(If some GLO at Penn State had pictures like this on their web page, the administration would have an eighteen-wheeler at their door this afternoon loading 'em up and moving 'em out. While I don't admire what these guys do for fun, I admire their response (check with our lawyers and our first amendment). I wish more chapters who are attacked by the campus newspaper and the Gods of PC would respond similarly.)
Dec. 5, 2003 ]
Pictures lead to call for resignations
By Bridget Smith
Collegian Staff Writer
Pictures posted on the personal Web site of College Republicans chair Brian Battaglia spurred a strong response from student groups and university officials yesterday, with some calling for his resignation.
The photographs, taken at a private Halloween party at Battaglia's apartment, show multiple students in what Battaglia called "controversial or politically charged costumes," which included portrayals of Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Vice President Takkeem Morgan, an "oversodomized frat pledge," "sorostitutes," a "liberal hippie" and a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
A picture of a white man with a black-painted face and a bicycle chain hanging over his shoulder was accompanied by a caption that stated, "Apparently Takkeem was released long enough to come to our party. We thank the local police department."
The caption referred to a July incident in which Morgan admitted to taking a bicycle that did not belong to him. Morgan pleaded guilty to a summary offense of criminal mischief on Nov. 20.
The man in the photograph was former Town Sen. Jason Covener, who said he is a part-time student.
"I dressed up as Takkeem Morgan. I don't really feel compelled, though, to defend or explain how I dress at a private Halloween party," said Covener, a member of the College Republicans.
Morgan said Covener has taken many "cheap shots" at him and at other blacks in the past.
"That's something that has kind of been known," Morgan said, adding that Penn State must keep working to improve race relations due to controversies like this.
In another photograph on the site, a man wore khaki pants with fake blood coming from the buttocks. He also had fake blood on his face. Words under the picture identified him as an "oversodomized frat pledge."
An unidentified man wearing a blue pillowcase and sheet and drinking beer appeared in a third picture. "He took a break from cross burning to drink a cold one," the caption read.
A widely circulated statement by Black Caucus President Tiffanie Lewis called for Battaglia's resignation. Lewis learned about the photographs from a Black Caucus member.
"[These incidents] will, in turn, only perpetuate an environment that is racist, sexist and homophobic," Lewis said in the statement.
University spokesman Bill Mahon sent a statement to Battaglia yesterday, calling for an official apology from him and others in the organization.
"I know most people will not interpret the racist actions of a dozen College Republicans as symptomatic of a bigger problem with the 83,000 students at Penn State, but the actions of your organization are in fact an embarrassment to the entire University," he wrote in the e-mail message, which was copied to members of the media.
Battaglia later issued a statement defending the actions of College Republicans in the photographs. He would not comment beyond his prepared statement.
"Because this party was a social event, not connected in any way to the University or to any persons other than those who were invited or who attended, a defense of the appropriateness of these costumes in a public forum would be nugatory," the statement read. "We do not perceive a compelling need to police our members' manner of expression or to apologize, publicly or otherwise, for such expression that occurs."
He added that the organization supports the ideals of personal liberty and freedom of expression.
"The College Republicans ... stands staunchly opposed to the mindset held by the radical left on college campuses across the country. Their viewpoints, which posit that any action or speech which gives discomfort to a vocal minority should be cause for censorship, persecution or demands for public apologies, are the greatest threat to liberty in our time," he said.
A link to the photographs was removed yesterday afternoon and replaced by a link to Battaglia's statement and the First Amendment at
http://botag.net.
For what Battaglia called unrelated reasons, he resigned as a USG town senator early Wednesday morning, before these events transpired.
Terrell Jones, vice provost of educational equity, said after meeting with Lewis and other administrators yesterday that the university does not yet know if it can take any action against the organization or Battaglia because the photographs were taken at a private party, not during a group-sponsored event.
"They have First Amendment rights to be offensive and stupid," he said.
He did, however, encourage Battaglia and the organization to issue an apology.
Lewis said the Black Caucus would like to see College Republicans lose official student organization status.
"We're aware that some of them are [USG] Supreme Court members, and some of them sit on Senate, UPAC (University Park Allocation Committee); we'd like their resignation in those areas," she said.
USG President Ian Rosenberger said he and Morgan discussed possible actions they might take against USG members involved in the party and photographs.
He said the executive branch was considering, among other things, pursuing the removal of Governmental Relations Director Frank Camarota, Supreme Court Justice Julia Graham, and Sens. Andy Banducci, Vicky Cangelosi and Matt Ritsko, all of whom were pictured in the Halloween party photos, which stretched over five Web pages. Rosenberger said USG would release an official statement this weekend. The organization does not condone the actions at the party, and "is ashamed" by members' involvement.
He added he wants to hear students' opinions and concerns before making final decisions on the issue. Students can send e-mail messages to
usg@psu.edu.
Morgan said the group needs to be held accountable for its actions, even though they happened at a private party.
"There is a very sore history to what statements are being made ... all those things we're trying to move forward from and heal those wounds. For organizations to have parties in which members are promoting that type of dissention is unacceptable, and it reaches another level when you publish them," he said. "It becomes a rallying call for discrimination, hate, all types of intolerance."
Interfraternity Council President Steve DiOrio said the depictions of fraternity pledges were a "slap in the face to the greek community."
"Their depictions are absolutely not accurate," DiOrio said.
When discussing the events, Jones mentioned an October incident in which Covener made "racially motivated" comments on Radio Free Penn State. Jones said Covener also talked specifically about Morgan's bicycle incident.
Covener defended his comments.
"I don't know if you can call them 'personal shots' [at Morgan]," he said. "By stealing a bike, he was reaffirming stereotypes of blacks that he should be trying to negate," he said.
After the comments, Covener was asked not to return to the radio show.
Covener said any university action against the College Republicans would most likely end up in court.
"This was a private party. The university has no business regulating what goes on in somebody's apartment," he said.
Late last night, College Republicans Treasurer Cathy Carré announced her resignation from office, citing the photographs and the recent Conservative Coming Out Day as reasons for her decision.
at these people's behavior!!!
Linear Mode
