2008 Woodie Awards
College Republicans sponsor racially-demeaning event
TAYLOR NEWBOLD
Guest Opinion
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Within a matter of days of President Kustra announcing that a new student-run committee will decide which speakers to bring to campus, the College Republicans have pulled another stunt.
As a result of protesting the apparent overflow of “liberal” speakers, the same misfits (namely Brandon Stoker and Jonathan Sawmiller) have concocted what can only be described as an event to match all offensive events.
I received an e-mail early Friday morning with a link to the College Republicans’ Website. The site contains an advertisement for a lecture by Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez called “America’s Illegal Alien Invasion.”
Now, I’m all for informative, intelligent events that bring to light a clearly endemic problem in our country but what follows is disgusting.
Below the picture of Vasquez are the words, “Win a dinner for two at Chapala’s Mexican restaurant! Climb through the hole in the fence and enter false ID documents into the food stamp drawing!”
Offensive doesn’t even begin to describe these statements. I spoke with out-going ASBSU Sen. Jennifer Stolley about the ad. She was combative and seemed offended that I took issue with the event.
She, of course, said something to the effect of not wanting those people to come into her country and taking American jobs.
It is one thing to educate those about the problem of illegal immigration in this country but it is quite another to demonize and ridicule the plight of others who seek a better life.
If not all illegal immigrants are from Mexico, why is a free dinner being offered at a Mexican restaurant?
Why didn’t the College Republicans choose to co-organize the event with MECHA or OELA or another organization that can better inform us about illegal immigration?
Jonathan Sawmiller was granted a meeting with our university president in person as a result of him and his henchman complaining about liberal campus speakers.
Members of the Idaho Progressive Student Alliance, during the whole Taco Bell Arena fiasco, also attempted to meet with Kustra.
Kustra never met with any member of the IPSA.
These events should call into question the integrity of certain members of the Boise State College Republicans, and the agenda of our university president.
The event is set for March 22, 7:30 p.m. in the Jordan Ballroom.
For sensationalism’s sake, the College Republicans have sunk themselves so low as to deliberately ridicule the struggles of illegal immigrants, and have once again drawn battle lines rather than work toward a mutual understanding of all the sides of this debate.
Taylor Newbold is the ASBSU Secretary of Public Relations
As a result of protesting the apparent overflow of “liberal” speakers, the same misfits (namely Brandon Stoker and Jonathan Sawmiller) have concocted what can only be described as an event to match all offensive events.
I received an e-mail early Friday morning with a link to the College Republicans’ Website. The site contains an advertisement for a lecture by Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez called “America’s Illegal Alien Invasion.”
Now, I’m all for informative, intelligent events that bring to light a clearly endemic problem in our country but what follows is disgusting.
Below the picture of Vasquez are the words, “Win a dinner for two at Chapala’s Mexican restaurant! Climb through the hole in the fence and enter false ID documents into the food stamp drawing!”
Offensive doesn’t even begin to describe these statements. I spoke with out-going ASBSU Sen. Jennifer Stolley about the ad. She was combative and seemed offended that I took issue with the event.
She, of course, said something to the effect of not wanting those people to come into her country and taking American jobs.
It is one thing to educate those about the problem of illegal immigration in this country but it is quite another to demonize and ridicule the plight of others who seek a better life.
If not all illegal immigrants are from Mexico, why is a free dinner being offered at a Mexican restaurant?
Why didn’t the College Republicans choose to co-organize the event with MECHA or OELA or another organization that can better inform us about illegal immigration?
Jonathan Sawmiller was granted a meeting with our university president in person as a result of him and his henchman complaining about liberal campus speakers.
Members of the Idaho Progressive Student Alliance, during the whole Taco Bell Arena fiasco, also attempted to meet with Kustra.
Kustra never met with any member of the IPSA.
These events should call into question the integrity of certain members of the Boise State College Republicans, and the agenda of our university president.
The event is set for March 22, 7:30 p.m. in the Jordan Ballroom.
For sensationalism’s sake, the College Republicans have sunk themselves so low as to deliberately ridicule the struggles of illegal immigrants, and have once again drawn battle lines rather than work toward a mutual understanding of all the sides of this debate.
Taylor Newbold is the ASBSU Secretary of Public Relations
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 35
Bret
posted 3/19/07 @ 1:48 AM MST
The College Republicans are of course denying racist intentions, just as Robert Vasquez denies that immigration is a racial issue. But Newbold makes a good point: if immigration isn't a racial issue, why are they targeting Mexican-Americans? And why invite Vasquez? The truth is, Vasquez' past comments have proven that he is at least ethno-centric, if not racist: "While that may be cheap labor for many farmers in my part of Idaho, the downside is a culture that has become lawless,""[Mexican] parents are not committed to the community,""These people are running loose in the community. (Continued…)
Thinker
posted 3/19/07 @ 10:12 AM MST
"Why didn't the College Republicans choose to co-organize the event with MECHA or OELA or another organization that can better inform us about illegal immigration?"
You have to be kidding me! MEChA, the racist Chicano group that fights for the glorification of "la raza" and armed insurrection against the United States of America. (Continued…)
Open-Minded
posted 3/19/07 @ 10:24 AM MST
I guess the truth is "offensive."
Do illegal aliens crawl through fences to unlawfully enter the United States? Yes.
Do illegal aliens systematically exploit our public services with fake identification and social security cards? Yes. (Continued…)
Hillary
posted 3/19/07 @ 10:31 AM MST
Cesar Chavez was against illegal immigration!
Chavez, the darling icon of open border advocates, was a political activist who fought diligently for immigrant workers' rights, but he realized the serious drawbacks to unregulated, illegal immigration. (Continued…)
Pat Brunz
posted 3/19/07 @ 10:34 AM MST
Go Sawmiller! I read about your illegal alien invasion flyer on the ALIPAC website. Kudos to you!! Good job and good luck with your event! Keep up the
fight and don't let the pro-illegal crowd get you down. (Continued…)
H. Alvarez
posted 3/19/07 @ 10:45 AM MST
MEChA and the Cultural Center don't know anything about Cesar Chavez...
Here's the real story:
Cesar Chavez was a great activist who fought for competitive wages for legal immigrant workers. (Continued…)
M. K.
posted 3/19/07 @ 10:59 AM MST
Last I checked, "Mexican" was not a race, but Taylor Newbold might be smarter than me.
Nobody is asserting that most illegal immigrants are Mexican. (Continued…)
Anthony
posted 3/19/07 @ 11:12 AM MST
Did anyone see the Statesman article?
Graciela Fonseca of Mujeres Unidas de Idaho said "It's kind of mean-spirited" and "it will stir up hatred and racism. (Continued…)
pete
posted 3/19/07 @ 1:03 PM MST
I hope that the students on this campus can see what the real intent is here.
The college republicans are purposefully trying to piss off people with these flyers. (Continued…)
Pleasantly Surprised
posted 3/19/07 @ 1:20 PM MST
Ding, ding, ding, ding! Pete's right on the money!
So goes the axium, "no press is bad press." Ro Parker, Taylor Newbold, MEChA, and the Cult Center minions brought more press attention to our cause than we possibly could have done ourselves! Jon Sawmiller was recently interviewed by several local radio and television stations, covered by all of Southern Idaho's major newspapers and the AP wire, and featured on Sirius satellite radio!
Please, keep stamping your feet and making a scene. (Continued…)
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