Student Government Association Senate leader Paul Pridgeon said he could not recall which senator identified a Young Americans for Freedom member who possibly made the anti-gay chalkings Monday.

Yet the unidentified senator's testimony at the Senate meeting Monday helped approve an overnight resolution labeling YAF a hate group, said Pridgeon, a Montgomery sophomore.

"We feel that it was good enough," he said about the testimony.

The resolution will go on to the SGA House of Representatives for a vote and signed by President Mike Zeig before becoming SGA policy.

Pridgeon said many campus issues are ignored, and this could not become one of them.

Several senators opted for immediate action, circumventing their usual two-week resolution process, he said.

Pridgeon questioned SGA's ability to label student organizations, but said many senators could not ignore the public outrage toward the chalkings.

Though he said his memory was hazy, the Senate never made any effort to conceal the accuser's identity, and the meeting's full minutes soon will be available on SGA's Web site, rso.cmich.edu/SGA .

'A reasonable inference'

Grandville junior Andrew Verburg and Livonia sophomore Dan Garber also said they could not remember the senator who claimed to have seen a YAF member making the chalkings.

Detroit sophomore Mike Ware said he could not remember whether anyone made a specific firsthand claim, but YAF's campus reputation made its involvement certain.

"They're known for speaking out against homosexuals," he said. "It seemed like a reasonable inference to me."

Illinois freshman senator Jamelle Dooley drafted the resolution passed at last Monday's meeting.

The resolution reaffirmed the Senate's position against hate groups, labeled YAF as one and urged the university to separate free speech from hate speech, he said.

Dooley brought pictures from YAF's rally the same day, which he said suspiciously was located in the same area as the chalkings.

He said one senator said he or she saw a YAF member make the chalkings, but Dooley would not disclose the senator's name.

'Basis of rumors'

Zeig, though not present at the meeting, said he thought Dooley and Detroit freshman TaNisha Parker led the allegations against YAF.

But Zeig, a Sterling Heights senior, said the Senate's evidence was insubstantial.

"We should not be condemning an organization on basis of rumors," he said.

Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe said any accusations remain uncertain, despite the Senate's vote.

"Any group accusing a group should have direct evidence," he said. "I think it's very dangerous to make any inferences with regards to the behavior of a group."

He said the university takes no position on hate groups because of the inextricable complications blurring free and hate speech.

Dennis Lennox II, former Young Americans for Freedom president and Topinabee sophomore, dubbed the SGA Senate's accusations "a witch hunt."

Lennox said the CMU chapter of YAF has never acted against homosexuals, nor do YAF's national standards permit such actions.

"We've never done anything to warrant this allegation," he said. "These (allegations) are totally unfounded. They're based in hate."

The YAF rally was to support U.S. troops, Lennox said.

'Libelous claims'

Lennox said the Senate's lack of accountability and communication contradicts its confidence. He said the Senate should be willing to discuss it.

He said all senators who approved the legislation should resign or be impeached.

YAF will take legal actions against the Senate's libelous claims, he said.

"There're definitely people on campus who should be concerned if they continue their course of action," he said.

Chase Canning, YAF president and Lambertville freshman, said YAF is in early legal stages of dealing with the situation and would not provide details.

But Dawn Phillips-Hertz, Michigan Press Association general counsel, said YAF could file, but likely could not win, a libel suit.

To win, she said, YAF would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt the Senate had reason to believe its allegations were false.

"The burden of proof is going to be very high," she said.

The SGA House of Representatives will vote on the legislation at 7 p.m. Monday in Anspach 162.

news@cm-life.com