UMaine College Republicans engaging in questionable conduct
Kyle Michaud
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Soap Box
The students of this campus ought to know the exact reasons and motivations behind the University of Maine College Republicans' (CR) actions last semester. In particular, the controversy surrounding their request to General Student Senate for funding for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and the situation with Professor Paul Grossweiler. I want it to be understood that I was there at the group's meetings - and I am no longer a member of the organization.
The first situation was their plea to the GSS for funding for CPAC. This was the first of two incidents which I believe were meant to deliberately sabotage UMaine's reputation. CR chairwoman Danielle Palmer asked for $7,000 in funding for a total of 25 students to attend the CPAC event - a few days of activity.
I attended both the meeting at which we were told of GSS' response and the meeting in which we "organized" the trip, at which we came up with a rough head count. Both meetings took place in the Coe Room and numbered less than 10 to 12 students. One could claim that Palmer asked for a figure exceeding our true needs, and expected it to be reduced. However, the group asked for double and proceeded to make the case that they were discriminated against when the figure was cut by $5,000.
When the group began its discussion of what to do about the situation, there was no mention of taking the appropriate steps to address the situation. If GSS' denial of the funds was due to our political orthodoxy, wouldn't one want to prove this unequivocally?
They felt it unnecessary. I suggested that we wait until GSS' minutes were made public and then take action. Instead, the chair and other members proceeded to contact conservative individuals that donate to the university and, they claim, convinced them to halt their contributions. One "success" mentioned by Palmer was $10,000 that she managed to convince the donor to withhold. In addition, Palmer and Nathan Walton, the head of the Maine Chapter of the College Republicans, made a press release crying foul over the incident.
The first situation was their plea to the GSS for funding for CPAC. This was the first of two incidents which I believe were meant to deliberately sabotage UMaine's reputation. CR chairwoman Danielle Palmer asked for $7,000 in funding for a total of 25 students to attend the CPAC event - a few days of activity.
I attended both the meeting at which we were told of GSS' response and the meeting in which we "organized" the trip, at which we came up with a rough head count. Both meetings took place in the Coe Room and numbered less than 10 to 12 students. One could claim that Palmer asked for a figure exceeding our true needs, and expected it to be reduced. However, the group asked for double and proceeded to make the case that they were discriminated against when the figure was cut by $5,000.
When the group began its discussion of what to do about the situation, there was no mention of taking the appropriate steps to address the situation. If GSS' denial of the funds was due to our political orthodoxy, wouldn't one want to prove this unequivocally?
They felt it unnecessary. I suggested that we wait until GSS' minutes were made public and then take action. Instead, the chair and other members proceeded to contact conservative individuals that donate to the university and, they claim, convinced them to halt their contributions. One "success" mentioned by Palmer was $10,000 that she managed to convince the donor to withhold. In addition, Palmer and Nathan Walton, the head of the Maine Chapter of the College Republicans, made a press release crying foul over the incident.
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Peter
posted 1/24/08 @ 11:54 PM EST
This is ridiculous. The CRs are a reputable group, and this person is just a begrudged former officer who didn't win reelection to his post and is therefore now smearing the club. (Continued…)
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