Brazile urges Rider crowd to unite despite differences
Student leader seeks GOP speakers for Unity Day
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
BY PAUL MULLIN and LISA RICH, TIMES WRITERS
LAWRENCE — A small group of students stood outside the steps of Rider University’s Bart Luedeke Center last night, displaying T-shirts and signs that read “Got Unity?” and “I Bleed Fairness,” a play on the school’s “I Bleed Cranberry” spirit shirts.
As Democratic strategist Donna Brazile arrived on her way to speak in the BLC Theater, she engaged the students.
“Anyone here a political science major?” she asked. When one student raised his hand she smiled. “I’ll debate you afterward.”
But those involved were not protesting to express their displeasure with Brazile so much as their frustration with the university’s handling of the eleventh annual Unity Days event.
Unity Days is a two-day, annual event at Rider aimed at bringing students, faculty and staff together to celebrate the diverse elements that make up the university. Celebrated yesterday and today, this year’s theme is “Responsible Citizenship At Home and Abroad,” according to Sean Ramsen, director for Rider’s editorial services.
Josh Hursa, a political science sophomore and chair of the Rider University College Republicans, said nine of the 11 Unity Days speakers the university has sponsored have had direct ties to the Democratic Party.
“They say the focus of these events is to bring together the school community, but the school is only inviting Democrats, and our concern is if they’re going to spend $20,000 a speaker, shouldn’t they also bring a conservative voice?” Hursa said. “It’s blatantly unfair and we’re trying to raise that awareness.”
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Tags: Bias,Liberal,Protest,Rally,Rider,Unity Day,University
Categories: Announcements
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