Posted on 02/03/2005 5:33:46 PM PST by Cagey
University says program inconsistent with Mission Week, Christian values
Amanda Sheaffer
Tribune Staff
University officials rescinded the College Republican's "Adopt a Sniper" table in the Alumni Memorial Union Monday, saying the program's message did not fit the university's mission and therefore could not be set up in the AMU.
The College Republicans had approval from the Office of Student Development to set up the table in the Union to promote the national "Adopt a Sniper" program. Two hours after the table was set up, individuals from OSD confiscated the literature and materials that were on display.
College of Business Administration senior Brandon Henak, chairman of the College Republicans, said the "Adopt a Sniper" program is a direct way for students to support the U.S. troops fighting in Iraq.
"This program supplies special body armor and equipment for American snipers in Iraq," Henak said.
Henak said most snipers receive standard equipment from the U.S. military that restricts mobility and flexibility, causing snipers to sometimes remove their armor in order to shoot and putting them at risk. A student wears a metal wristband from the "Adopt a Sniper" program, for which the College Republicans tried to collect donations. The display was removed Monday by university officials, who said it did not follow the theme of Mission Week. Photo by Maggie Casey Click for Larger View
When an individual donates at least $5 to the program, he or she will receive a dog tag with the U.S. Marines slogan: "One Shot, One Kill, No Remorse, I Decide," he said. The organization also offers metal wristbands with the Web site's name and the military unit that will benefit from the donation.
Brigid O'Brien, director of university communication, said in a statement Tuesday, "Based on the information obtained from the College Republicans' table, the university made the decision that the specific nature of this fundraising activity was not consistent with the university's mission and was not reflected in the College Republicans' application for approval."
Concerns that the fundraising was not consistent with the university's mission are especially pertinent during Marquette's Mission Week, going on now, with its theme "Constructing Peace."
However, Henak said College Republicans specifically chose Mission Week to begin their fundraising efforts.
"We chose this event during Mission Week because we believe it is a direct way to construct peace," Henak said.
Henak said the decision was a tactic to stifle the voice of the College Republicans.
"It's obvious that they have liberal leanings — that's a Jesuit trait," Henak said. "They don't believe in what the snipers are doing and so they don't support our program."
The university statement said the table did not reflect Catholic, Jesuit values.
"In the context of the university's Jesuit, Catholic mission, we could not allow fundraising in the student union for a group whose rhetoric regarding snipers could be widely misinterpreted as having a cavalier attitude toward the taking of a human life," O'Brien said.
College Republican Dan Maciejewski, a School of Education sophomore, said he believes the university's decision was short-sided and politically motivated.
Maciejewski said the group's decision to promote the program during Mission week wasn't political.
"As Christian people we strive for peace, but we're not opposed to war," he said. "Sometimes it is necessary to secure peace through war."
Rebeccah Sjolund, chairman of the College Democrats and a College of Arts & Sciences senior, said the College Republicans' decision to set up the table promoting the "Adopt a Sniper" program was poorly thought out.
"I understand the negative connotations that 'Adopt a Sniper' could raise," Sjolund said. "The bracelet with 'One Shot, One Kill, No Remorse, I Decide' is very un-Catholic and Jesuit-like. The university definitely had a right to confiscate those materials."
The scuffle has garnered local media attention. Henak was interviewed by the Charles Sykes radio program on WTMJ 620AM Wednesday morning and by Fox 6 News late Wednesday afternoon to discuss the organization's attempt to gain support for the program.
A student wears a metal wristband from the "Adopt a Sniper" program, for which the College Republicans tried to collect donations. The display was removed Monday by university officials, who said it did not follow the theme of Mission Week. Photo by Maggie Casey
Okay, how about- 'One Sin, One Confession, No Remorse, I Decide.' That's probably more Catholic for them.
Catholic Universities have gone so far left they are three quarters of the way across the Atlantic.
Being a sniper is not an easy job. It takes a particularly tough minded individual to do what needs to be done.
We should support them in any way we can.
Does anyone know where I can make a donation to the Adopt-a-Sniper folks?
You don't approve of the name 'sniper'? Would sharp shooter leave you with a more cozy feeling?
Speak for yourself -- to me, a sniper is one of the most highly trained individuals in our military, and it's a term of great respect.
I've been following this on local radio. Marquette is run by liberals and they sure don't like the pro-troop stance of this Republican group.
Very adept, long range, insurgent detector and eliminator.
The definiton you cited is exactly what they are and without them, countless lives would have been lost over the years.
That would be one hell of a big bracelet.
You mean the one you've learned by being indoctrinated by the liberal media?
Do you think the word "soldier" is a negative word also?
Soldiers are those who are trained to be killers in combat, not much different than snipers other than distance from the combatant.
What gets me is that everybody has to mention being Jesuit and a Catholic in the same quote.
Nobody can simply say it has to offend Christian values. Nope, they have to say it offends BOTH Catholic and Jesuit values.
How hilarious.
That said, of course the liberal morons for wrong for taking down the display.
Highly professional, extraordinarly trained lifesaving human being.
It isn't a positive word.
It is not only a positive word, you should be thanking them profusely for what they do and not quibbling over silly semantics.
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