CUA College Democrats Convention Party

Video from Catholic University College Democrats Convention Party.

College GOP Prepares to Host Steele and Santorum

Two Republican politicians slated to speak at campus events this fall have provided challenges to meeting the complexities required for choosing and vetting speakers at the University.

Rick Santorum, a former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, has drawn the ire from some theologins from remarks regarding homosexuals, and Michael Steele, the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, who said he does not think Row V. Wade needs to be overturned, were chosen by the College Republicans to deliver speeches on campus.

“We get into very nuanced interpretations when it comes to speakers, and some of that is because of what the Bishops have said,” said Bill Jonas, director of University Center, Student Programs and Events (UCSPE).

Jonas is charged with approving speakers at club events. His office requires that officers of student organizations fill out a lengthy form twenty days in advance, naming the speaker.

Steele, who spoke on campus in 2005, represents one of the many difficulties of abiding by a presentation policy which reads the school “is not required to provide a forum for advocates whose values are counter to those of the university or the Roman Catholic Church.”

Michael Steele “is not coming to talk about abortion, he’s basically coming here to kick off the College Republican’s year,” said Jonas.

Speakers holding views contrary to official church doctrine are told by UCSPE that those views are off-limits during public comments.

“We have an easier time than the College Democrats when it comes to getting speakers to campus, because so many republican views are in line with the church,” said Danielle Beck, chairman of the college republicans.

Joe St. George, chairman of the College Democrats, cites issues on which democrats and the church generally agree as reasons for decreasing some of the regulations. “On issues like the death penalty, poverty assistance and welfare, our speakers hit home.”

The speaker regulations came in the wake of a 2004 controversy in which director and screen actor Stanley Tucci, who is pro abortion, was rejected by University President Rev David M. O’Connell prior to a scheduled speech on Italian Cinema. A petition, circulated that asked O’Connell to “work collaboratively to devise a policy that reflects our best traditions of mutual respect, scholarly openness and honest debate.”

After review, the board of trustees approved the current presentations policy, which stipulates speakers must avoid promoting issues contrary to catholic teachings, but that clubs and departments may hold events which present both sides of a controversial issue.

In addition, the University’s non-profit status prohibits it from participating in political campaigns, which means that politicians running for office may not use the campus to make stump speeches or hold rallies.

“There’s always that risk, that politicians will use [the Catholic University of America] as a marketing tool. They spoke here, so it might help them,” said St. George.

His club has chosen a different route this semester, scheduling Barbara Slavin, a reporter on the International Desk at the Washington Times who has authored several books on foreign politics. “It’s nice, using journalists whose views aren’t everywhere,” said St. George. They also tapped former diplomat to Gabon, Warren Clark.

Last fall, The Tower reported a story regarding the scheduling of Senator John Kerry (D-MA), who is pro abortion rights, for a speech on campus. The story was seized upon by the Cardinal Newman Society, who emphasizes stronger adherence to Catholic doctrine at Catholic colleges and universities.
The speech was later cancelled due to scheduling conflicts, according to Kerry’s office.

“Both of the parties on campus need to support each others speakers. Fr. O’Connell has spoken about this, that the higher profile names we get here, the more national prominence our University has,” said St. George.

Beck says she and St. George are working on partisan events, such as a presidential debate viewing sponsored by both clubs.

A lucid definition of what constitutes an acceptable speaker or speech still eludes administrators. “Basically, it’s like navigating river rapids,” said Jonas of the process which has suffered bumps in the past, but is defining itself more with each semester.