With Karl Rove’s visit just over a week away, tensions between host-group UCSB College Republicans and SB Anti War are mounting.
Rove, who acquired the nickname “Bush’s Brain” after serving as a top advisor to former President George W. Bush, will address Campbell Hall on Feb. 25 to introduce his new book, Courage and Consequence. The event’s cost — which totaled $25,000 — was partially met through funding from Associated Students, a decision that has generated unrest with SB Anti War. Members of the group are planning to hold a protest the night of the event and have been collecting signatures in an effort to rescind the funding put up by A.S.
According to Ryan McNicholas, the College Republicans’ event coordinator, the possibility of a protest has forced security costs to rise.
“The argument has become more of a security issue,” McNicholas said. “Because of protester threats to throw paint on Rove, we have had to redirect more of the funds we received into security costs.”
Taking into account SB Anti-War’s protests, McNicholas said the projected costs of security for the event now far exceed the security presence required by Rove’s camp.
“It’s costing us somewhere around $900 an hour to have all the Campus Security Officers and UCPD officers necessary to secure the area,” McNicholas said. “And it’s absolutely ridiculous to force a small organization, like College Republicans, to foot that bill.”
Melisa Torbati, fourth-year communication major and member of SB Anti War, said she doesn’t want students beholden to the costs of bringing Rove to campus.
“He’s entitled to free speech, but not with our money,” Torbati said.
Representatives from SB Anti War have approached A.S. on multiple occasions, via the Legislative Council’s public forum, seeking to rescind the portion of student fees given to the College Republicans to fund Rove’s appearance.
“As far as I could tell, the biggest problem [for SB Anti War] was that the student fees were going towards bringing a war criminal to campus,” A.S. Internal VP Chris Wendle said. “They didn’t want their student funds to go to someone who has been subpoenaed by Congress.”
According to Wendle, the decision to fund $12,933 for the event had nothing to do with Rove’s character, but rather adherence to A.S. legal code.
“We have to follow the rules. We’re not going to debate the political opinion of an event, regardless of whether or not it’s Karl Rove,” Wendle said. “Basically, our decision to provide funding was objective.”
Members of SB Antiwar, however, said it is Rove’s alleged criminal activity, not his conservative ideals, that make him unfit to address the campus.
“Karl Rove lied to the American people about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and successfully diverted the war from where it was originally fought, in Afghanistan,” third-year history major and member of SB Antiwar Nicholas Di Masi said. “If you want to make it an ideological issue, I myself am a Republican. He’s not a Republican, he’s just a liar.”
Contrary to the opinion of College Republicans, first-year global studies major and member of SB Antiwar Alessandro Morosin said the group is not attempting to impede on Rove’s right to speak.
“We’re not trying to prevent him from speaking,” Morosin said. “But what we are doing is challenging, very vigorously, the legitimacy of this individual and the policies he is associated with. We’re not trying to take away the right to free speech. We are engaging in a protest of the man and his policies.”
No handouts Mr. McNicholas
“It’s costing us somewhere around $900 an hour to have all the Campus Security Officers and UCPD officers necessary to secure the area,” McNicholas said. “And it’s absolutely ridiculous to force a small organization, like College Republicans, to foot that bill.”
When you preach fiscal responsibility and no government handouts then practice what you preach and decline your request to have the university cover half the bill. The cost is so absurd, I bett AS adds a "Karl Rove fee" to tuition expenses next year.
Why should students fund anti-equality?
The UCSB students as a whole — not just McNicholas — are the ones being forced to foot a large portion of this bill. Rove also engineered the gay marriage bans in several states, including Prop 8. If it weren’t for Rove’s work behind the scenes, Prop 8 probably wouldn’t have passed. It is unfair and unethical that a relatively tiny circle of college republicans are forcing the student population as a whole to fund somebody who is an outspoken opponent of equality and diversity.
Huh?
Perhaps if people like you actually understood the meaning of ‘equality’ and ‘diversity’ then you’d realize how stupid you’re being right now.
Oh, and I think both of you are forgetting the part where the CR’s don’t give a damn what you think.
I think it’s ‘unfair’ and ‘unethical’ for my money to be used for 90% of the crap that is hosted by this university. Same goes for how the government uses my tax money. Quit your bitching.
