May
5, 2014,
Dear Members and
Friends,
Your contributions enable us to do small effective things that
make a big difference.
Take, today, for example. We were able to help one our members,
Donald Coughlan,
a student at Rutgers University, to
disseminate an important press release (see below)
through our constant contact account which
contains an extensive media file.
The release highlighted an open letter that Donald had written,
on behalf of Rutgers University College Republicans and two
other student groups, to University President, Dr. Robert
Barchi.
The letter desribed the climate of hostility and
intolerance that had been fostered on campus, by a minority of students and
leftist faculty members, to discourage former Secretary of State, Dr.
Condoleezza
Rice, from accepting an invitation to deliver this
year's
As a result of our help, Donald was able to land
guest appearances on the Dom Giordano Show, Geraldo Show,
NewsmaxTV, and the Patrick Buchannon Show, to discuss the
matter. Fox News, NJ.com, Philly.com, and other media outlets also
carried the story.
| Donald Coughlan, Chairman, NJ College Republicans |
We believe that Donald, who has expressed himself thoughtfully
and with conviction--deserves a great deal of credit
for courageously confronting the Rutgers leftist community on the true
nature of tolerance and diversity of opinion.
Like us, the Rutgers University College
Republicans operate on a shoestring budget--and like us--they also need
a little financial assistance from time to time.
If you would like to make small contribution to their
mission, please click the link below which will take you to directly to
their website and donate button.
Many thanks for your generosity!
On behalf of the Association
Board,
Teri Adams
PS We have since learned that former New
Jersey Governor Tom Keane will give the 2014 Rutgers University
Commencement Address. Let's pray it can be delivered without a
hitch.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Donald Coughlan, XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Student Groups Send Joint
Open Letter to Rutgers President Regarding Condi Rice's Withdraw as
Commencement Speaker; Express Fear That Toleration for Diversity of Thought is
Fading at Rutgers
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ (May 5, 2014) -- Several
student groups sent the following letter to Dr. Robert Barci, President of
Rutgers University, expressing dismay over
Dr. Condoleezza Rice's decision
to withdraw as commencement speaker after a small minority of students protested
her selection for this year's honor.
They also expressed a growing concern that Rutgers is not a
place where "the free ideas and a diversity of opinions are
encouraged."
The letter was signed by Donald Coughlan on behalf of the
Rutgers College Republicans, Eagleton Undergraduate Associates, Greek Life at
Rutgers University, and other students organizations.
The following PDF includes a copy of the letter and several
other documents surrounding the commencement address controversy:
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
May 5, 2014
Dr. Robert Barchi
83
Somerset StreetNew Brunswick, NJ 08901-1281
Dear Dr. Robert Barchi,
I am writing to express the concerns of members of the Rutgers
College Republicans, Eagleton Undergraduate Associates, Greek Life at Rutgers
University, and other student organizations of all political ideologies
following Condoleezza Rice's decision to withdraw as commencement speaker on May
3, 2014.The decision surprised many and evoked a wide range of responses on the
Rutgers University campus, social media, and in the national media. An
overwhelmingly number of the students were disappointed in Condoleezza Rice no
longer being the commencement speaker after a small minority of the student body
and intolerant faculty members at Rutgers University protested loudly over the
past month. Additionally, past alumni and I are concerned this may affect the
University's billion-dollar fundraising campaign, "Our Rutgers, Our
Future".
A university should be a place where free ideas are exchanged and a diversity of opinions are encouraged. Despite the support of the voice of students' on-campus, Rutgers University Student Assembly's (RUSA), and your BOG joint statement, a small minority of the student body protested your decision. Our organization received several complaints from students, as well as forwarded e-mails from faculty encouraging students to publicly denounce Dr. Rice and attend the Teach-In Protest. The e-mails disturbed students as they were from Robert Lake, head of the doctoral program at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and, William Field, the Undergraduate Political Science Program Director. Most students know these professors very well and these emails intimidated students who do not share the opinions of the professors.
As the protests escalated to your office, university property
was damaged further frightening students who do not share the opinion of the
protestors and preventing them from voicing a counter opinion. After the sit-in
and announcement from Dr. Rice on Saturday, Dr. Field even congratulated one of
the lead organizers of the protest that allegedly damaged university property.
Many students forwarded their concerns to us upon seeing this as it has created
a hostile campus environment to see a professor vocally support a protest in
which property was destroyed.
There are reports you intend to meet with the protestors on Monday. We encourage you to disavow their actions that led to damaged property and to work towards facilitating a dialogue on campus in which students are not afraid to voice their opinions. We would like to have a meeting with you to express our concerns in the upcoming week about the actions of the past month. In your response to the announcement you noted, "Rutgers University stands fully behind the invitation to Dr. Rice to be our commencement speaker and receive an honorary degree." We hope you stand by your remarks by supporting her and the University publicly during this very controversial
time.
Sincerely,
Donald P. Coughlan
Rutgers Student, Eagleton Undergraduate Associate
Chairman, New Jersey College Republicans
donald.coughlan@rutgers.edu
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