Gay Marriage

Oct. 12, 2012 10:51am Billy Hallowell

Gallaudet University is catching a fair bit of criticism after the federally-chartered college placed Dr. Angela McCaskill, its chief diversity officer, on paid leave. The decision was made after it came to officials’ attention that the administrator reportedly supported a controversial referendum that challenges Maryland’s same-sex marriage law.

Now, in an unlikely fit of agreement, both conservatives who agree with McCaskill’s stance and gay rights groups who oppose her views are coming to the academic’s defense.

The effort she signed onto constitutes a successful move to get Maryland’s recently-passed gay marriage law on the November ballot. According to The Christian Post, sources are claiming that McCaskill signed the petition back in July, while worshipping at church.

After an anonymous Gallaudet faculty member discovered the administrator’s name on the petition, a complaint was launched and the university decided to take action. On Wednesday, the school, which serves the deaf and hard of hearing in Washington, D.C., announced that McCaskill would immediately be put on paid leave.

Gallaudet University Put Dr. Angela McCaskill for Opposing Gay Marriage

A screen shot from Gallaudet University's web site

While the decision is sparking controversy, the university is claiming that, considering her position as chief diversity officer, some feel that her petition participation wasn’t appropriate.

“It recently came to my attention that Dr. McCaskill has participated in a legislative initiative that some feel is inappropriate for an individual serving as Chief Diversity Officer,” Gallaudet University President T. Alan Hurwitz proclaimed.

Hurwitz went on to say that he will assess the situation and subsequently make a decision about her continued employment at the university.

“I will use the extended time while she is on administrative leave to determine the appropriate next steps taking into consideration the duties of this position at the university. In the meantime an interim Chief Diversity Officer will be announced in the near future,” he continued.

Surprisingly, both supporters of gay marriage — and opponents — are coming to McCaskill’s defense, citing free speech as their central reasoning.

“I join an ever-growing number of Marylanders in expressing my complete dismay over Gallaudet University’s decision to place Dr. Angela McCaskill on administrative leave for signing the marriage referendum petition,” proclaimed Derek McCoy, chair of The Maryland Marriage Alliance – a group supporting traditional marriage.

See the university showering accolades on McCaskill in the video from 2011, below:

Some gay marriage proponents, too, seemed equally disturbed by the development. Josh Levin of the group Marylanders for Marriage Equality voiced strong opposition to Gallaudet’s actions.

“We strongly disagree with the decision to put the chief diversity officer on leave and hope she is reinstated immediately,” he said. “Everyone is entitled to free speech and to their own opinion about Question 6, which is about treating everyone fairly and equally under the law.”

As the Post notes, McCaskill is a coveted employee with a fascinating — and personal — history at the university. She was the first deaf African American woman to earn a PhD from the school and she has worked at the institution for the past 23 years.

(H/T: Christian Post)

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Comments (136)

kaydeebeau
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:34am
Here’s a novel idea – let’s go back to teaching and living by the Golden Rule then there is no need for a Diveristy Director, or a diversity program or any of the other PC “anti-bully” crap

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- The Gooch
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:44am
  So much for diversity of thought, eh? “No! You don’t understand! You HAVE to support same-sex marriage! If we all believe in it, then that means we promote diversity!”
  Fear of trial by media and upsetting the emotional applecart of a few very intolerant people sure screws up some folks’ heads. Let’s see if this gal stands her ground. Maryland isn’t known as the Communist State of MD for nothing.
  
  Report this comment
- johnjamison
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:02pm
  How many Obama appointees are in positions that create a conflict of interest. Fact is given Obama own statement his presidency is a conflict of interest.
  
  Report this comment
- mensa141
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:19pm
  Does she support pedophiles? After all she must support all kinds of diversity. And how about bestiality? Or incense? What about polygamy?
  
  The point is that there are always going to be people that do not agree with almost anything. Get used to it and learn to live with it! Get a thicker skin and quit whining PC crap!
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:39pm
  I dislike the argument that if I don’t support state-sponsored diversity programs, that I am somehow against a heterogenous population.
  
