572:, was invited by the Towson Turning Point chapter to speak on campus. Approximately 60 Towson students, faculty, and members of the public protested the event in response. In the wake of the protest, messages from a group chat were leaked that included homophobic, racist and ableist language, including slurs. Vatz claimed he would resign if there was evidence of racism or homophobia in the chapter, but refused to resign over the messages claiming the students showed remorse. A letter written by almost all of the faculty from the Towson University Department of Instructional Learning and Professional Development, the department Vatz was employed in, condemned Vatz for not resigning from his advisory position.
544:. In fall of 2011, the Towson Youth For Western Civilization chapter received criticism for chalking "America is a Christian Nation" on campus, but Vatz remained as the advisor. Heimbach wrote on the Youth for Western Civilization website in January 2012 that "no longer will the homosexual, Muslim, and black supremacist groups be allowed to hijack our campus," with Vatz continuing to remain the advisor. Once members of the chapter chalked "white pride" on university sidewalks in March 2012, Vatz resigned as the faculty advisor for the chapter, causing the chapter to dissolve. Heimbach would then go on to form the
389:'s 1968 article "The Rhetorical Situation" in the same journal and this has served as the basis for his world view on persuasion; namely, that rhetorical study is conceived most advantageously for the field through a model of competition for agenda and spin, not as controlled by some objective view of reality. Vatz maintains that the latter view makes rhetorical study simply a copy and mouthpiece of other social sciences, fields that are anti-rhetorical.
25:
153:
396:. The article was titled "The Mythical Status of Situational Rhetoric: Implications for Rhetorical Critics’ Relevance in the Public Arena." Vatz argued there that the "Myth" perspective was the appropriate rhetorical approach to the study of persuasion. In contrast, the perspective offered in "The Rhetorical Situation" was
575:
On
December 10, 2022, Towson University dedicated an auditorium on campus to Vatz for his 48-year tenure and frequent donations to the university, despite his prior controversy. Several students and faculty members protested the event, claiming that his philanthropic contributions did not make up for
580:
distributed mock programs to the event containing information about the leaked
Turning Point messages and controversial quotes from Vatz from various editorials. Vatz did not resign from the advisor position, and held it until his retirement. The Turning Point chapter is still present on campus,
435:
has presented hundreds of convention papers and panels at the
National Communication Association and Eastern Communication Association (ECA), the SSCA, and elsewhere, including regular analyses of political rhetoric in seminars at the NCA with progressive colleagues.
508:
Vatz claimed that mental illness should be stigmatized when not caused by physical damage, claiming that destigmatizing mental illness is counterproductive for people with mental illness to seek help. He is against medical insurance coverage for those with
400:
to the academic status of rhetorical study, as it implied that situations caused the production of rhetoric rather than high-ethos rhetoricians' choices. This caused what audiences perceived as dominant situations and their meaning.
353:
Named as a major rhetorical theorist in an essay on "The
Rhetorical Situation" in Twentieth-Century Roots of Rhetorical Studies and in essay on "Rhetorical Theory as Message Reception" in Spring, 2003 Communication
315:
in 2006 for his attempt to win a
Congressional seat and Ruppersberger vs. Helen Bentley for their House race, September 24, 2002. Vatz moderated a debate between state senate candidates Jim Brochin and
488:
Over his career Vatz published in The
Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Los Angeles Times and multiple other publications; he wrote and writes on conservative perspectives generally.
226:(Transaction Books, 2017). He has also published articles, reviews and lectures on the preeminence of rhetorical study, political rhetoric, rhetoric and psychiatry and
677:
280:
Won 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 – Outstanding
Teaching Grants (awarded to ten of approximately 500 full-time faculty each year 1976-1980); most of such awards on faculty
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for Red
Maryland and blogged several pieces a year on national conservative perspectives on rhetorical theory, media criticism and contemporary political issues.
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33:
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466:. He appeared for over forty years as a guest on WBAL Radio in Baltimore. He has recently appeared on Fox television in Baltimore and Washington.
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Subject of article in The
Washington Post, May 6, 2004 on Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich's lectureships to his Persuasion class, 1993-2004
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Chosen by NCA Vice
President to participate in a debate on President Bush's policies on Iraq for NCA national convention, 2002
530:
107:
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He has been a member of his Towson University University Senate for a record 38 (current term ends in 2020) years.
