Posted on 01/28/2004 7:26:22 PM PST by StopGlobalWhining
Penn State College Republicans has formed a committee to fight the negative response members say they have received from many Penn State administrators and students after several members attended a controversial Halloween party.
College Republicans chair Brian Battaglia said the organization is carrying a "business as usual" attitude through this semester.
Battaglia said the past incidents have taken so much of the College Republicans' time, the group recently formed a standing committee to counter the demands made by Black Caucus and to come up with better ways to deal with the situation.
"People don't come to the club to talk about this issue, but the committee allows them the opportunity, while the club still functions," he said.
The committee has already met, and the issue has been discussed, but no action has been taken yet, Battaglia said. He confirmed the group has made contact with legal council for possible use in the future, if the university were to try to reprimand the group for exercising what members said are their First Amendment rights.
Bill Mahon, Penn State spokesman, said rumors about any type of university imposed "speech codes" that would monitor student groups' speech were untrue.
"We would be breaking the law if we had a system to penalize individuals for using their right to free speech, even if it is repugnant. The university will not step in and break federal laws," he said.
Tiffiany Iriana, College Republicans secretary, said the committee was formed so the group could stay focused on things like the upcoming presidential campaign.
"We are working on deciding what our plan of action will be," she said. "We really do want to move past this, but we are prepared to deal with any form of ramifications."
Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Vice President Takkeem Morgan, said he was unaware of the new committee.
"I think the more protection against rebuke from the student body, the more they will put themselves in a hole in the eyes of the students," he said.
After last semester, heated debate has put the College Republicans and other groups like USG and Black Caucus on opposite sides.
Battaglia said his organization has no problems with any groups or their existence. However, he said members do have a problem with the way some groups have been handling the situation.
"[USG and Black Caucus] are trying to blacklist the club and republicans on this campus," he said.
Battaglia said all the demands set by Black Caucus and other groups are unacceptable ways to resolve the issue.
Acting Black Caucus Vice President Ed Smith said he was also unaware of the new committee.
"It is not an 'us verses them' thing. We think it is much bigger than that. We are not trying to make it into that. It is a problem that lies within the school, not them," he said.
Smith said Black Caucus' list of demands is not an attack against the College Republicans.
"We are only trying to create a safer environment for students of color and all people. This is not only about black people. Black people are not the only ones who should feel uncomfortable," he said.
Smith said he realized after issuing the demands that some of them were not legally possible. Black Caucus is planning a revision of their demands; however, Smith would not offer any details. It is currently unknown when the revised demands would be made public.
"We understand that some negotiation has to be done, but we want to be taken seriously. Student groups shouldn't have to beg to be taken seriously," Smith said.
Battaglia said Black Caucus and USG have gone after the College Republicans, not by talking, but by going to national media and turning it into a larger political issue, he said.
Morgan said this is not a political issue, nor simply one of race, but it is a matter of respecting one another.
"Some of the leadership within the College Republicans don't understand that. This is not about the First Amendment; the law protects the minority viewpoint. But this is about respect, not a minority viewpoint," he added.
Mahon said speaking out is the best feasible action the university can take against "hateful speech."
"The university was quick to do that; we used our right to condemn their actions and I think it was done beautifully," Mahon said.
The way they tried to respond says a lot about some members' character, he said.
Terrell Jones, vice provost for educational equity, also said any speech codes would be illegal and most likely unsuccessful. Institutions of higher education try not to restrict ideals of free speech, he said
Battaglia said the university has been slanderous and libelous toward the group by issuing public spoken and written statements condemning the incidents.
In an e-mail message, Penn State President Graham Spanier said, "I can say that the university is certainly not guilty of libel or slander. We stand behind any official statements made on behalf of the university."
In reaction to Battaglia's allegations, Jones said he did not know how the group could blame people for being disgruntled about this.
"We were responding to concerned students. You can't create the situation and then play the victim; it is just disingenuous," he said.
