University to charge political group for Horowitz security
Campus Conservatives were notified Saturday they will be charged for security for an Oct. 14 presentation by David Horowitz.
Campus Conservatives Spokesman Dennis Lennox II declined to elaborate on the letter's author, per advice from legal counsel, but said the document was from a high-ranking member of Central Michigan University's administration.
Lennox originally contacted the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education in early October after discovering Campus Conservatives was to be charged $220 for security at the right-wing activist's presentation. He said students should not have to pay to ensure their safety at a controversial event.
"There is no time frame set for charges to be paid," said the Topinabee senior. "To my understanding, FIRE has yet to receive the letter as has our national organization's attorney."
The FIRE responded by e-mailing University President Michael Rao on Oct. 10, alleging that the university's decision to charge Campus Conservatives for security was unconstitutional.
"Any requirement that student organizations hosting controversial events pay for extra security is clearly unconstitutional, as it affixes a price tag to events based on their expressive content," said Greg Lukianoff, president of FIRE, in the e-mail.
Rao responded to FIRE's e-mail by stating two police officers would be present at the event, and said the university would investigate its past practices for charging student organizations for event security.
The university reserved the right to charge Campus Conservatives if deemed appropriate, the e-mail said.
"(Campus Conservatives) has yet to receive a hard copy of the letter from Rao, which is quite unusual," Lennox said. "The school provided security without seeking our authorization. They never reviewed the law, only the internal policy for charges."
Lennox said Campus Conservatives has never before been charged for security at events it has sponsored.
The student group is in consultation with its national organization's attorney and maintains its firm stance on not paying the charges issued - even to the point of complicated legal action, he said.
The group does not want to take the situation to court but will do so if necessary, he said.
"We're just a bunch of students. We don't have the money to do this and really don't want to. It's way too early to speculate what will happen," Lennox said.
Steve Smith, CMU director of media relations, said Sunday he was not yet aware of the latest developments in the Horowitz situation.
CMU Police Chief Stan Dinius did not return any phone calls.
news@cm-life.com
