For the second time this month, an attempt by liberal student governments to punish conservative speech they disliked has been beaten back – this time at the University of Rhode Island. Or has it been?

College Republicans at the University of Rhode Island won't have to apologize for sponsoring a satirical scholarship for white, heterosexual men.

Instead, URI's student Senate says it will ask the Republican group to write letters to the 40 people who applied explaining that the scholarship was fake and that a newspaper advertisement for it was intended purely as satire.

Applicants were asked to write about what it means to be a "white, heterosexual American male" and to describe any adversity they had dealt with and overcome.

A student Senate committee had demanded an apology and threatened to cut off funding and other perks. But the entire Senate instead decided to ask the group to send clarification letters to the applicants.

Frankly, I find even that much of a sanction unacceptable, but acknowledging in writing what has always been acknowledged (that the scholarship was an act of satire) is not worth fighting.

Unfortunately, there does appear to be another element that is more disturbing.

The senate also added an amendment requiring the College Republicans to notify the governing body about its activities and events. The bill only allows the senate to act as an adviser.

LaRocca originally opposed the bill when it was written in the committee, but changed her views after the amendments. "I still have my concerns that this may not happen the way we want it to, but I am going to try to look on the bright side and work on it in the best way that I can," she said.

Another amendment stated, "If the URI College Republicans fail to follow through with the actions outlined in this bill to the satisfaction of the senate, then their recognition status shall be revoked for one year."

Cavanaugh said not to worry about the College Republicans. "I guarantee that they are going to follow through with this," he said.

So the threat of derecognition remains over the head of the College Republicans because they engaged in a constitutionally protected activity. As such, I donÂ’t know that we can really say that freedom won.

Posted by: Greg at 11:13 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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