CMU Conflict

From Education Reporter:

Central Michigan University's Student Life department de-recognized CMU's chapter of Campus Conservatives (CC) four days before a visit from state Sen. Michelle McManus, forcing the group to host the senator in a cafeteria instead of a more appropriate venue. Student Life was punishing CC for failing to pay for extra police security at a speech by David Horowitz last fall. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) informed CMU that requiring "student organizations hosting controversial events to pay for extra security is clearly unconstitutional, as it affixes a price tag to events based on their expressive content." CMU Student Life has already dropped three sets of previous, unrelated charges against Campus Conservatives — twice after warnings from FIRE, and once after a warning from the ACLU. (studentsforacademicfreedom.com, 8-25-09)