  I love diversity of thought. Just not when diversity is enforced via barrel of a gun.
  
  Report this comment
- Jaycen
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 4:37pm
  For Regressive Socialists, there is no diversity. The words they use are always the opposite of their belief system. They do not believe in diversity of thought, speech, action, or belief. They do not believe in equality of treatment, accountability, or execution of law. They do not believe in tolerance of ANYTHING, but their own ideology.
  
  Report this comment
- damon_k
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 7:06pm
  Diversity to the left means supporting all that is not American values. Read political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- RabidPatriot
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 7:33pm
  The whole idea is funny. When she was hired for this position, African Americans and women were under-represented in college. Being the first Black woman to receive her PH.D at that college made her a natural hire. Times have changed and now “diverse” means progressive liberal minorities and alternative lifestyles. Her faith and her heterosexuality canceled out her gender and minority status.
  
  Report this comment
- 3monkeysmomma
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:49pm
  I hate to say it, but someone close to me is a high-profile education leader in our community and is DEEPLY “in the closet” as a conservative because otherwise it would likely negatively impact his/her career. How sad we’ve come to this.
  
  Report this comment
- Gumbercules
  Posted on October 13, 2012 at 4:27pm
  Since when is being “gay” the same as being “diverse”? Catering to gays is not part of the job description of being the President of Diversity. Think about it. . .
  
  Report this comment
- USA5
  Posted on October 13, 2012 at 8:47pm
  I SO AGREE,
  
  She has learned a valuable lesson, in this type of pretentious fields that colleges create are empty and do not uphold Freedoms of our USA Constitution. When did colleges create bachelor programs for social workers?
  
  Report this comment
- snooop1e
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 1:52am
  The Liberal definition of “Tolerance” is not tolerating anyone who disagrees with them.
  
  Report this comment
- scotts
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 11:15am
  A diversity chief maintains a balance of race population in the school.That seems a little weird considering it is a school for the deaf.My cousin is a teacher for the deaf in Alabama and she is a Christian and she could care less about race.Frankly.affirmative action to me is unconstitutional.Anyway,diversity of race is a God given born that way skin color culture kind of thing.Someone who is a homosexual has to prove that they are born that way and frankly they have not done that yet and all of the sudden they have just kind of side stepped that and just expect us to already believe they are.The whole thing is just bizarre and so why not get rid of the position of diversity chief of the communist regime,get back to this being a free country and give her a new position where she can be free to voice what she believes in without our government kicking her in the teeth.Wake up ,America,get back to God now!
  
  Report this comment
- Mulder1
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 4:25pm
  Liberals do not like diversity of opinions. Those who disagree with liberal dogma must be punished.
  
  Report this comment
- statutoryape
  Posted on October 15, 2012 at 5:40am
  Mulder1
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 4:25pm
  
  Liberals do not like diversity of opinions. Those who disagree with liberal dogma must be punished
  
  ———————————————————-
  
  Yes, certain groups on the left are guilty of this; however, if you read the conservative comments on here, many conservatives on the right do not like their beliefs being challenged (by a diverse opinion). In fact, many on the right will attack a person whose views are different. But they see it as acceptable behavior because many believe that God is on their side and that their disrespect is justified. Afterall, they believe that they are saving people’s souls.
  
  So if you get into a political debate with many conservatives and you have their back against the wall, then that’s when they will grab their bibles and start quoting certain verses condemning your 1st amendment rights, say they will pray for you, and then they will threaten you with hellfire and damnation. Many/most are close-minded, very outspoken, judgmental, devoid of compassion, and in groups they quickly will attack and bully you for having an opposite opinion. Mob mentality.
  
  Prove me wrong.
  
  Report this comment
thegreatcarnac
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:30am
Gays always overplay their hand because they are also masochistic. THey always go to the point of retaliation and backlash. It is usually a race. Do the gays completely ruin the nation and it falls or does the population back backlash against perversion and save themselves.

