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I'm with Texas Princess and most of the other posts.
If a group wants to speak for THEMSELVES, then hey--knock yourself out. As a DAR who pushes for American history education, I say understand your rights/responsibilities and use them!
But the minute you try to rope in other people, not necessarily w/ their consent, you have a problem. What the group is doing is a pretty standard PR tactic: associate a "big name" w/ their efforts in order to increase both legitimacy and sympathy for their cause.
I agree w/ PM_Mama that if this blows up in the University's faces, it could affect job outlooks for graduates for years to come. Students don't often think of that (my age is showing, no disrespect to current collegians intended) when they plan activism. For example, when I say the name "Kent State", what's the first thing that comes to mind? $10 says it's that infamous photo of a student lying dead on the sidewalk with a woman screaming over him. 30 years later, no matter what else Kent State does for its students, faculty, the community, etc, that is what people remember. A Kent State graduate could find a cure for cancer today, issue a press release tomorrow, get it approved by the FDA next week, people will still remember that Vietnam protest image first and foremost.
There is enormous potential for that to happen again here. The consequences in the long-term could be even greater, given that sentiments are mostly split down ethnic lines.
If there is any way to make sure that ANY group does not formally associate its views with the University itself, it would be a good idea, IMHO.
Adrienne
(PNAM-2003)
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