News vans, cameramen and reporters descended upon SMU fromacross the nation yesterday to investigate the affirmative actionbake sale held by the Young Conservatives.
Generally, a bake sale fails to create such a media frenzy. Thefundraising efforts of SMU student associations are rarely coveredby Universal Press International.
Of course, this event was not merely a bake sale. However, theYoung Conservatives failed to inform the Hughes-Trigg staff oftheir true intentions, and for this reason, Ed Board agrees withthe school’s decision to halt the protest.
While free speech must be encouraged and permitted on campus,proper precautions should be arranged in situations that willclearly create an ideological conflict. The Young Conservativeshave a constitutional right to engage in nonviolent politicalprotest, and their event truly did not intend to incite violence.Given the controversial nature of the affirmative action debate,however, the organization must have anticipated verbal discord andheated emotions. In such instances, the university is entitled toknow the specific nature of events held on campus. By signing upfor a “bake sale,” the Young Conservatives preventedthe SMU staff from preparing for the possibilities inherent in acontentious political function. The Young Conservatives, led by asecond-year law student, surely knew that liability precautions aredifferent for bake sales and political protests.
Tim Moore, director of the student center, ceased the protestbecause his staff was ill prepared to handle a volatile situation.His actions were neither an attempt to stifle political expressionnor a response to the highly publicized complaint filed by anAfrican-American student. Complaints that the protest was offensiveare equally unfounded. Free speech is paramount to protecting thefeelings of every student, especially when the message is notintentionally malicious.
Besides being irresponsibly organized, the bake sale did notbenefit the student body. A more constructive campus event wouldhave presented an expert on the topic and provided an appropriateforum for discourse. Students need concrete information in order tomake sound opinions, and the bake sale presented none.
Ed Board recognizes that the issues surrounding affirmativeaction are complex and personal. Our intent is not to agree ordisagree with the message advanced by the protesters. Again, thestudent body would greatly gain from a balanced and enlighteningpresentation.
In the end, creating controversy proved very profitable for theYoung Conservatives. Although they only raised $1.50, theintangible gains are immeasurable. In one morning, they propelledthemselves from a sleepy campus organization into a nationallyidentified political support group.