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- The Gooch
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:14pm
  Who said this woman was targeted by gays? This woman is being subjected to the groupthink of her employer. It has yet to be determined whether any of the administrators are being driven by their own sexual belief system or behaviors. For now, the issue is free speech. Let’s not start assuming what we don’t know. This may be a group of very straight cowards bowing at the altar of leftism/nihilism for general self-interest. This is more a matter of the right to free speech vs. the idiot neologism “hate speech”; it also brings up the matter of how much does your employer own your thoughts and actions as an alleged free citizen in the political domain. Was she on the university’s time, property or identifying herself as a rep of that entity? Nope.
  
  Report this comment
- freedom4ever
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:37pm
  didn’t you read that even the gays are on her side – it’s called free speech and they are upset over the fact she had her’s taken away
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:42pm
  “didn’t you read that even the gays are on her side – it‘s called free speech and they are upset over the fact she had her’s taken away”
  
  I actually was going to post something else before I realized that. Thanks for saving me from my own ignorance
  
  Report this comment
- Dushman Kush
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 1:38pm
  The Communist International is concerned with America’s rising health care costs, particularly with the medical consequences of homosexual sexual practices. There are also concerns about the disproportionate numbers of violent assaults and murders committed by homosexual men and women. Let’s all write to President Obama during his second term and ask that he form a Special Task Force to combat these deleterious practices by homosexuals. Long Live the Communist International!!!
  
  Report this comment
- pymgip
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 5:26pm
  Because gays seem to always act as though freedom of speech is a one way thing. How many times have you heard gays saying proudly, that they shut someone down. Anyone with opposing views are attacked; They are called homophobes, and their religious beliefs are ridiculed.
  
  Report this comment
rangerskippy
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:29am
what a fool this lady must be. She thought we still had 1st amendment rights, where citizens can have free speech and freedom of religion.

She needs to wake up, and find out that the libs in charge replaced all of that with the new rules of P.C, where violations will get you labeled as sexist, racist, homophobe, or islamaphobe, and end your carrer.

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- term limits for congress
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:13pm
  Yea, she’s a dummy. She obviously forgot that ‘diversity’ now means that you must be part of the collective group-think of the liberals – no individualism allowed. She cannot be diverse and conservative at the same time.
  
  Report this comment
jungle J
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:29am
If shes white she would still be picking the tar and feathers off of herself….the sane understand that the free people no matter what color are being led by degenerates for degenerates.

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- oldguy77
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:02pm
  Want to bet that even if she gets her job back she will never ever open her mouth about that subject again. Thats how it works,say something they dont like and you get a stern warning. You lose your freedom little by little not in one fell swope.
  
  Report this comment
Verceofreason
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:26am
THe key word is ‘government’.
No story here.
Move on
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- 13th Imam
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:33am
  Who said DEMOCRATS can’t learn.
  Verse learned how to spell G O V E R”N” M E N T.
  Congats
  
  Report this comment
- The Gooch
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:20pm
  Nope. You make no cogent argument. You allude… I believe… to the Estalishment Clause, and assert that ends all discussion. What a lazy, driveby posting. So the gubment owns this lady off the clock? I think not, friend.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:24pm
  Verce-
  I had a nice kumbaya comment for you that didn’t squeak by the minders… Suffice it to say, she just needs a lil Dan Savage therapy to come around.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:42pm
  Comply with government opinion or else?
  
  How is that American?
  
  Report this comment
grams09
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:24am
Forward? You mean steam rolling all those that have a different opinion.

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- yougottabekidding
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:36am
  A couple of thoughts
  Diversity only works one way
  Diversity means quotas = racist
  Universities that would allow athiests to be incharge of Christian organizations are correct, can you have it both ways?
  Thought police are now being recruited
  
  Report this comment
OneTermPresident
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:24am
Truth be told… “In the meantime a “homosexual” interim Chief Diversity Officer will be announced in the near future,” he continued.”

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OklahomaBound
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:21am
The good Doctor won’t need that job soon because I smell a rich and successful lawsuit in her favor.

