Once a haven of free expression and intelligent debate, college campuses are today the target of radical ideologues who impose their will unchecked. Indeed, American universities have been so thoroughly corrupted that they exist now as perverse monuments to ignorance and dogma. Walking in ideological lockstep, professors and administrators actively discriminate against students they deem to have “dangerous” ideas that might infect other students.
Politically speaking, it is the Dark Ages of academia — and few people involved in the liberty movement have been left unaffected.
Unfortunately, CFACT and our student campus reps are all too familiar with “politically correct” bias and discrimination, just like many other conservative/libertarian student organizations. A few recent stories are included below.
You Have the Right to Remain Silent
Campus representative Lucas Lejeune got up early last fall to set up his CFACT information table in the heart of the University of Louisiana, Lafayette campus. Seeking to educate his fellow students on the importance of hunting as a means of conservation, Lucas proceeded to speak to students and distribute informational flyers. However, four police officers came to his table shortly after his event started and reprimanded him for not having a “permit for his table.” The officers encircled the student and harassed him off campus, saying he would be cited and even arrested if he didn’t cooperate, after stating they had gotten a call from administrators regarding an “illegal” demonstration. These permissions are rarely required in reality, usually only for major events. Lucas pointed out that other groups were tabling without permission, but those groups weren’t a concern for the college administration or the police. Such a requirement appears to be applicable only if you are a conservative organization, such as CFACT.
Bureaucratic Runaround
Maggie Immen is a responsible and direct young woman pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Wyoming. She has a track record of finishing assignments ahead of time, whether they are for school or CFACT activities. Maggie hasn’t hosted a single CFACT event this semester, though, despite this ethic.
Why might you ask? The management of her university continues to revoke her tabling authorization. For months, Maggie has gone through proper channels, requesting tabling permits just like any other student club. She would appear to get them, schedule a date, and then have her permit abruptly revoked at the last minute without a reason provided. With no other clubs experiencing this issue, she was puzzled. Administrators initially informed her that a system error was to blame. Then after weeks of waiting and wasted opportunity, they casually reported her club had in fact been deactivated as an official organization in their internal database.
As of the writing of this article in March, Maggie is still waiting for approval from her administration to hold events on campus this semester. In fact, she doesn’t even know, despite years of holding events on the same campus, if her club is even recognized by the university at the time of this writing.
Fees & Protests
Zach Lochard of Southern Illinois University Campus (SIUC), CFACT’s campus representative, was granted authorization to host a speaking engagement in February. He was elated. However, the radicals on campus went berserk when it was revealed “who” the speaker would be—CFACT head of communications Marc Morano. Leading the charge was a local, far-Left “commune” which immediately organized a protest. Bolstering the ranks of the “Carbondale Commune,” as it turned out, were administrators, professors, and students of SIUC itself.
It should come as no surprise then that the administration of the SIUC insisted that CFACT, not the protestors, pay a $1,000 “protection” cost to employ four off-duty police officers to maintain order after the demonstration was announced. In the minds of the administrators, it was CFACT’s fault the leftists were getting riled up. Fortunately, despite their slimy tactics and even a brief confrontation, Marc’s speech went off without a hitch and boasted dozens of students in attendance.
These are just a few examples of what many, if not most, conservative students experience in their college years. Hopefully, campuses will either reform or a new higher education system will develop that seeks to foster the classically liberal ideals that gave rise to Western Civilization.
