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CampusLIE has once again found evidence Liberal universities subject
Conservative speakers to double standards in their attempts to drown out
intellectual diversity from college campuses. Late last month, Loyola University,
Chicago refused to host one of the lefts favorite targets, former Deputy Chief of
Staff to George W. Bush, Karl Rove. Rove, no stranger to university opposition,
was cancelled to “comply” with their tax-exempt status, Loyola sought to bring
Eboo Patel, an Obama appointee to interfaith council.
According to Loyola, the appearance of Rove so close to the November
2010 elections, concerned many in the university administration, claiming it could
violate their non-partisan, 501(c )(3) tax exempt status. Rove, who isn’t
campaigning this cycle, was brought to speak on the election cycle’s effect on
public policy. Meanwhile, Patel, characterized by the Kennedy Government
Schools top five policy leaders to watch is due to give a speech on interfaith
leadership and transformative education. Evan Gassman, spokesman for the
Young America’s Foundation stated, “the news that Eboo Patel, an appointee of
the Obama administration, will be allowed to speak at Loyola University Chicago,
while Karl Rove was essentially barred, is further proof that the (university)
administration either has zero understanding of tax law or is unabashedly
biased.”
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) accused Loyola
of a double standard as they hosed presidential candidate Howard Dean in 2004.
Later the same year, Loyola hosted presidential candidate Ralph Nader. Adam
Kissel of FIRE told FoxNews.com, "we often see rules applied strangely as a
proxy for the real issue that a particular administrator or the whole institution
doesn't want the lecture to happen and a pretext is developed to keep the
speaker off of campus. We see that time after time." The university claims times
have changed and IRS has been carefully scrutinizing not for profit universities
and their tax-exempt status. FIRE has called this a false argument, saying "It
does not threaten the school's 501(c )(3) status to permit a student group to bring
even a politician to campus while the politician is in office.”
Sean Vera, the student attempting to bring Rove to the campus said, "It
is very disconcerting to see Loyola not live up to the standards of academic
freedom that they frequently preach about. He continued "I never expected
Loyola would prevent the free exchange of ideas and they would do so in such a
partisan manner.”
CampusLIE will continue to monitor double standards concerning Rove
and other Conservative speakers brought to campuses and will bring you the
CampusLIE has once again found evidence Liberal universities subject Conservative speakers to double standards in their attempts to drown out intellectual diversity from college campuses. Late last month, Loyola University, Chicago refused to host one of the lefts favorite targets, former Deputy Chief of Staff to George W. Bush, Karl Rove. Rove, no stranger to university opposition, was cancelled to “comply” with their tax-exempt status, Loyola sought to bring Eboo Patel, an Obama appointee to interfaith council.
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