Friday, March 24, 2006
Press Release: Student gov't candidates uninformed
Candidates for both tickets to head ASCSU, Colorado State University's student government, misrepresented university policies regarding alcohol and free speech in today's debate on the Lory Student Center plaza.
After a question about SAFER's Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative, for which the Libertarian Party at CSU is helping collect petition signatures, Sadie Conrad, vice-presidential candidate on a ticket with Jason Green, stated that she "opposes bringing alcohol back to campus," implying that alcohol was somehow forbidden on CSU grounds.
Yet the debate took place directly in front of the Lory Student Center, where the Ramskeller Pub serves beer to the university community daily. A ban on beer sales at CSU's Hughes stadium was also lifted in 2005, in response to recommendations by a university task force.
The opposing ticket, however, fared no better. In response to a question about the complexity of free-speech rules for student organizations, presidential candidate Jess Dyrdahl noted that "Anyone is free to come and speak on campus whenever they want."
But the university's peaceable assembly policies state otherwise. According to the handbook for student organizations, the "public forum" on the Lory Student Center plaza is only open to groups or individuals affiliated with the university, and then only with reservations secured at least two weeks in advance.
"It's disappointing, but not surprising, that they're misinformed," said Anthony, chair of the Libertarian Party at CSU. "Student government seems to more concerned with not distressing university administrators than with using their power to push for real change. Issues like CSU's drug policy and free speech restrictions affect thousands of students every day. These are issues where student leaders should take a strong stand."
The Libertarian Party and allied groups, including Students for Sensible Drug Policy, will continue to gather petitions for the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative on the Lory plaza for the remainder of the semester. The campus libertarians meet on Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. in the Virginia Dale room of Lory Student Center.
After a question about SAFER's Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative, for which the Libertarian Party at CSU is helping collect petition signatures, Sadie Conrad, vice-presidential candidate on a ticket with Jason Green, stated that she "opposes bringing alcohol back to campus," implying that alcohol was somehow forbidden on CSU grounds.
Yet the debate took place directly in front of the Lory Student Center, where the Ramskeller Pub serves beer to the university community daily. A ban on beer sales at CSU's Hughes stadium was also lifted in 2005, in response to recommendations by a university task force.
The opposing ticket, however, fared no better. In response to a question about the complexity of free-speech rules for student organizations, presidential candidate Jess Dyrdahl noted that "Anyone is free to come and speak on campus whenever they want."
But the university's peaceable assembly policies state otherwise. According to the handbook for student organizations, the "public forum" on the Lory Student Center plaza is only open to groups or individuals affiliated with the university, and then only with reservations secured at least two weeks in advance.
"It's disappointing, but not surprising, that they're misinformed," said Anthony, chair of the Libertarian Party at CSU. "Student government seems to more concerned with not distressing university administrators than with using their power to push for real change. Issues like CSU's drug policy and free speech restrictions affect thousands of students every day. These are issues where student leaders should take a strong stand."
The Libertarian Party and allied groups, including Students for Sensible Drug Policy, will continue to gather petitions for the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative on the Lory plaza for the remainder of the semester. The campus libertarians meet on Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. in the Virginia Dale room of Lory Student Center.
The campus