Column:
MU left-wing bias on display
Published Nov. 13, 2009
On Thursday, Jarvis Tyner, the executive vice chairman of the Communist Party USA, was on campus promoting communism and explaining his beliefs. In 1976, Tyner ran as the vice presidential candidate on the Communist ticket.
Earlier this year, socialist and fellow radical Angela Davis was also here promoting her extremist views.
Students, especially freshmen, the next time you talk to your parents, tell them part of your tuition has paid for bringing a high-ranking communist to campus, as well as a socialist who believes in abolishing the prison system and was a former Black Panther wanted by the FBI.
There are two words to describe what will be the most common response: shock and outrage.
Either the Department of Student Activities or the Organization Resource Group brought each of these speakers to campus. Let's not forget other liberal figures that have come to campus recently, such as Dustin Lance Black, the director of the film, "Milk," who came to speak about gay rights.
This is all well and good, except for there have not been nearly as many conservative voices brought in to balance these far-left voices.
For this reason, I'm here to accuse MU of having an agenda and a left-wing bias.
It's troubling organizations with such big influences on our campus could act so blatantly to ignore the views and beliefs of a large chunk of the student body.
Guess what, Student Activities? Guess what, ORG? To some people on this campus, capitalism and conservatism are the unknown alternative. Shouldn't someone be brought to campus to try to present those ideas to students who aren't familiar with them?
But don't hold your breath waiting for them to act on that.
Based on personal experience working in different groups under each of these organizations, it is clear to me that there is a definite goal of indoctrination, and the extremist views of the speakers brought in reflect the same extremist views of those in charge of ORG and the Department of Student Activities.
To some of the people in charge, Tyner is not an extremist. To them, he's just a bit more liberal than they are.
Coming to this realization is sickening, and actively finding and using our money to pay for liberal after extremist liberal is wrong when there is no effort to hide the institutional bias present on our campus.
The biggest problem with bringing a conservative or capitalist speaker to campus is if ORG or Student Activities wanted to bring someone in, they wouldn't even know where to begin, as if anything they hear that isn't in line with their views is dismissed as far-reaching and a small, fringe opinion.
We won't come to that problem, though, as they won't be getting any speakers to come to campus to present the other side.
There is no reason to expect ORG and the Department of Student Activities will do anything beside what they've always done when confronted with conservatism, which is to effectively plug their ears, stomp their feet and scream like a 4-year-old.
Eric Hobbs is a senior at MU and is the MU College Republicans vice chairman. He can be reached at emhn75@mail.mizzou.edu.
Comments (11)
12:57 p.m., Nov. 13, 2009
David Diebel said:
Jarvis Tyner is not an "extremist," any, apparently, there is an audience for his views. I'm sure you could organize David Duke to come on campus, or some such thing.
2:20 p.m., Nov. 13, 2009
Noah Hartsfield said:
Way to go Eric. Once again you have demonstrated that you lack any ability to think for yourself, that you have permanently given your brain to the Republican party and will do exactly as they say. Forget doing any research of your own. Forget fact checking. If anyone, anywhere, does something against your views they are wrong, biased, and should be stopped. As it has already been pointed out in detail, so I will only echo it, if there are no conservative speakers coming to campus it is because no conservative students are getting off the duffs and bringing them. So instead of staging disturbing and inaccurate protests, or crying because a group of students whom you disagree with organized, why don't you and your peers foster some actual conversation and bring a speaker of your own. Here's a hint, ORG has several honorarium deadlines a year, it's not that hard to right a budget and get funding. Furthermore, if you don't like it, join SOAC and voice your opinion, get involved instead of blasting inaccurate information from your media outlet. Oh wait... I forgot, it seems that's what Republicans do best.
3:41 p.m., Nov. 13, 2009
Angelica said:
I second what Nicholas said. Jarvis Tyner and Angela Davis on this campus isn't the work of the University itself, but rather students who desired to hear these voices and put the work forward to having them here. If any student group desired to have a conservative speaker come, it is well within their right to do so.