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MaximumBobby
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:17am
One thing I’ve always noticed in my 16 years in The Army and 20 in civilian employment;
The “diversity officer” will invariably be a woman, and will usually be a woman of color.

I say this having sat through dozens of diversity seminars sponsored by the government, the DOD, and three different Fortune 500 companies. The Diversity Office is anything BUT “diverse”.

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HKS
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:16am
Think like the furor or die.

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Chromo200
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:15am
The college should investigate if Dr. Angela McCaskill did not do her job as a Diversity Director. I doubt it, she has her own opinion but most likely people who came to her office got a fair deal.

This as it has been said a million times liberals are the racists and closed minded. Freedom of speech only applies to them and no one else; maybe muslims can have that freedom.

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- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:04pm
  Someone should be fired over this stupidity, but it’s not Angela McCaskill. From the article:
  
  “After an anonymous Gallaudet faculty member discovered the administrator’s name on the petition, a complaint was launched and the university decided to take action.”
  
  The “anonymous Gallaudet faculty member” who was digging through that petition looking for her name should be digging through the want ads looking for a job. Additionally, the university official who “decided to take action” should be sent packing as well. These people have no respect for the First Amendment, and they shouldn’t be put into ANY position where they have authority over anyone else’s livelihood but their own.
  
  I am getting really sick and damned tired of the Gay Gestapo.
  
  Report this comment
Thornyrose13
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:15am
It is at least encouraging to see both sides of the issue come to her defense. And if she has done her jobs without complaints for years, it seems she is a competent “diversity officer”. The way and reason she was dismissed is cow fertilizer. The fight is not over yet, and victory is not assured for the Gestapo/KGB wannabes out to silence dissent from their ideology.

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jamesctheman
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:14am
Wow. The liberals just don’t know when to stop. The attacks have reached the point the entire liberal base looks venomous & angry. They’ll attack anyone from the GOP challengers to a deaf woman @ a college for expressing her free speech rights. Sickening how no one is off limits & no lie can derail their goals of shutting down all detractors from their policy. They may in the end alienate the 85% of us who don’t follow the ultraliberal philosophies. They’re imploding because their way hasn’t worked like they’ve been told their whole it would. Americans refuse to turn their viewpoints to whatever type of hope & change this administration thought we wanted. Now they’re angry we don’t like it. They hate us America. We should have been aborted as far as they care. We’re in the way because we have our own views & our own voice. We didn’t just lie down & take the changes. To elitists this is not how we are supposed to react. And they’re pissed about it.

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steelpanther
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:14am
WTH is a Chief Diversity Officer? Are we getting so PC that we need to hire people to conform to PC rules along with government relations?

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- Fubared
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:55am
  Si.
  
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- Verceofreason
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 6:15pm
  Yes. We do.
  
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- The Gooch
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 7:13pm
  Debatable. But you sure as hell need authoritarians to limit free speech and thought so that all sacred cows become provervial third rails. Progressivism can only advance thru authoritarianism. Diversity thru forced conformity. Verce and his tribe will tell you what to think and who is welcome. Go figure. Just like way too many religious zealots.
  In the progressive mindset, we become more free when the proper elites tell the little people what they can think and do. I don’t get it and don’t pretend to understand (or care) how these wizards and their flunkies think (or react). I just know enough to call BS when I see it.
  
  Report this comment
AJAYW
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:12am
Think the way we ( liberals ) do or you will not work ! Is this what we veterans fought, and many gave their lives for over the years? I think not.

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kaydeebeau
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:11am
So – this Prof doesn’t get to face her accuser? So the coward who reports her can remain anonymous? There is something inherently wrong with anonymous sources

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:09am
.
I wonder if the people who support this deviant behavior would be willing to wear knee pads in their support?…..

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Unbelievable
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:09am
I hope this opens the eyes of Dr. Angela McCaskill so she can truly see how Progressives work. If you don’t agree with them they will destroy you one way or another!

