Virginia Tech: YAF Violated 'Principle of the Common Humanity,' So No More Funding

Eric T. Gunther / Wikimedia Commons

The Young Americans for Freedom chapter at Virginia Tech stands accused of violating the university's "Principles of Community"—specifically, the "principle of the common humanity"—because it hosted an event about illegal immigration.

YAF won't receive any more funding from the public university, according to Campus Reform.

The conservative student group invited former U.S. Treasurer Bay Buchanan to speak at the campus. YAF promoted her talk with flyers and advertising that used the title, "Alien Invasion: How Illegal Immigration is Hurting America."

A Latino student group was offended. So was the Student Budget Board, which allocates funds produced by compulsory student fees to various campus organizations. Campus Reform reports:

Since then, Lauren McCue, chair of Va. Tech's YAF chapter, has said the Student Budget Board has told her that her club will not be receiving funding for the next two semesters as the immigration event "violated the principles of community." …

Mark Owczarski, a university spokesman, told Campus Reform that the decision to pull funding from the group was "entirely in the hands of students and based on their internal policy."

Owczarski said the Student Budget Board felt "misled" by Va. Tech's YAF chapter as it was given funding to "support a leadership development program" whereas the group "mounted a program on immigration policies with Bay Buchanan as speaker" instead.

"University administrators were not involved in the student decision making, other than to advise the [Student Budget Board] not to take actions based on the content of a program," Owczarski said in the statement. "Rather, [the Student Budget Board] felt deceived by YAF and elected to act on their policy to deny future funding based on policy guidance."

YAF maintains that the Buchanan event was indeed a leadership development program—just not one that aligned with the budget committee's political views. Note that the university seems perfectly aware that denying funding to a student group for ideological reasons violates the First Amendment; as such, administrators must try to find some other rationale for the unconstitutional actions of student leaders.

YAF's trouble with Virginia Tech's Student Budget Board didn't end there. Conservative students were also blocked from building—and tearing down—a mock Berlin Wall:

"I'm disappointed in Virginia Tech for being intolerant toward conservatives," McCue told YAF in a statement. "I feel discriminated against for speaking my mind and standing up for what I believe in as the chairwoman of my Young Americans for Freedom chapter."

If McCue truly and deliberately misled the budget committee about how she planned to use the funding, it may be the case that the decision was fair. Otherwise, this is certainly political discrimination. Given that the students in charge of allocating the money seem to think that merely entertaining a dissenting view on an important public policy topic is offensive to the principle of common humanity at an institution of higher learning, I'm betting on the latter.

Comments

[Hugh Akston]

Maybe they should just change their name. What sounds better? 'Young Americans for Freedom for Some People' or 'Young Americans for Freedom Except for Freedom of Movement'?

[Sam Haysom]

Exactly. Becauae no one can be free in their own country. But keep in mind the people that left their home countries because fighting for freedom at home was too much work will definitely be at the forefront of defending in the USA. If that seems counterintuitive it's because you are a racist, unhip right wing moralist who probally doens't own a leather jacket or a motorcycle.

[Michael Ejercito]

That's the argument in a nutshell.

[Anonymous Coward]

A Latino student group was offended.

So, only Latinos can illegally immigrate to America? Only Latinos are willing to risk life, limb, and the wrath of the INS to secure to themselves the blessings of liberty for themselves and their posterity? Only Latinos are smart enough to figure out ways to slip past the impenetrable immigration barriers set up by our tireless federal government?

That's racist and othering of the thousands of illegal Chinese, Russian, Haitian, and...whoever else who have and will illegally immigrate into America. I am offended on their behalf and demand that these Latino students be expelled immediately for committing the thoughtcrime of racism.

[Hyperion]

Obumbles has abandoned the Latinos, in favor of the Chinese. He likes the way they govern there and the new Chinese immigrants love communism, which is why they're trying to get away from it. That Obama, he's so brilliant.

[Tonio]

Sounds like a case for F.I.R.E. Well, maybe, since it isn't an actual individual, and it's about funding (free stuff) as opposed to negative rights. Duly noted that the student activity fees are extorted from all students and then distributed only to politically correct organizations.

[Redmanfms]

There is an amazing corollary to gay marriage as civil right that I'm sure you have the cognitive dissonance to conveniently ignore, right Tony-o?

[Tonio]

I read your comment, and that this is the only response it deserves.

[Redmanfms]

I read your comment, and that this is the only response it deserves.

Translation: Yup, I'm a duplicitous fuckhead, you pegged me yet again.

[Bill Dalasio]

And Virginia Tech will refund the student activity fees of the members of the YAF?

Oh, no, no, no. This is all about making sure the wrong kind of people get it stuck to them in favor of the right kind of people.

It's just sad that some libertarians would go along with this because they're not crazy about these guys' politics.

[userve32]

Sometimes man you jsut have to roll with tit.

http://www.anon-way.tk

[Roger the Shrubber]

VT's Principles of Community:

We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every person and strive to maintain a climate for work and learning based on mutual respect and understanding.

We affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely. We encourage open expression within a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect.

We affirm the value of human diversity because it enriches our lives and the University. We acknowledge and respect our differences while affirming our common humanity.

We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including those based on age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status.

We take individual and collective responsibility for helping to eliminate bias and discrimination and for increasing our own understanding of these issues through education, training, and interaction with others.

We pledge our collective commitment to these principles in the spirit of the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

[Clown Hunter]

YAF has a lay-down win on this one.

I hope they make bank in the inevitable lawsuit.

[Clown Hunter]

I wonder how many trial lawyers are going to become millionaires off the higher ed complex before these idiot administrators learn their lesson.

[The Last American Hero]

The University shouldn't be surprised when YAF starts going after every other group that brings in a speaker with political biases. Maybe the next time the student Black Caucus brings in a civil rights activist whose said some pretty controversial things, for example...