Exchange Editorial: We support CeCe
(This editorial represents the views of and was written by the student editors of the Exchange.)
Earlier this week, government official Donald Trump Jr. issued a statement that negatively affected fellow student CeCé Telfer. The result has been negative comments and online harassment towards CeCé. We think that the Franklin Pierce community should stand with CeCé.
On Tuesday, February 26, Trump Jr. tweeted a reference to CeCé. Trump Jr.’s tweet was posted with a link to an article from the Daily Caller entitled “Top-Ranked NCAA Women’s Runner Competed as Man Last Year.” This is one of many articles written by conservative publications about CeCé, such as Turtleboysports, which features a number of transphobic and threatening comments.
User me109g4 stated, “…nobody at FPU will say boo. I will be, tomorrow when I head to the Bubble (gym)…If he tells me how he did this past weekend he is in for some serious shit from me.” Another user, She’nene Pelosi, stated, “The NCAA needs to get real and handicap these ‘women’ to keep the track and field events from becoming a total farce. If you got a tree trunk in your running shorts there should be a 1/2 second handicap right from the start.”
Students on campus banded together to create and share this photo showing support for Cece
CeCé has been following the rules. According to NCAA’s transgender handbook, transgender students are eligible to play after one year of hormonal replacement therapy. CeCé has been taking hormones since October 2017.
The Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) came to the Student Government Association meeting on February 27. SAAC members Ryan Ducrow and Luke Tracy led a discussion about what we as a community can do when it comes to helping CeCé, with ideas like making bracelets, having a pep rally for her, and making t-shirts with her name on them.
CeCé Telfer is genuinely kind, outgoing, and friendly to all people she comes across. She is one of the most involved students on campus: working at Admissions, spending her free time singing the National Anthem at games, and volunteering. CeCé is known for her positivity and her incredible athletic talent but is not limited to that. When speaking to students about CeCé, many have fond feelings of her that they wanted to share. CeCé has truly touched many hearts on our campus.
We support CeCé.
The Editors of The Exchange
This article makes me proud of our students and Professor Paul Bush. Thank you, Andrew, and anyone else who stands up for our community members and for social justice.
Beautifully written! Thank you, Andrew, for your kind heart and open mind.
Thanks, the editorial represents the views of the entire editorial staff of the Exchange.
This makes me so proud to teach at FPU. CeCe has been a student in several of my classes, and I know the challenges she faces on a daily basis. I support CeCe!
You’re letting a male dominate real women because not doing so would be “transphobic.”
I for one find that to be sickening. Stand up for real girls. Not fake and disgusting abominations like this freak.
I for one find your resorting to name calling and wish to berate people based on an issue you clearly are not willing to hear another side on to be sickening.