MSU right-wing groups accused of anti-discrimination violation

Student leaders and faculty members have been contacted by the university regarding actions that allegedly violated the university’s anti-discrimination policy. A member and adviser of one of the student groups said no specific action leading to the violation was given in the report.

Fred Fico, a journalism professor and adviser to the MSU College Republicans, said he and others received a letter from the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives levying the charges. Ben Morlock, chairman of the College Republicans, confirmed the organization received the same letter.

“It’s incredibly unprofessional,” Morlock said. “The fact that the letter was sent out making these serious accusations and included the names of all the people at the top is very inconsiderate of the privacy of the individuals being accused.”

Fico and Morlock both said the letter made general accusations and did not name a specific event or instance in which their group violated the policy.

“One of the horrifying things about this, especially if you’re a teacher, is you could have interpreted this letter as you committed these discriminatory acts in your classroom,” Fico said. “The letter is subject to very broad and very defamatory interpretation.”

Morlock also said the MSU Young Americans for Freedom, or YAF, and their adviser, William Allen, received the letter. Kyle Bristow, YAF chairman, declined to comment.

Last month, YAF brought British National Party Chairman Nick Griffin to campus. In April, YAF and the MSU College Republicans sponsored a speech by Chris Simcox, which resulted in the arrest of five protesters. The letter did not specifically say so, but Doug Schraufnagle, a member of the Young Democratic Socialists, filed a formal complaint with the university regarding the Simcox event.

“The administrators on this campus do more than most universities,” Schraufnagle said. “However, they must take the next step to enforce when free speech is stepped upon.”

Allen could not be reached for comment by The State News on Monday.

“My task with this group is to facilitate their opportunities at MSU to act in forms of self-expression and organizational development in a collegial manner,” Allen wrote in an e-mail sent to The State News in the spring. “I will not hesitate to step in in support of student groups of whatever stripe, as I have always done heretofore.”

Fico said the letter was sent from the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives under the names of Kristine Moore and Paulette Granberry Russell. Moore referred comments to Granberry Russell, who did not return calls by The State News on Monday.

“They made up their minds to charge us, which is totally wrong,” Fico said. “The anti-discrimination policy says it protects freedom of expression and the particular charges against two groups have no merit. The charges against the advisers are utterly without merit because how can an adviser be responsible for the students we advise? We don’t believe the students did anything wrong, but even if they did, the office has no place to do that.”

The State News