Thread: UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT SLAMS STUDENTS FOR IMMIGRATION EVENT

Boise State University President Bob Kustra is attempting to delegitimize our immigration event and publicly humiliate the speaker with this letter. We need help fighting back! Please send letters rebuking him for that outrageous letter to bobkustra@boisestate.edu

There is also talk of the university completely derecognizing and defunding our group! It's a reign of terror, an ideological inquisition! They have also FIRED a university official for approving our poster to be put up! (For more info, see our press release in return at the bottom)

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE WAS SENT TO EVERY STUDENT, TEACHER, EMPLOYEE, ETC AT THE UNIVERSITY REGARDING A POSTER THAT WAS POSTED ON CAMPUS ON THIS WEBSITE:

www.bsurepublicans.com

MESSAGE FROM BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT BOB KUSTRA
************************************************** **********************************************

Since becoming Boise State President in 2003, I have taken pride in our
students' ability to discuss, debate and sometimes disagree, while maintaining a
civil, respectful and tolerant attitude toward each other and those with whom
they differ.

Unfortunately, a handful of students have engaged in offensive and insulting
behavior, most recently with nasty and hurtful fliers announcing a political
speech they are sponsoring on campus. I was shocked when I first heard what was
on the flyer and assumed they would take immediate steps to rectify the
situation. That they have refused to do so, other than to apologize to a
restaurant because they like to eat there, is unconscionable.

(((NOTE BY LCANNE226: HIS LAST STATEMENT IS AN OUTRIGHT LIE. WE SENT A VERY LONG AND SINCERE APOLOGY LETTER TO THE RESTAURANT. WE SAID WE BOUGHT THE GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM THAT RESTAURANT, WHICH WAS MISTAKENLY ADVERTISED ON THE POSTER AND IMMEDIATELY REMOVED, BECAUSE WE LIKED THE RESTAURANT AND THEIR SERVICE IS TOP NOTCH. WE EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS NEVER OUR INTENTION TO DEFAME IT. JUST SHOWS MORE ADMINISTRATION BIAS.)))

I can assure the campus community that steps have been taken to ensure
accountability in the approval process for any future event advertisements. I
will also respond positively to a suggestion that we host a forum to discuss
fairly the complex issues surrounding immigration.

I call on the students who prepared these fliers to remove them from campus in
the name of decency and for the good of the University. I apologize most
sincerely to those rightly hurt and offended by this controversy.

__________________________________________________ _______

HERE IS HIS INFO.

Dr. Bob Kustra
President

1910 University Drive
Business Building
Room 307
Boise, Idaho 83725-1000

Telephone:
(20 426-1491

Fax:
20 426-3779


bobkustra@boisestate.edu

HERE IS OUR PRESS RELEASE IN RETURN (FYI)

BSU College Republicans
Boise State University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 22, 2007

Contact: Jonathan Sawmiller
jonsawmiller@mail.boisestate.edu

*** BSU Threatens Students, May Have Fired Assistant Director for Approving Flyer***

BOISE, Idaho – Claiming that a flyer posted by a student group is “insulting” and “offensive,” BSU President Bob Kustra threatened action against the BSU College Republicans (BSUCR) through the student judicial process, and may have terminated the Assistant Director of Student Activities who approved the flyer for posting on campus.

“I can assure the campus community that steps have been taken to ensure accountability in the approval process for any future event advertisements.” Kustra told the BSU Arbiter. Assistant Director of Student Activities Michael Esposito was in charge of that approval process until he approved the BSUCR flyer last week. Dr. Michael Laliberte, Vice-President of Student Affairs, told BSUCR that Esposito is taking personal time off, but University officials, who declined to be named, insist that he was forced to leave and say his contract will not be renewed. Esposito has not been at work or available for comment since meeting with Kustra and Laliberte on Monday, March 19, 2007.

“It’s deplorable that the administration would fire an employee for doing their job and refusing to censor student advertisements because of political content,” said Lindsay Christensen-Stoker, BSUCR member. “Haven’t they heard of the First Amendment?”

The allegedly offensive material on the flyer advertised a “foodstamp drawing” using “False ID documents” at an upcoming speaking event featuring Robert Vasquez, a well-known opponent to illegal immigration.

In a news release dated March 19, BSU spokesman Frank Zang stated BSUCR would be “subject to our student judicial process,” called the flyer "unacceptable and inappropriate in any context,” and said the university would make an “example” out of the situation. Zang also told NewsChannel 7 that BSU was taking steps “to make sure this does not happen again.”

“It’s an intellectual inquisition,” said Jonathan Sawmiller, BSUCR President. “The University is absolutely intolerant of diverse views, and they’re trying to silence our political opinions with threats and intimidation. President Kustra’s remarks and actions are extremely offensive and disrespectful towards those who oppose illegal immigration.”

Despite the threat of judicial action, the event will continue and flyers remain posted on campus. “We’re not going to stop advertising our event just because the BSU administration has no respect for alternative views or freedom of speech,” said Sawmiller. More information and copies of the flyer are available at www.bsurepublicans.com.
###

If had been Liberals streaking, drinking and burning all the phonebooks on campus there wouldn't be a problem.

Dixie

Amazing isn't Dixie, not only that they cannot make up their mind Zang said everything was ok after they apologized to the restraunt owner, then this clown comes along wtih this crap about the fliers, would'nt want to offend law breakers you know!!!