Jones said the big picture is not what happened but what will happen from now on. He added it could be time for the group to stop blaming others.
"I think the university acted very responsibly. Maybe it is time for the College Republicans to be more introspective," he added.
Some College Republicans are pessimistic about reaching an equally satisfying resolution.
"It doesn't seem like they are interested in peaceful resolution," Iriana said.
Morgan said he is not too concerned with an "equally satisfying" resolution.
"It's not about being equally satisfied; it is about teaching respect," he said. "Equal damage wasn't done; the element of equality is not necessary in this case."
As far as the Black Caucus making demands, these people are guilty of some of the nastiest personal attacks on the PSU campus of any group. The College Republicans should just point out past examples of their "demands" and ignore them. They do not deserve a response.
And Takkeem Morgan, USG Vice President and convicted State College bicycle thief, should have been removed from his USG position upon his conviction. He is a disgrace to the University and doesn't belong at Penn State.
The next time I receive a phone call from someone at Penn State asking me to donate, I will tell them no and explain why.
Start with this one: Pictures lead to call for resignations [Penn State College Republicans]
I think each thread has a link near the end to the next days happenings until finals ended on Decmber 12.
The first reaction by the administration is at Penn State Diversity Newswire - 2003-2004 Archive - December 7, 2003
Some of the students are working with David Horowitz and his foundation to put pressure on the PA State Legislature to demand that Penn State stop harrassing conservative students.
I have a list of links to most of the stories if you have questions.
The administration and left-leaning faculty hold all the power. Standing up to these people risks poor grades and possible disciplinary action for alleged "intolerance".
I want a College Republican Bake Sale this Spring!
I'm going to make a couple of diversions, and I apologize if I'm taking the thread off topic -- it's in the interest of encouraging young conservatives, so please bear with me.
My initial advice: live off campus if you feel safer. You must be safe while you are studying, or else it disrupts your focus. Try to document the harrassment with witnesses, photographs, movies, and so forth. And please keep your parents informed. They will have insights into enhancing your safety while helping you to accomplish your political goals at the same time. And finally on the topic of safety, confrontation rarely solves problems or changes peoples' minds. But it can get you hurt, so think to write your arguments in the student paper later. Think to discuss in class and other formal settings later. We need you to finish university and move out into productive living as conservative intellectuals, not have you kicked out of school or hurt in a political scrapple!
In any case, has at least one dormatory floor been ambiguously named? Could its very name be inciting racial disharmony, when Doctor King sought the opposite? In any case, you may simply not be able to fathom the prejudice against College Republicans on campus when you first arrive and try to become active in your first year. In fact, MLK himself would have a lot of good advice as to how you should conduct yourselves. I'll try to pass on in a nutshell what he would have suggested:
First, it is your example as citizens and exemplary students that has to shine out and demonstrate for all to see that you are not the negative stereotypes they may have assumed that you are. Lefty kids are often raised with these stereotypes. You are all on campus to learn, and the only way they can learn from you about this is if you show them. Hints: get a variety of races involved with your conservative actions on campus. Point out how the Republican party has an outreach to all races and non-violent creeds. Help old ladies cross the street. Be honest in everything you do. And succeed in your studies! Nothing shows up the lazy, stoner lefties like your success.
Yur contribution to the social fabric of your campuses must be felt. Make a positive difference. I recommend reading General Douglas MacArthur's farewell speech (on a college campus to the Corps of Cadets at West Point) about duty to country. You can't pick a better role model for your lives, and General MacArthur would have supported you 100% in your pursuit of conservatism on campus.
Finally, you've suggested that the adults have treated you unfairly. This is the real world, and it often happens outside the realm of politics and ideology as well. Welcome to the real world, already toughening your skin on the campus! Show your (possibly) wrong-headed teachers just the opposite of what they expect.
You know, the harassment wouldn't be so overt if they didn't have the backing, implied or not, of the administration.
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