Last Friday, The Hoya ran a column entitled “Fight for your Political Rights” by D.J. McLaughlin (SFS `10), which contained numerous factual inaccuracies and misquotes. McLaughlin irresponsibly lambasted the College Democrats and College Republicans for being “censored” by University policy concerning political activity on campus. He demonstrated an appalling lack of understanding of federal election and tax law, as well as the activities and goals of the College Democrats and Republicans. Both organizations, in a bipartisan fashion, would like to use this opportunity to debunk his fallacious accusations.
Quote: “The Student Activities Commission called for a meeting between the College Democrats and Republicans while leaving out representatives from the candidate groups.”
Fact: The Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Federal Relations called the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the Office of Federal Relations, the Center for Student Programs, and the College Republicans and Democrats. The purpose of the meeting was to ensure that SAC-funded organizations understood the legal restrictions imposed on the University as a tax-exempt 501©(3) organization and under federal ethics and lobbying laws. Neither GU for Barack Obama nor Students for McCain-Palin are SAC-funded, and thus had no reason to attend.
Quote: “They were unable to give me a straight answer as to what the University had officially said, with the Democrats declining to comment altogether.”
Fact: The Communications Director of the College Democrats and the Chair of the College Republicans spoke to McLaughlin and answered all questions. At no point did McLaughlin ask for specific legal guidelines or details about the policies. When asked to discuss the views of GU for Barack Obama towards the policy, the College Democrats’ Communications Director declined to speak on behalf of an organization he did not represent.
Quote: “Due to the murky circumstances of what is going on, the specifics of the University’s policy are, as of yet, unknown.”
Fact: Section 501©(3) of the federal tax code describes the restrictions at the root of the University‘s guidelines. McLaughlin never described Georgetown’s policy. The policy discussed at the meeting dealt only with restrictions on the College Democrats and Republicans in using University resources for partisan activity.
Quote: “Did they [SAC] not realize that these groups would be partisan in their very nature; that at some point or another, they would have to conform to and endorse their parties’ respective nominees?”
Fact: The claim that both organizations must remain nonpartisan is factually untrue. Both groups support their respective candidates, but within parameters set by the University that funds us. This year, the College Democrats and College Republicans have hosted numerous speech watches, debates, and speakers, including the Young Voters Forum, which featured representatives for Obama and McCain. Both organizations have also distributed campaign signs, stickers, and other campaign paraphernalia at their tables in Red Square.
Quote: “[T]hese two groups have done little—if anything at all—to make this censorship known to the student population. This alone is enough to warrant my vehement disapproval …”
Fact: The student population is not being censored. There is significant overlap between GU for Barack Obama and the College Democrats and between the College Republicans and Students for McCain. Both organizations have worked extensively with the respective candidate groups over the last year and have encouraged their activities.
Quote: “Have these groups been tabling in Red Square to fight for their First Amendment rights guaranteeing freedom of speech and assembly that have been grossly violated? No.”
Fact: McLaughlin needs to re-read the First Amendment. Using University resources, the College Democrats and College Republicans are allowed to host events on any topic at any time with any speaker, put up flyers on any issue, and hold any forum if it does not expressly advocate for or against the election of a candidate for federal office. As a tax-exempt institution, the University cannot engage in direct electoral advocacy, but its students are free to do so on their own time and with their own resources.
Quote: “Inform us about the changes that each of the presidential candidates propose and fight for a proper forum in which to do so!”
Fact: How ironic that the night during which this interview with McLaughlin took place, the College Republicans, the College Democrats, and the Lecture Fund co-hosted a forum where members of Congress acting as surrogates for the campaigns presented the changes each presidential candidate proposes. Rather than write a slanderous hit-piece, McLaughlin should have attended the event, which packed Gaston Hall, and educated himself on the candidates’ stances and proposals.
The Hoya, despite being presented with this checklist of truths, stood by McLaughlin and refused to publish this response because of its length, which was a function of the original column’s staggering number of mistruths. With so many important issues in this election, Hoyas deserve better from their news sources. One thing we can all agree on, Democrat or Republican, is that shoddy journalism will never be an adequate substitute for thoughtful discourse.
