CFACT Chair Pawel Benedykcinski practices launching Angry Birds.

To demonstrate what happens, CFACT students launched angry bird stuffed animals at the campus turbines, as curious students looked on. “I had no idea this happened to be honest,” said one St. Olaf student. “It is just not something I ever hear about when the faculty talks about the wind mills.” Other students echoed those sentiments, noting that many times the turbines are presented as purely a good thing and another side to that is never discussed.

“I am glad we did this today,” CFACT Chairman Pawel Benedykcinski explained. “Being able to once again show the harmful effects of yet another misguided St. Olaf policy really shows the failure in protecting life that environmentalism is.”

Carlton CFACT students wrap up a hard days work cleaning their community.

Even a community member who lived across the street wandered over and joined in. “I saw some students cleaning the park and thought it was a great idea. I ended up grabbing some gloves and a couple trash bags and giving a hand for a little bit,” explained Jake Hunt, who watched from across the street. “Seeing college students taking an active role in beutifying our town is fantastic. I am glad there are groups like CFACT out there doing things to make a difference.”

Clarey explained the eroding standards in academia today, but did touch on a handful of degrees that he felt would be worthwhile in the future. “I am about to graduate here soon,” said UMD Senior Eric Miller, “and after hearing this I feel lucky to be in the engineering field. Unfortunately, neither of my roommates can say the same thing.” Beyond that, Clarey spoke on the mounting debt, both personal and national, and how that shapes what we can do. All and all, it left many listeners a little nervous about their futures, yet many were glad to hear this before graduation and have this thrust upon them. “This is just another example of the wonderful work and unique insight CFACT brings to our campus,” added Greenlee. “Without CFACT, our campus would only have one voice and that is not good for anyone.”

CFACT Recruitment

Syracuse University CFACT activists engaged in spring recruitment activities by setting up a table, passing out CFACT literature, distributing pocket constitutions and copies of the US Bill of Rights, and engaging in discussion with students and faculty about CFACT’s mission and activism.

They also handed out plenty of “CFACT Swag.”  Students can now sport their CFACT pride in style with t-shirts, sunglasses, and more.

In the course of running the Collegians For A Constructive Tomorrow for the last 12 years I’ve had plenty of dealings with the IRS.  In the early days there was some back and forth to establish our 501c3 status, requests for additional information, notifications of rule changes and even a refund check or two.  It has all been very mundane and professional.

Then 3 weeks ago I returned home from the office and saw a letter that was attached to my front door.  I assumed I was being hit up for lawn service, so my heart just dropped when I saw it was a letter from the IRS.

It was clearly hand delivered and attached to my front door since there was no postage and my mailbox is across the street.  In 12 years, all of my correspondence with the IRS has been through the US mail with a rare phone call mixed in.  My accountant had never heard of such a practice.  Hand delivered notices rubber banded to my front door seemed ominous.

As I opened the letter, I could only imagine the awfulness that must be inside.  A huge fine?  Notice of an audit?  Was I being criminally charged?

To my great relief it was ‘only’ a request for employee documentation from 2009-2011 with the suggestion of fines commensurate with the tax owed during that time.

Now I hesitate to say more.  I only recently sent my response, and while I believe we are just fine, not enough time has passed to get the all clear from the IRS.

Essentially, the forms being requested from 2009-2011 were only required in the 4^th quarter of 2011.  I re-sent a copy of that form from 2011 and let them know that according to the law, Collegians wasn’t required to file before then.  We should be free and clear.

But after the news of the IRS targeting conservative groups, I’m not so sure.  I still find it odd that an enforcement officer would drive from St. Paul to my far-flung suburb to personally attach a note to my door.  Why the IRS would skip the convenience and usual manner of doing business through the mail, I can’t be sure.  But if the purpose was to frighten and intimidate, they were surely successful.

Had this notice come in the mail and at a time before the IRS was under a cloud of scrutiny, this would have seemed like a mundane request.  But now I can’t help but feel a little paranoid.

