Dear Editor,
It has come to my attention that the RPI College Republicans, under the skilled guidance of their ruthless chairman, are preparing to mount a brutal campaign against the rights of RPI student groups to free speech. Coordinating with elements of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy, they’ve devised a brilliant scheme to suppress the planned showing of Fahrenheit 9/11 and the startling revelations and truths it delivers. As the aforementioned ruthless chairman, I feel I’m in a good position to help clear a few things up.
To any fair-minded observer, Fahrenheit 9/11 is a 122 minute attack against a candidate running in an election fewer than 45 days away. The director begins the film by calling into question the outcome of the 2000 Presidential race—a matter that was safely put to rest by most of the country in 2000. He goes on to suggest that President Bush was responsible for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, citing, amongst other things, his decline in the polls in the months leading up to them. The claims of misconstruing facts and using footage out of context in Fahrenheit 9/11 are irrelevant, but to call its showing a mere ‘political activity’ would be a serious understatement.
In its budget policy and procedures, the Rensselaer Union specifically prohibits the use of student activity fee funds for, “any organization that endorses a particular political or religious viewpoint.” The complete citation can be found on our website, http://republicans.union.rpi.edu. But in receiving $32,105 of these funds, it’s safe to say that the rule applies to UPAC Cinema. Of that money, Cinema will be paying $955, raised from our student activity fees, to show the film.
I believe I’m in agreement with the campus on the most important matter being discussed here: free speech rocks. Last Friday, more than thirty RPI College Republicans exercised their right to it by holding a rally for President Bush at the corner of Sage Avenue and 15th Street. The film’s director exercised it when he made Fahrenheit 9/11. But seeing as the Rensselaer Union didn’t pay for the signs or the Krispy Kremes at the College Republicans’ rally due to the political nature of the event, it’s irresponsible to expect them to use student money to pay for an event of equal political magnitude. This doesn’t stem from a personal code of ethics—it’s a longstanding rule of the Rensselaer Union.
The RPI College Republicans respect the rights of our fellow students. We respect the right of UPAC Cinema to spread the director’s partisan message and show Fahrenheit 9/11, but we expect them to respect the rules—and the students who might not want to be the ones footing the bill.
Ken Girardin
Chairman, RPI
College Republicans
MATL ’06
