EDITORIAL: Disgraceful

The Student ActivitiesThe Student ActivitiesCouncil was dead wrong inThe Student ActivitiesCouncil was dead wrong inits decision tor estrictThe Student ActivitiesCouncil was dead wrong inits decision tor estrictrecognition and fundingThe Student ActivitiesCouncil was dead wrong inits decision tor estrictrecognition and fundingfrom The Red and Blue.The Student ActivitiesCouncil was dead wrong inits decision tor estrictrecognition and fundingfrom The Red and Blue.__________________________ Instead, exercising its blatant disregard for the First Amendment and SAC's own policies, members voted to restrict the magazine's recognition and remove its funding "forever." The SAC action is a disgrace to an Ivy League institution that prides itself on free thought and cannot be tolerated by the community. Effectively, SAC representatives have said that if you do not agree with their political views, you have nothing to add to campus debate. At Monday night's meeting, Black Student League representative Lashanta Johnson said she was set against funding The Red and Blue because of the editors' decision to run a controversial article critical of U.S. involvement in Haiti. While individuals may not have agreed with this article, it is imperative to recognize the author's right to his own opinions -- and the publication's right to print them under SAC's rules. SAC Finance Committee Guidelines state that, "a program that is designed to support or to oppose a particular political ideology or candidate or to influence legislation will not be funded." The Red and Blue does none of the above. But many other campus organizations funded by SAC -- and not in jeopardy of losing their money -- are in violation of this basic tenet. Nothing has been done to investigate or take action in these cases. At Monday night's meeting, PennWatch SAC representative Jon Brightbill offered a motion to apply the same standards to all SAC organizations as have been applied to The Red and Blue. But the motion failed, proving SAC wanted to single out the magazine. The manner in which the proceedings took place resembled more of a kangaroo court than a meeting to discuss an important issue. It was a fixed match, and The Red and Blue was slated to lose. The fact remains that these students, who are the future leaders of this country, do not understand the basic and inalienable principles of free speech. And that is extremely frightening. SAC Finance Guidelines go on to say, "the committee recognizes an obligation to provide political forums where the viewpoints to be expressed are balanced and where the intent is to provide information." Could this policy be any more clear? Obviously it needs to be. SAC must either choose to purge itself of all political groups or vote to restore funding to The Red and Blue. For a university known nationally as the epitome of political correctness gone wrong, this is another sad example in a long episode. If the SAC body does not correct its action, we urge the Undergraduate Assembly, under its constitutional authority, to take control of the situation and reverse the group's vote. If the UA does not act, it is up to all students to register their disapproval for this fiasco. With hope, The Red and Blue will soon release its next issue -- with University funding.