Tell us ReaganiteWho has the university brought with a similar speaking fee that you’ve objected to? Certainly theres one in that 90% that you objected to the university shelling out around $13K for? Or is all the feigned outrage over fiscal issues by conservatives just a quid pro quo once it’s something they can get a benefit from? Students at UCSB have no interest to hear Rove unless they are already wrapped up in the campus republicans and those are a definite minority. Getting Rove with the university’s help ultimately benefits the local rich conservatives in areas like Hope Ranch… Read more »
The only thing stupid is..
your ignorance. I do understand the meaning of diversity and equality and understand\ this man does not entail any of those things (Do your research). Sure money is dispensed foolishly, but does that mean it’s okay? It’s not "bitching" it’s standing up for what’s right.
That’s where I went wrongBlimey, that’s what I forgot to do – my research! Thank you, Istorke, for reminding me to go do my research. I will now go do my research. Here we go, research time! Students at UCSB have no interest to hear Rove –And you know this because you asked all 20,000 students if they want to hear Rove speak. "it’s downright shameful that the AS would think allocating such money would be beneficial to the campus" –I know right! I mean, bringing former staff of the Bush Administration to the left-leaning UCSB campus can’t POSSIBLY be… Read more »
For the RecordNo member of SB Antiwar threatened (implicitly or explicitly) to "throw paint" on Mr. Rove, contrary to what the Mr. McNicholas seems to suggest. SB Antiwar does not intend to participate in, encourage, or endorse, any unlawful or violent conduct. It should be emphasized that this is not a "left vs. right" political issue. Rather, it is an issue of minimizing criminal presence on our campus. Members of SB Antiwar — both republicans and democrats — are aiming for full cooperation with the police to minimize such criminal presence. Information pertaining to Mr. Rove’s criminal status was withheld… Read more »
"The College Republican’s don’t give a damn what you think." — Reaganite, on diversity.
diversity?!? will of campus? CR’s say they could care less"the CR’s don’t give a damn what you think. I think it’s ‘unfair’ and ‘unethical’ for my money to be used for 90% of the crap that is hosted by this university. Same goes for how the government uses my tax money. Quit your bitching." You are now officially on record making a great case for why Rove and YOUR EVENT are a DISMAL choice for "diversity of thought." Much like the Campus Republicans you speak for, Rove "doesn’t give a damn" about honesty and civil politics. To this man, rule… Read more »
What about Obama?
What’s the big deal with Rove?
At least you always knew more-or-less where he and Bush were coming from.
Meanwhile, Obama is killing civilians like flies in Afghanistan, and people are still driving around with their Obama ’08 bumper stickers (you know, the ones with the peace sign).
@eyeragYou raise a good point. I recall a study indicating something to the effect that there were more Afghan and Pakistani civilian deaths (many of them children under the age of 12) in the first nine months of Obama’s reign than there were in the last *two years* of Bush’s reign. This is largely a result of Obama’s acceleration of CIA Predator Drone operations. The drones recklessly bomb children and women just to target one or two suspected insurgents. It seems that the people who still like Obama don’t know why, precisely, they hated Bush. A look at the key… Read more »
Obama also guilty of crimes
To the last 2 comments, SB Anti War agrees with this stance. We have participated in protesting the escalation of the war on Afghanistan and Pakistan and feel it’s urgent that students who see this for what it is join us in resisting it. As such, the rally against Rove makes a point to oppose these ongoing injustices done in our name by the "change" candidate himself, Barack Obama.
You’re right it’s not "my money" but that much certainly isn’t warranted to a pretty exclusive event where the public’s question will be filtered by the College Republicans. Some diversity of thought lol.
Also it obviously appears you don’t understand the value of a dollar when you expect the university to bankroll an event like that for you. That’s not the way Reagan would have wanted it.
What’s the point?
Obviously the speech is just going to be full of a bunch of Neo-Conservative propaganda, strangely pushing blame towards Obama, and lies covering up the very obvious and very common Bush administration fuck-ups and war crimes. Seeing this is just going to be a waste of time considering 99% percent of the crap that will come out of this douche’s mouth will be the very minimum miles away from the truth.
The Bush administration is done and Neo-Cons have failed, is there any reason to see this jackass?
Yes.
"Is there any reason to see this jackass?"
Yes. Rove is the architect of the Bush Presidency, eight years of our lives. Don’t you want to hear from the man who played a significant role in the past eight years of your life?
I don’t like Rove. Not at all. But he was a significant governmental figure and I want to hear him speak.
He isn’t just some stupid media pundit (i.e. Rush Limbaugh). Carl Rove was a significant figure in our government. Whether you like it or not, he played an important part in our lives.