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Vatz has been member of the Towson Board of Trustees for several years and an associate psychology editor for
93:
414:
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803:"'This is what democracy looks like': Protest occurs in response to Schifanelli, Peroutka on-campus event"
368:
259:
Maryland "Governor’s Citation" for Achievements in Higher Education and Service to Towson University, 2004
238:
334:
Highlight Article on Vatz's public commentary: Vatz's Election Commentary, Towson Times, October 23, 2002
75:
458:
363:
Ad Watch Critic, WBAL Radio, September–November 2002: Printed Analysis of Campaign Ads in 2002 Campaigns
304:
addresses to Vatz's "Persuasion" class at Towson twice a year 1993–2022, ending with Vatz's Retirement
988:
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381:
During the 1970s, Vatz published the article, "The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation," in the journal
317:
209:
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In January 2009, Vatz published a follow-up piece to the "Myth" article in the NCA's January, 2009,
350:
Panel presented on Vatz's work at NCA convention, "Richard E. Vatz on Rhetoric and Psychiatry," 1999
201:
Vatz is a Faculty Fellow at the Eastern Communication Association (ECA) and has been honored by the
569:
420:
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was titled "Liberty and/or Psychiatry: 40 Years After 'The Myth of Mental Illness,'" April 15, 2000
312:
678:"The insanity of Md.'s insanity plea: Why is the murderer of 3 men 'not criminally responsible'?"
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557:
430:
254:
234:
195:
274:"Teacher of the Year," 2002, Towson University, awarded by the Student Government Association
829:"TU Turning Point sponsor to stay on despite saying he'd resign if racism, homophobia found"
565:
561:
541:
518:
190:(born December 21, 1946) is an American academic, lecturer and writer who is a professor of
934:
534:
452:
227:
100:
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and others. He has also published articles on political rhetoric and media criticism in
215:
since 1987. He has been a member of the National Communication Association since 1969.
244:
He is married to Joanne Pychock Vatz; the couple have two children and one grandchild.
977:
386:
324:
277:
University Merit Award 1984, 1988, 1990 (awarded to 30 faculty each year 1983-1990)
293:
Windham Fellow Lecture Series in Liberal Arts, "Rhetoric and Impeachment," Middle
301:
703:
538:
510:
328:
152:
907:"Towson Turning Point to remain on campus after securing faculty adviser"
397:
191:
752:"Faculty Adviser Quits, YWC Loses Official Status at Towson University"
474:
265:
Winner, Teaching Fellow Award, Eastern Communication Association, 2004
881:"Towson holds dedication ceremony for Vatz auditorium; protests occur"
879:
Freeman, Caitlyn; Donahue, Gabriel; Orr, Courtney (11 December 2022).
521:
are fraudulent. Vatz claimed that most mental illnesses are not real.
268:
Keynote Speaker and award-winner at first "Towson's Elite" Night, 2004
482:
283:
Appointed to Faculty of Honors College, Towson State University, 1982
477:, primarily on their talk show "Square Off" hosted by Richard Sher,
777:"Racist Maryland Student Leader Vows Patrols Against 'Black Crime'"
556:
Vatz later served as the faculty advisor for the Towson chapter of
827:
Freeman, Caitlyn; Shindel, Jake; Hubbard, Matt (10 October 2022).
801:
Freeman, Caitlyn; Shindel, Jake; Ott, Courtney (4 October 2022).
492:
470:
945:
archived version of The Mythical Status of Situational Rhetoric
598:
63:
from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially
18:
855:"Faculty members speak out against TU Turning Point adviser"
406:
The Only Authentic Book of Persuasion: the Agenda-Spin Model
220:
The Only Authentic Book of Persuasion: the Agenda-Spin Model
576:
his other actions. Students from the Towson chapter of the
727:"YWC Members Chalk 'White Pride' on University Sidewalks"
529:
Vatz was the advisor of the Towson University chapter of
560:, a far-right student organization. On October 3, 2022,
271:
Towson University Faculty Volunteer Service Award, 2003
705:
TU Youth for Western Civilization President Interview
659:"VATZ: Power grab now extends to mental health, too"
262:
The Thomas Szasz Civil Liberties Award January, 1994
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Youth for Western Civilization and Matthew Heimbach
253:President's Award for Distinguished Service, 2004,
177:
159:
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16:American academic, lecturer and writer (born 1946)
630:"Stigma can be a good thing [Commentary]"
533:from 2011-2012, led by current Towson student,
357:Appointed Lifetime Member of Board of Trustees,
241:. He has taught a course called "Persuasion".