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Cavallo
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:09am
They already require you to accept some social demands by the state to get certain degrees. Now the State will require you to believe and support certain political agendas to hold other employment. It won’t be long before such beliefs are required to earn any sort of educational certification, right down to the GED. This isn’t so much about gay marriage as it is about the marginalization of free speech, religion, and the family all to empower the almighty deity of the State and its current Messiah, Obama.

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- The Gooch
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:55am
  No doubt. From the perspective of many in social services and academia, this lady is now the proverbial turd in the punch bowl. She must be removed in order to keep the fruit punch pure.
  
  Report this comment
jackboydspeaksout
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:05am
What at suprise, another black conservative thrown under the bus. When will people realize that the liberalism of today is the fascism of tomorrow.

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- The Gooch
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:03pm
  Looking at this gal’s bona fides, I seriously doubt she is a conservative. This one issue means she may not fall in lockstep with progressivism. I could be wrong… but I suspect this lady is not a TEA Party member. She dared take a stand… possibly based on her beliefs… and now will either conform or be made an example.
  
  Report this comment
ZAP
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:04am
Gay Marriage = plumbing degree..

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Prosecute_Constitutional_Treason_In_Washington
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 10:59am
When is freedom going to be worth dying for people? You are watching your very rights and freedoms be taken without a fight. Are you to weak to stand up as patriots?
When are private property rights going to be worth defending for your neighbor? When will you make it your business to fight for your neighbor. When will you join a group to stand?
If you are to weak to speak, you deserve to live in nazi Germany.

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:12am
  Exactly What do you want us to do?
  
  Report this comment
- The Gooch
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:51am
  Eh, I’d say ’bout the time all those sweet gubment entitlements stop being doled out: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, etc. Then reality TV won’t be such a priority. Won’t that suck?
  Yes, you can buy stupid and lazy. And this spell has been cast on people of both political parties.
  
  Report this comment
- Creativethinker
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 8:26pm
  First of all “Charter Schools” are very communist because they don’t have an elected board. They are worse then the public schools that at least have an elected board. I’m fighting for my right to keep my Romney/Ryan sign up in my yard. The HOA has a rule against political signs that has not been enforced in 20 years and now they want to enforce it. No!!!!
  
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13th Imam
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 10:59am
Clearly the College president is a CODE WORD “Racist”.

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wtm
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 10:58am
Freedom of Speech is Dead in Education. The Liberals run the show

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Gonzo
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 10:56am
All must bow to homosexuality or be banned from society! It’s getting old.

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- SquidVetOhio
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:08am
  Very old. They have over played their hand and people are getting sick of it. I’m opposed to gay marriage but, I’ve never had any animosity towards gay people. But, it’s getting harder and harder to remain that way.
  
  These people want to change thousands of years of human history and then call you a bigot for not agreeing with it. Well, if it’s time to throw down then let’s throw down!
  
  Report this comment
- SpankDaMonkey
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:12am
  .
  Gonzo lets not talk about any kind of Bowing or Bending over while discussing this subject…..
  
  Report this comment
- SquidVetOhio
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:35am
  Very good advice. Ironically from someone with the screen name SPANKDAMONKEY. lol
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:40am
  LSU and UGA both bent over last Saturday Monkey. I’m still not over it…as you can tell.
  
  Report this comment
- Verceofreason
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 6:17pm
  AS BIden pointed out in his stance on abortion’one’s personal religious belief have no place
  in governing a diverse population.
  THAT”S what got her canned.
  
  Report this comment
- The Gooch
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 7:06pm
  Verce,
  She is not “canned”. Good grief, can you not read comprehensively?
  And you’re using Joe Biden as your socio-political litmus test? Wow.
  Funny how new age religons get to twist and write policy… all others must STFU and defer. Nice.
  This woman has rights as private citizen. Whether you or I like it or not. If she’d been targeted for engaging in restrained and legal support of gay marriage, that would’ve been just as wrong. And I’m sure you’d be singing a very different tune.
  You are such a sad, little voice of opposition. Where the hell are the big boys from the left to show Verce how it’s done?
  
  Report this comment

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