Seeking equality
This is a response to the Central Michigan Life editorial on Monday.
Campus Conservatives strongly believe all students should have equal access to Central Michigan University-organized, taxpayer-funded events regardless of their political ideology or persuasion.
That's why our organization, which has had a presence at CMU since 1961, is taking action against Speak Up, Speak Out. Campus Conservatives believe these forums should include representatives of the diverse political persuasions found at CMU - liberals, conservatives, libertarians and even socialists.
Unfortunately, Speak Up, Speak Out organizers want to continue discriminating against political minorities on campus by hand-picking the viewpoints that will be heard by attendees.
Besides being unlawful under CMU's Nondiscrimination Policy, limiting participation and access in Speak Up, Speak Out forums to students and student organizations of a particular political persuasion goes against the fundamental concept of the university being an open marketplace for ideas.
And setting aside the Nondiscrimination Policy, it is only common sense for an event aimed at engaging students and community members to feature diverse viewpoints, ideologies and political persuasions.
As a public, taxpayer-funded institution of higher education, CMU cannot, by law, engage in the political process - let alone play favorites by selecting which viewpoints it will endorse by granting access to campus events.
This is also a dangerous precedent for minorities on campus. If Speak Up, Speak Out is allowed to limit access to its forums, what's next? Will other university-sponsored programs, offices, services and events also be allowed to discriminate?
CMU's Speak Up, Speak Out Committee must be viewpoint-neutral and open to allowing all political persuasions on campus an equal opportunity to participate as panelists in these forums.
Campus Conservatives Board of Trustees