222:, (McGraw-Hill, 2017), and he is co-editor of
8:
940:The Mythical Status of Situational Rhetoric
151:
140:
56:about living persons that is unsourced or
127:Learn how and when to remove this message
590:
366:Short bio feature, "No Rhetoric Here,"
578:Young Democratic Socialists of America
905:Freeman, Caitlyn (24 February 2023).
702:TowerlightVideo (12 September 2011).
7:
935:The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation
652:
650:
410:Thomas Szasz: The Man and His Ideas
224:Thomas Szasz: The Man and His Ideas
853:Freman, Caitlyn (28 October 2022).
552:Towson Chapter of Turning Point USA
469:He has also appeared frequently on
657:Vatz, Richard (11 November 2013).
581:under a new advisor, George Hahn.
203:National Communication Association
14:
628:Vatz, Richard E. (8 April 2014).
23:
531:Youth for Western Civilization
504:Mental health and medical care
323:Featured speaker honoring Dr.
1:
309:U.S. House of Representatives
676:Vatz, Richard (7 May 2023).
517:. He claims that almost all
372:, January 9, 2004 p. 8
34:biography of a living person
781:Southern Poverty Law Center
756:Southern Poverty Law Center
731:Southern Poverty Law Center
568:, and former member of the
462:, and William F. Buckley's
444:Vatz has appeared on CNN’s
288:Selected lecturing activity
61:must be removed immediately
1010:
479:Maryland Public Television
295:Tennessee State University
994:Towson University faculty
408:and a new co-edited book
150:
564:, far-right politician,
404:In 2012, Vatz published
345:Some research highlights
415:The Wall Street Journal
394:Review of Communication
383:Philosophy and Rhetoric
385:. In it, he critiqued
369:Baltimore Jewish Times
327:on his 80th birthday;
307:Moderated debates for
239:University of Richmond
48:Please help by adding
459:The Phil Donahue Show
431:The Los Angeles Times
194:and Communication at
715:– via YouTube.
682:MarylandReporter.com
426:The Washington Times
54:Contentious material
570:League of the South
546:White Student Union
421:The Washington Post
313:Dutch Ruppersberger
233:Vatz has spoken at
188:Richard Eugene Vatz
618:USA Today Magazine
300:Maryland Governor
558:Turning Point USA
535:white supremacist
440:Media appearances
255:Towson University
248:Awards and honors
235:Hillsdale College
196:Towson University
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170:December 21, 1946
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311:election: 2004;
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566:neo-confederate
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485:, and WBAL-TV.
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318:Martha Klima
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43:verification
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989:1947 births
599:"USA Today"
548:at Towson.
499:Controversy
491:Vatz was a
464:Firing Line
218:Vatz wrote
978:Categories
585:References
178:Occupation
166:1946-12-21
87:newspapers
604:26 August
511:addiction
447:Crossfire
329:symposium
211:USA Today
181:Professor
39:citations
539:neo-Nazi
398:anathema
237:and the
213:magazine
205:(NCA).
192:Rhetoric
65:libelous
916:11 July
890:11 July
864:11 July
838:11 July
812:11 July
786:11 July
761:11 July
736:11 July
711:11 July
687:11 July
639:11 July
493:blogger
475:WMAR-TV
471:WBFF-TV
433:. Vatz
354:Studies
101:scholar
537:, and
483:WJZ-TV
320:, 2002
103:
96:
89:
82:
74:
377:Works
108:JSTOR
94:books
32:This
918:2024
892:2024
866:2024
840:2024
814:2024
788:2024
763:2024
738:2024
713:2024
689:2024
641:2024
606:2023
515:ADHD
428:and
230:.
160:Born
80:news
41:for
513:or
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649:^
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