3:48 p.m., Nov. 13, 2009
Kourtney Mitchell said:
I agree with Nick. And to add to his response: I saw no liberal or right-wing outcry when the MU Bookstore featured a book signing from conservative pundit and author Tucker Carlson a few years ago. I make no apologies when I say it's refreshing to see such widespread student support for left-wing viewpoints on this campus. Now conservatives have to stop pretending we don't exist while they run a muck in this country. We really haven't seen true democracy in a long time. Now we are seeing that far more people are left-leaning than we originally realized. I'm sorry, Mr. Hobbs, that you chose the wrong university to attend, a university that is seemingly trying its best to represent the student voice and not some underlying agenda from the top. But let's not get confused: this university is far from left-wing. We don't even have a Black Studies major. This deluded and paranoid conspiracy claim is unfounded and reactionary, and I feel sorry for the conservative students on campus that they have you as a key representative.
7:42 p.m., Nov. 13, 2009
Daniel said:
This has nothing to do with "left-wing bias." It is just a small group of students that made a proper request and go it approved. Perhaps you have heard of "freedom of speech." It would have been illegal to deny their request based of the supposed content of the speaker (unless some just cause, such as inciting violence, was given). As you state, "For this reason, I'm here to accuse MU of having an agenda and a left-wing bias." Perhaps you are not aware that the President of the UM System, Gary Forsee, is a HUGE Republican. Way to go in uncovering a massive conspiracy. However, I agree, there is a liberal bias on campus, but it one which occurs naturally when undergoing an education based on logical, rather than irrational, thought processes. You back up your claims (again) with unfounded assumptions and lies. Lastly, communist does not equal liberal you jerk. They have nothing to do with one another. Yet again, you reinforce the notion that conservatives ingore facts and are too lazy to research the truth. Instead, you prefer mindless rhetoric.
8:15 p.m., Nov. 13, 2009
Jack Buthod said:
You know, Republican Senator Kit Bond just had a book signing in the MU Bookstore today, 11/13/09. It's a vast GOP conspiracy, I tell ya!
7:09 p.m., Nov. 14, 2009
Andrew Patchell said:
So... you're a conservative editorial writer for the MU campus newspaper talking about how there's a liberal bias? While you may throw a hissy-fit over speakers coming here for one day to share their world view, you forget there is a staunch anti-gay rights defender in speaker circle just about every day. Of course, to rephrase what you said: to some, Brother Jed is not an extremist; he's just a little more conservative than they are. God forbid we should have multiple voices on campus each with their own opinion.
2:33 p.m., Nov. 16, 2009
Reasonable Man said:
Man, HObbs, haven't you heard of Liberty University? There's probably a scholarship waiting there for you now! The UMSL College Republicans are so embarrassed of you. They bring in speakers every year with student activity money they receive based on budget proposals. As a former member I have to say this unfounded whining is pathetic. I take it for granted that there is a liberal bias on most campuses but luckily there are a number of conservatives that can actually write convincingly on these matters and use facts instead of your reactionary screed that obviously utilized no research or even much thought.
3:45 p.m., Nov. 16, 2009
Nate said:
Eric, All those speakers were sponsored by student organizations with the help of ORG. If you want a conservative speaker to come to campus, stop yelling at ORG and yell at the Mizzou College Republicans for not sponsoring one. PS GOP Sen. Kit Bond was at the MU bookstore on Friday for a book signing. Did you conveniently omit that he was coming so you wouldn't contradict yourself?