-Bill Gilles is the National Director of Collegians For A Constructive Tomorrow

]]> http://www.cfactcampus.org/2013/05/15/is-the-irs-targeting-collegians/feed/ 0 http://www.cfactcampus.org/2013/05/15/university-of-minnesota-duluth-bbqs-for-students/ http://www.cfactcampus.org/2013/05/15/university-of-minnesota-duluth-bbqs-for-students/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 17:10:36 +0000 Bobby Benson http://www.cfactcampus.org/?p=1968 With the academic year winding down the University of Minnesota-Duluth CFACT chapter decided to throw a BBQ for their classmates. “One of the nice things about CFACT is that we are able to spread our message, while at the same time having some fun.” Said Chairwoman Alicha Greenlee.

UMD CFACT members took turns grilling for their fellow Bulldogs.

Members of CFACT took turns manning the grill, cooking up over 400 hot dogs and hamburgers for hungry students. “I saw the commotion and stopped to check it out” said Junior Jerome Santos of Laredo, Texas. “And while I ate I learned a lot about CFACT and realized I agree with most all of what they said. It is definitely something I will participate in next year.” Santos was joined by UMD Sophomore Pete Mohagen, who added “these are issues I have found myself talking about in class, and I would constantly be going against my professors. It is great to know I am not alone on campums.”

Greenlee was very satisfied with how the event turned out. “I am really excited for next year and our barbecue has built a lot of excitement. This year has been successful, and I know next year will be even better.”

CFACT President David Rothbard with UMD students.

Rothbard used different examples, such as the banning of DDT that has led to countless malaria  related deaths in Africa, to illustrate how extreme environmentalism is silently wiping out people across the globe. Jamie Morrissette, a freshman, came from neighboring St. Scholastica University to take in the presentation. “I had no idea this was going on and am just stunned. It is just cruel that literally millions of deaths could be prevented, but aren’t.” UMD Senior Andrew Hammer was also taken aback by it all. “It makes no sense to me. And the crazy thing is, I had no idea about any of this until today. I can’t help but wonder why this isn’t a bigger deal.”

Despite the somber nature of the topic, Rothbard was quite pleased with how it turned out. “I continue to speak to college students because they need to hear the realities of what is going on. Beyond that, if I can get even one student to take up the cause and join us in our fight, it has all been worth it.

“Many students on campus don’t realize what would happen as a result of a carbon tax.” Said UMD Chairwoman Alicha Greenlee. “The number of jobs that a carbon tax would effectively kill is enough to make anyone reconsider support of it. And that goes double for soon to be graduates entering the job force.”

CFACT Chair Alicha Greenlee explains to UMD Senior Adam Katz the dangers of a carbon tax.

Yet job seekers alone aren’t the only ones who will feel the effects of a carbon tax. As industry raises prices to offset the cost of the new tax, energy becomes more expensive. And in the name of environmentalism low income families are forced to spend even more money on necessities like heating their home. This results in less money to save or spend elsewhere, placing yet another obstacle to breaking out of the cycle of poverty.

“I know we made an impression with some of our classmates today,” added Greenlee, “and equipped with better information, they will be able to speak out against a carbon tax.”

Syracuse CFACT President

The CFACT chapter at Syracuse University spent some time outdoors cleaning up the community this Spring Semester.

CFACT activists took to the great outdoors and enjoyed some beautiful New York weather while helping to beautify the Syracuse community.

Students were happily displaying their commitment to environmental conservation and stewardship by clearing litter and debris from the campus and surrounding community.  This exercise shows that private citizens acting of their own accord can have a real impact without waiting for government intervention to help them do it!

Spring Recruitment

The Vanderbilt chapter of CFACT was out in force this spring enjoying the beautiful weather and pushing hard for new members.

As the academic year draws to a close CFACT members on campus distributed informational material regarding CFACT and its mission to promote free-market environmental principles.  Students who have their interests peaked will be kept up to date on CFACT summer events and welcomed to begin work as CFACT activists in the fall.