Video: Student Protest Rally April 2005
Campus Speech Codes at Dartmouth
Student Rights, Congress Weighs In
Fraternity
Fights Sale of House
National Public Radio 1/20/06
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Information Contact: Sean
Devlin 315.228.5441 sfitzmichaeld@msn.com
CRISIS AT COLGATE UNIVERSITY
350 Students Protest at Rally; 1,256+ sign petition;
200 March on President’s Office with Demands
(Hamilton, NY) April 12 – Approximately
350 students at Colgate University gathered today to protest the University’s
“New Vision” - a coercive land grab scheme that requires the
sale of all Greek organization houses under the threat of de-recognition
of the chapters.
The rally was organized by F.A.C.T. – Freedom of
Association Coalition for Truth, a non-partisan, student-led organization.
New school policies also prohibit students – under the threat of
suspension or expulsion - from participating in any organization that
has not been approved by the University. Another policy forbids
more than eight students to live together without University
approval.
“We’re demanding that President Rebecca Chopp and her administration
respect our First Amendment rights of free association and the
private property rights of the Greek organizations,” said Sean Devlin,
a senior at Colgate and one of F.A.C.T.’s founding members. Devlin
is a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, whose alumni association
has a lawsuit against the University. “If the New Vision plan is
implemented, Colgate University will be the most restrictive college
in America.”
The audience broke into frequent applause at the comments of nationally
recognized experts who spoke on civil rights, free speech on campus and
property rights issues. Speakers included civil rights
activist, David Horowitz, David French, president of
the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Greg Narag,
a ’89 Colgate alumnus and radio news anchor and reporter, and John
“Rocky” Willard ’65 Colgate alumnus, real estate
attorney and entrepreneur.
Student speakers were repeatedly cheered. Leigh Cuttino ’05,
Mark Bello ’08 and Sean Devlin ’05 led a group of 200 students
to the office of President Rebecca Chopp in James B. Colgate Hall. She
seemed alternatively distressed and bemused as Sean Devlin read the students
demands and accepted a petition signed by more than 1,256 students and
alumni.
Students made 13 demands generally aimed at reaffirming the tradition
and rights of Greek organizations to remain and flourish at Colgate University,
to give Colgate students the same rights enjoyed by those who
attend government-owned schools, and to debate the issues of
the school’s land grab and policies prohibiting students from participating
in clubs or organizations not formally approved by the University.
In 1989, faculty members voted 134 to 37 to abolish Greek life
at Colgate University. Another vote was taken in 2001, with 140 to 40
faculty members voting to eliminate fraternities and sororities. Only
two faculty members attended today’s rally. The University administration
sent an “observer” to photograph attendees.
F.A.C.T. and concerned alumni are investigating next steps, including
legal action against the sale of houses and in defense of the civil rights
of any student who may be expelled or suspended for exercising their First
Amendment rights of free association. ###