9:29 p.m., Nov. 16, 2009
Ben Hansen, Director, MSA/GPC/Student Activities said:
I do not believe that my colleagues in the Department of Student Activities (DSA) nor those across the office in the Organization Resource Group (ORG) are extremist in any sense, left or right. The ORG is not an event programmer, but rather a facilitator, who give student organizations the eligibility to apply for up to $5000 annually with a cap of $2500 per event plus 10 percent for advertising to bring guest speakers or performers to campus. An organization must then apply by the deadline with an outlined budget. The event must be free to the entire campus, held on campus and marketed towards MU students. The submission is then submitted to the Student Organization Allocation Committee (SOAC), which is comprised of 12 volunteer members, none of which serve on the ORG executive board. Therefore, power to bring in guest speakers lies in the interest and initiative of student groups who submit applications and budgets, and not of ORG’s leaders. The Angela Davis event was planned by the Department of Student Activities and sponsored with funds from both, Legion of Black Collegians and Four Front. Although Ms. Davis cost $15,000 to bring, not an exorbitant amount for a well-known speaker, the co-sponsorship between these student organizations paid for $10,000 of that. The event then attracted over 600 people. Dustin Lance Black, the writer of “Milk” (not the director), spoke at MU in April about sexuality and gay rights. I planned this event and chose to bring Mr. Black because he is a popular gay activist and our campus has had students and activists, like Brother Jed, who are both ignorant and aggressive towards the LGBT community. This semester the Department of Student Activities has programmed events, which promote both capitalist and conservative ideas. These events have been co-sponsored with student organizations, Greek Life and the administration of Student Life as well as the ORG. Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS Shoes, spoke about his entrepreneurial path and promoted the idea that more ideas and businesses lead to greater competition and a better world. Admiral William Fallon spoke on leadership, appreciation of our veterans and foreign policy issues last week as part of MU Veterans Week. I do not believe that DSA, the ORG or the University are trying to quell the voice of any of its students or any of their opinions. The Department of Student Activities aims to be representative of the student body’s interest because the student body funds its budget. Therefore, it is open for students who wish to sit on a committee and voice their opinion. I would commend Mr. Hobbs if the College Republicans partnered with other student organizations on campus, applied for funding and brought a guest speaker to speak to any of the myriad issues that they are interested in promoting instead of lambasting others who do so. I hear Sarah Palin just wrote a book.
11:41 a.m., Nov. 13, 2009
Nicholas Totten said:
Excuse me, Eric, but you failed to cognize that the event was sponsored by BOTH the Karl Marx Reading Group, as well as the ORG. Whereas the legitimate student organization had to initiate and implement the process of seeking out an affordable and affective speaker and applying for funding accordingly, the ORG and SOAC allocated funds based on proper procedure. When an honorarium speaker matches a group's mission statement and values, then the ORG has no right to deny the group, nor the MU student body, the opportunity to bring the speaker to campus. The ORG does not seek out speakers to bring, and their cannot be a left-leaning agenda or consipracy, as you imply. On the contrary, perhaps any disproportional representation of honorarium guests - if it exists at all - might actually signify a general and, thus, non-conspiratorial acceptance and tolerance of leftist views among MU students: MAYBE IT'S COMPLETELY REPRESENTATIONAL. I mean, do you have survey results? Perhaps, it is also the case that less conservative people make less enough money as compared to conservative business and political elites that they can actually take the time out of their schedule to speak on a midwest college campus that provides them with meager funding. If this is the case for your alleged disproportional representation, then the left might celebrate this adaptability and solidarity, as well as passion and consideration, and that means that you will have to find appropriate resources in order to bring conservative speakers who cannot otherwise AFFORD to come to MU. The burden lies with you and your conservative counterparts to organize honorarium speakers to come to campus and to apply for funding from the ORG, as is necessary for any student organization. The College Republicans, as well as other conservative groups may pool resources just as those groups who cooperated in order to bring Angela Davis, which I appreciated. I must say, however, that I know nothing of the actions of the Department of Student Activities but that I would like to see evidence of political (or other) discrimination and - sorry - not take your word for it. I would also like to reiterate this appearance of disproprational representation that you see. Because we live in a democracy, it is the people who must organize themselves -- not the ORG or SOAC. Perhaps you see too many leftists coming to campus simply because the events are more well-organized or more people attend (There were over 100 people in attendance last night!). It might also be the case, that it just makes you uncomfortable to see people talking openly and, in your view, perhaps controversially about justice and democracy, equality and socialism; and they're either toleraant or very supportive of it! Is there really dipropartional representation, or do you wish to polemicize and use demagoguery to talk about campus conspiracies that don't exist?