Donna Shalala's University of Miami Rejects Conservative Student Group (major freeping)

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education | The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

[mandingo republican]

From : "Jack Stephens"

Reply-To : alaoif@ala1.ala.org

To : ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom List

Subject : [ALAOIF:27940] University of Miami Rejects Conservative Student Group

Date : Sun, 4 May 2003 20:08:18 -0700

University of Miami Rejects Conservative Student Group President Donna Shalala Permits Double Standards Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) http://www.thefire.org/pr.php?doc=miami_pr_050203.html

CORAL GABLES, FL- University of Miami (UM) President Donna Shalala has permitted an official UM agent to deny recognition of a student organization that seeks to advance conservative philosophical ideas. UM takes the position that the campus chapter of the College Republicans speaks for all "conservatives."

"The University of Miami has imposed awful restrictions on freedom of speech, association, and conscience. A place that should be a center of debate and discussion is behaving as if there were an official quota on political diversity and intellectual views," said Thor L. Halvorssen, chief executive officer of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).

In late 2002, four female undergraduates at UM tried to form Advocates for Conservative Thought (ACT), dedicated to-in the words of its constitution- "the exposition and promotion of conservative principles and ideas in society." To carry out its mission, it would sponsor lectures and distribute literature. ACT applied for approval to the Committee on Student Organizations (COSO), which the university president has authorized to act officially in these matters. ACT was rejected in November and December of 2002, and a third time, in writing, on January 14, 2003. Without COSO's approval, ACT may not use vital university facilities and resources, may not be listed on the website for approved student groups or in the student handbook (from which students choose their activities), and may not-to quote from the COSO website-"promote the organization and its activities on campus."

COSO repeatedly informed ACT members that there was already one conservative voice on the campus-the College Republicans-and already one political forum-the Council for Democracy-and that ACT would merely replicate such groups. These groups, however, stand in striking contrast to ACT. The College Republicans promote the candidates and policies of the Republican Party (some of ACT's founders are registered Democrats who consider themselves conservatives). The Council for Democracy provides an explicitly neutral forum for debate.

"We have spent six months trying to establish our group," said Sarah Canale, a first-year student who is co-president of ACT. "We have submitted four different versions of the constitution, but they are never satisfied. Why will the administration not let us organize on our own terms?"

On April 7, 2003, FIRE wrote to President Shalala, requesting that UM avoid public embarrassment by taking self-corrective measures: "To restrict freedom of association and freedom of speech is to create a stifled and intellectually bereft environment-the very antithesis of liberal learning. Surely, this does not describe your vision for the University of Miami."

FIRE alerted Shalala to "the apparent double standard that COSO uses, as agent for UM, in its evaluation of applications for approval. The standard used to evaluate ACT's constitution is far more stringent than that used for the evaluation of virtually all other groups." FIRE pointed out that COSO sponsors six groups that could be considered liberal in philosophy: "UM recognizes, rightly, that 'liberal' does not mean 'Democrat'-that there is a wide spectrum of views, philosophies, and attitudes that could be called 'liberal.' Why, then, does your institution believe that 'conservative' necessarily means 'Republican'?" Indeed, FIRE explained, UM recognized both Earth Alert and Animal Allies; both the Islamic Society and the Muslim Students Organization; both Free Tibet and Amnesty International. It also recognized multiple black student groups, multiple Caribbean student groups, multiple Latin American and Hispanic student groups, and multiple Asian student groups. Why not ACT?

Days after the letter to President Shalala, an administrator informed FIRE that the matter was "under consideration." Then, on April 21, 2003, Cynthia Chapel, administrative advisor to COSO, wrote to FIRE that it was her hope "that we can resolve this matter in a mutually satisfactory manner." On April 22, however, COSO held another hearing for ACT's leaders, interrogating them on why they had contacted FIRE. ACT revised its constitution yet again and waited for a response. On April 27, COSO advisor Cynthia Chapel told ACT it was not approved but could try again in the fall-with no guarantee of success.

"It's simply absurd," said Andrea Kiser, ACT co-president. "Our goal is to promote conservative ideas and to infuse the campus with political passion. Why is it so difficult for the University of Miami simply to let us be?"

"The University of Miami is perpetuating an injustice," said FIRE's Halvorssen. "President Shalala's inaction is a scandal. We will stand by these students, as we would stand by any group of students suffering unequal treatment for wishing to express their ideas."

--------------------------------------------

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education is a nonprofit educational foundation. FIRE unites civil rights and civil liberties leaders, scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals across the political and ideological spectrum on behalf of individual rights, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and due process on our nation's campuses. FIRE's efforts to preserve liberty at the University of Miami and elsewhere can be seen by visiting www.thefire.org.

CONTACT: Thor L. Halvorssen, FIRE: 215-717-3473; fire@thefire.org Donna E. Shalala, President: 305-284-5155; dshalala@miami.edu

[MattGarrett]

Why would anyone be surpised by this? At the end of the day, Democrats like Shalala would rather Conservatives have NO voice at all.

After all, isn't the first amendment only for liberals?

STUDENT SIGN AT PROP 89 DEBATE AT CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE:

"No Free Speech for Fascists."

[Digger]

Donna understands that the "Two-Party Cartel" has a lock on government & that a CHOICE outside of this is truly threatening. I'm sure when that fat a$$ gets her ice cream comes she goes to a place that has more flavors than chocolate & vanilla.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[sitetest]

Dear mr,

Here is a URL for an article that ran in the Washington Times on Saturday:

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030503-6827172.htm

I don't know whether the umbrella student group is still refusing to permit conservative groups from forming and being supported, but Miss Shalala has countermanded their prohibition. She has stated that it is an issue of free speech and academic freedom.

