Posted on 02/18/2005 9:24:54 AM PST by Maverick32984
Press Release: Drexel Democrats deliver ultimatum to Bennett S. LeBow College Of Business.
It has come to the attention of the Drexel University College Democrats that Senator Rick Santorum will be speaking on the matter of Social Security reform as part of the Public Policy Forum of the Office of Government and Community Relations and the Guest Lecture Series of the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business.
Given the partisan nature of his platform and rhetoric, we feel that this forum will be lacking without a counter viewpoint. We believe that Senator Santorum will be using this academic forum as a guise for the Bush Administration’s national tour to promote social security privatization. Given Senator Santorum’s highly polemic rhetoric and close ties to the Bush Administration’s agenda, we fear that he would use this opportunity to merely lobby the Social Security Reform bill, rather than to educate the Drexel community.
Because of these concerns we have respectfully requested of the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business that an elected Democratic official or academic may be invited to the forum to address and correct partisan rhetoric.
In the past, Drexel University has had a highly partisan list of guest speakers, including Homeland Security Head Tom Ridge, Senator Arlen Spector, and Education Secretary Rod Paige. This calls into question Drexel’s own political bias. Surely, academic discourse would be elevated with multiple viewpoints, in order to allow for Drexel’s students to think critically about issues pertaining to their future.
Thus, we have requested a prompt decision on this matter to allow for sufficient time to find another speaker, which we would be willing to do, pending the University’s approval.
The Drexel Democrats believe that should this request not be met, the organization has the right to organize and protest against said event beginning at 9 AM on Tuesday, February 22nd, directly in front of Behrakis Grand Hall. The Drexel Democrats have requested information on the university’s regulations on this matter, and will abide to and respect all regulations that the university may have regarding the right to organize and protest.
Contact Person: Brad Levinson, President of the Drexel University College Democrats [Contact Information Redacted]
We applaud the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business for their initiative to increase awareness of the Social Security plight and for inviting Pennsylvania’s very own U.S. Senator Rick Santorum to discuss this important issue with the student body.
We find it disappointing that our friends, the Drexel Democrats, don’t share in our enthusiasm in this event, much less that Mr. Santorum doesn’t have a right to appear in a university in his own state without their Golden Seal of Approval.
It’s unfortunate that the Drexel Democrats appear to have a selective memory. They have the audacity to accuse Drexel University as being biased for inviting Republican speakers but ignore past Democratic guests.
They might recall this past October when LeBow invited 2001 Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz to discuss the state of the national economy under President Bush. Ken Miller, the former Vice Chair at Credit Suisse First Boston, introduced the Laureate by announcing to the gathered audience that, “[his] purpose in life for the next three weeks is to [help] elect John Kerry to the President of the United States.”
This openly partisan mission statement didn’t seem to register with the Drexel Democrats or motivate their supposed commitment for another “counter viewpoint”—what they call the need for another official to “address and correct partisan rhetoric.”
Mr. Stiglitz is just one of several Democratic figures—a list that includes Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), who came to Drexel last year to discuss the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
We strongly advise LeBow to stick with their original plan. Being forced to repeatedly listen to the Democratic mantra of “Don’t worry, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Social Security,” hardly qualifies as academic discourse.
Our only regret is that our friends, the Drexel Democrats, won’t be able to see the fruits of their labor until we’re all 65 years old—where Social Security will completely bankrupt the country if we listened to them and did nothing.
Should the Democrats move forward with their protest, we kindly point them to the words of a journalist, “without ideas, without alternatives, you’re just screaming at the winds of a hurricane.”
We wish them well.
Contact:
William Mulgrew, Secretary Drexel University College Republicans Wjm28@drexel.edu
The little leftists just can't stand free speech. Unless it benefits them, of course.
Of course. We've been debating them endlessly in our student newspaper, and they haven't been winning. I think this will only burn them in the future. Students will realize that the Democratic Party is against any change on an issue that will affect them the most.
When I graduated Drexel in 1971, it was a full far-Left school already immersing itself in political correctness.
My niece graduated from Drexel a few years ago. Apparently nothing has changed since 1971.
They consider having Arlen Specter speak right-wing bias?
This statement clearly argues that Senator Santorum cannot be anything but partisan, and that any generic "elected Democratic official or academic" has no partisanship. Labeled as Democrat but not partisan? Seem like a non-sequitur to me.
RatHunter has clearly noted the other logic error...Specter - a right winger...LOL
Kudos to the Drexel Republicans. One recommendation: avoid using the adjective "Democratic" to refer to Democrat persons--"Democrat" is an adjective, noun, and a few other things.
I like to boast that our membership is three times the size of the Drexel Democrats. This confirms my theory that college students are either Democrat out of politically apathy, Democrat by association, Democrat by peer pressure, and Democrat out of fear.
Idiots.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.