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Robaggio · 11-22-2004, 11:52 PM

There are really two different issues here. The first being whether or not the university should/can bar the rights of a registered school orginization. The second being the division of money between the registered orginizations.

I consider the first to be a no brainer. While it might be offensive and hurtful to some students, the university should not have any power or control over what registered orginizations do. Strange as it may be, "The KKK of the University of XXXX" should have as much rights as "The chess club of the University of XXXX". College is about scholary enlightenment through education and diversity. You cannot pick and choose elements of diversity- that's called segregation.

The second issue is where things start to get hazy. Because orginizations get university funding, students are indirectly supporting them through their tutition. Since I come from a Jewish family, I don't suppose my relatives (who are helping to pay my tuition) would like to support the "Neo Nazi Club" at my school. Most students woudn't want their tuition money going to fund such orginizations either. Still however, even if every single orginization at my school was aligned with something I disliked, I'd still support their equal funding. The point of university funding is to give a voice to a group of people who normally woudln't have one. The fact that people get any money at all is something amazing. Imagine getting a check, with no strings attached, specifically to start a chess club at your local library?! Imagine how much more power and voice the club would have if a third party funded all the fliers you passed out to generate more enrollment.

It is more predjudace for me to specifically deny the "Neo Nazi Club" funding than it is for the club to spread anti-semetic fliers around campus. The effect can be reversed as well: If students chose where their money went, what would happen if I wanted to start a pro-homosexuality club, or a videogame club? The college I go to is quite conservative- I wouldn't get much funding for a pro-homosexuality club, and I wouldn't get much funding for a videogame club either (people don't understand the value videogames give to nerds like me). Like I said before: "College is about scholary enlightenment through education and diversity." It is doing a disservice to education if voices are silenced because they lack funds in comparison to others.

Funding for university orginizations should be equal or nonexistant. (no funding for all is technically equal) In the same swipe that you would deny a hate group funding, you are conversely giving preferential treatment to other groups. As I said before, even if every single orginization at my school was aligned with something I disliked, I'd still support their equal funding. This is because, at any point in time, I'd have the freedom to start my own orginization and it would have the same resources as every other orginization. My group would be equal.

11-22-2004, 11:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
Robaggio Crazy	Equity There are really two different issues here. The first being whether or not the university should/can bar the rights of a registered school orginization. The second being the division of money between the registered orginizations. I consider the first to be a no brainer. While it might be offensive and hurtful to some students, the university should not have any power or control over what registered orginizations do. Strange as it may be, "The KKK of the University of XXXX" should have as much rights as "The chess club of the University of XXXX". College is about scholary enlightenment through education and diversity. You cannot pick and choose elements of diversity- that's called segregation. The second issue is where things start to get hazy. Because orginizations get university funding, students are indirectly supporting them through their tutition. Since I come from a Jewish family, I don't suppose my relatives (who are helping to pay my tuition) would like to support the "Neo Nazi Club" at my school. Most students woudn't want their tuition money going to fund such orginizations either. Still however, even if every single orginization at my school was aligned with something I disliked, I'd still support their equal funding. The point of university funding is to give a voice to a group of people who normally woudln't have one. The fact that people get any money at all is something amazing. Imagine getting a check, with no strings attached, specifically to start a chess club at your local library?! Imagine how much more power and voice the club would have if a third party funded all the fliers you passed out to generate more enrollment. It is more predjudace for me to specifically deny the "Neo Nazi Club" funding than it is for the club to spread anti-semetic fliers around campus. The effect can be reversed as well: If students chose where their money went, what would happen if I wanted to start a pro-homosexuality club, or a videogame club? The college I go to is quite conservative- I wouldn't get much funding for a pro-homosexuality club, and I wouldn't get much funding for a videogame club either (people don't understand the value videogames give to nerds like me). Like I said before: "College is about scholary enlightenment through education and diversity." It is doing a disservice to education if voices are silenced because they lack funds in comparison to others. Funding for university orginizations should be equal or nonexistant. (no funding for all is technically equal) In the same swipe that you would deny a hate group funding, you are conversely giving preferential treatment to other groups. As I said before, even if every single orginization at my school was aligned with something I disliked, I'd still support their equal funding. This is because, at any point in time, I'd have the freedom to start my own orginization and it would have the same resources as every other orginization. My group would be equal.