I'm not fond of Miss Shalala, but it does seem that at least as of last week, she is trying to do the right thing.


sitetest

[lasereye]

Something's not making sense here. Shalala stated she wants to see ACT funded. Does she not have the authority to make them fund it?

[sitetest]

Dear lasereye,

"Something's not making sense here. Shalala stated she wants to see ACT funded. Does she not have the authority to make them fund it?"

Makes perfect sense to me. I doubt that she has the direct means to actually act on behalf of the Committe on Student Organizations (COSO). However, I'm sure that she has enormous leverage over the group. It is possible that their funding is ultimately moderated through the university, and that she could "zero out" their line item in next year's budget. Or, she may have some sort of oversight authority to remove officers of the group who violate university policy, especially if she deems it related to issues such as academic freedom and freedom of speech.

But it would be unsurprising if she lacks the authority to directly effect her stated position in this matter.

And, should COSO continue to defy her will in this matter, we will need to see what actions she takes to impose it. It may be that they will continue to oppose her, and she will ultimately do nothing. But only time will tell.

For now, she has adopted a pretty strong position, pretty much telling COSO to reverse course in this matter. Any communications sent to Miss Shalala ought to point this out, thank her for the position, and encourage her to act strongly to enforce her judgement. This probably is the time to use soft words of appreciation and support, not harsh words of opposition and denigration.


sitetest

[PfromHoGro]

Shalala- Top Thought Crime Cop.

Her speech codes at the U of Wisconsin Peoples Republic of Madison in the late '80s were one of the first salvos in the PC wars. Free speech is tolerated, but only she agrees with it, else it's room 101 for you.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Don Sham-Lay-La is a bonafide Jackass.

[Timesink]

Call the alumni office, tell them you're an alumnus, and you'll never donate another penny until this BS ceases and the clubs are allowed to exist. After about three calls, they'll drop to their knees like an X42 intern.

[longtermmemmory]

this is not the first time the university left has opposed a conservative presense. A conservative newspaper did make an effort on campus in the early 80's. (Yep it was approved.) The left used to do the "take them all and throw them in the garbage" routine.

The black student population has a SEPERATE student govenment (white students need not apply). The law school briefly hired a minority dean to win a competition for federal grants in the 90's. (he was fired after a faculty "revolt")

The University of Miami also has a large arab population because of direct campaigning and the fact that arab students do not qualify for student loans/grants and have to pay all up front. As much as 1/3 of the student pop is not us residents at any given time.

Believe it or not the University of Miami was known for being a CONSERVATIVE university due to the high cost to those attending.
It was the place to send your child because they could live in your winter home. You could visit the kids in the snowy months. The univ. of miami is in affluent coral gables not miami. (it used to be in miami over 50 years ago.)

[mountaineer]

University of Miami students, from left, Colleen Donovan of Ashburnham, Mass., Nathalia Gillot of Boca Raton, Fla., Andrea Kiser, of Naples, Fla. and Sarah Canale also of Naples, Fla., are shown on campus in Coral Gables, Fla., Thursday, May 1, 2003. The four University of Miami conservatives say the student government is blocking them from starting a club and say the college's president, former Clinton Cabinet member Donna Shalala, has refused to intervene. (AP Photo/Bill Cooke)

The Tallahassee Democrat reports:

CORAL GABLES - The previously denied application for a campus conservative club should be immediately reviewed on the "principles of free speech, academic freedom and competition," University of Miami president Donna Shalala said Friday.

Four underclassmen had been repeatedly blocked from starting a conservative club because it overlapped with the objectives of the College Republicans. The students, who argued their group was not interested in party politics, asked an academic rights organization - the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education - to help pressure the university administration into admitting the club.

Shalala, who was Bill Clinton's Health and Human Services secretary, said the student committee overseeing admission of clubs was operating under old rules that sought to save money by not admitting redundant clubs.

"That's unfair, because it means that existing organizations are protected from competition from new clubs," she said. Shalala said she changed the rules for the oversight committee to remove the evaluation of potential clubs' proposed activities.

"The student group cannot judge the substance of what the clubs want to do," she said. "They simply have to review whether it's a real student organization."

Sarah Canale, the 19-year-old co-president of Advocates for Conservative Thought, had just finished her second final exam of the day when she heard that Shalala was urging a reconsideration of her club.

"That's incredible," she said. "I'm very hopeful that we will now be considered to become a group. Obviously that was our whole point." link

[not-alone]

bump

[CurlyBill]

BUMP!!! This takes me back to the days when I was involved with the University of Maryland College Republicans (or CRs as we were known) as well as the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF). We fought many a battle with the establishment on a number of issues. There is NO question that at Maryland and other Universities, there is very much a double standard in operation at all times. It has become institutionalized throughout the country and we need to fight back!

[RJCogburn]

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education is a terrific organization worthy of support...that means $
http://www.thefire.org

[Tunehead54]

Keep us posted on this. Sounds like they need to delve a little further into the student association rules.

---

Also, thank you all so much for not posting a Shalala pic. With each "page-down I cringed, fearing the worst ..."

[Theodore R.]

Yes, it is unjust. Why would a conservative student consider going to a university in D. Shalala is the president? Perhaps they were already enrolled before she came aboard.

[Steve Eisenberg]

Why would a conservative student consider going to a university in D. Shalala is the president?

The vast majority of university presidents are no less liberal than Shalala. Also, a liberal at 17 may be conservative by 18.

[wardaddy]

They need that group with the young man out of NY or Virginia (can't recall) that takes up these cases pro bono.

He worked out something for a coed at a school in So Cal a few months ago.

Anyone remember?