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Carothers: Senate can't 'impose sanctions' on College Republicans
Andy Blais
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News
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The senate, however, believes otherwise. According to SOARC Chairwoman Amanda LaRocca, senate bylaws prevent any group from being discriminatory and they grant a group options for its punishment.
"I cannot hold a gun to someone's head and force them to do it [apologize]," she said.
URI College Republicans Chairman Ryan Bilodeau disagreed with LaRocca. "One of the options is unconstitutional, so to us it is not an option," he said.
SOARC met on Monday and unanimously decided to derecognize the College Republicans. The vote will go to the senate floor next Wednesday. The committee said it would allow back the group if it sends an e-mail apologizing to those who had applied for the scholarship.
Leston was not willing to comment about what the full senate would do about SOARC's recommendation. "It is premature to comment," Leston said.
If the senate does derecognize the group, there will be opposition.
"They know that I don't support it, they know the president doesn't support it," Dougan said. "I would hate to see that [derecognition] happen."
One question that stands to pose a problem is whether the senate is required to listen to Carothers.
According to senate's bylaws, the senate is an independent body from URI and remains a "separate and distinct entity" because of its 5017C Nonprofit Organization status.
"The senate as a whole has never recognized the authority of the president of the university … to interfere with the proceedings," LaRocca said.
Sweeney disagreed, saying the senate was bound by the URI administration. "We think the senate should listen to President Carothers," she said. "The student senate is ultimately bound by the Constitution and the URI administration."
When asked whether Carothers had the authority to direct the senate, Dougan answered, "That's a very good question because we never have historically, so I don't know."
Carothers said it is not on his authority, but of the Constitution. "They don't have the authority to restrict free speech, I don't have the authority. No one has the authority to ignore the Constitution."
Bilodeau said he is not sure whether Carothers' letter is of genuine support. "He's supporting us, the true test of his supporting us will be found in his actions," he said. "Unless he enforces it, they are hollow promises."
If the senate does derecognize the group, Bilodeau is willing to exhaust all possibilities. He said FIRE and the College Republicans are "in the beginning processes of a lawsuit if necessary."
"We will fight this till we can't fight it any longer," Bilodeau said.
"I cannot hold a gun to someone's head and force them to do it [apologize]," she said.
URI College Republicans Chairman Ryan Bilodeau disagreed with LaRocca. "One of the options is unconstitutional, so to us it is not an option," he said.
SOARC met on Monday and unanimously decided to derecognize the College Republicans. The vote will go to the senate floor next Wednesday. The committee said it would allow back the group if it sends an e-mail apologizing to those who had applied for the scholarship.
Leston was not willing to comment about what the full senate would do about SOARC's recommendation. "It is premature to comment," Leston said.
If the senate does derecognize the group, there will be opposition.
"They know that I don't support it, they know the president doesn't support it," Dougan said. "I would hate to see that [derecognition] happen."
One question that stands to pose a problem is whether the senate is required to listen to Carothers.
According to senate's bylaws, the senate is an independent body from URI and remains a "separate and distinct entity" because of its 5017C Nonprofit Organization status.
"The senate as a whole has never recognized the authority of the president of the university … to interfere with the proceedings," LaRocca said.
Sweeney disagreed, saying the senate was bound by the URI administration. "We think the senate should listen to President Carothers," she said. "The student senate is ultimately bound by the Constitution and the URI administration."
When asked whether Carothers had the authority to direct the senate, Dougan answered, "That's a very good question because we never have historically, so I don't know."
Carothers said it is not on his authority, but of the Constitution. "They don't have the authority to restrict free speech, I don't have the authority. No one has the authority to ignore the Constitution."
Bilodeau said he is not sure whether Carothers' letter is of genuine support. "He's supporting us, the true test of his supporting us will be found in his actions," he said. "Unless he enforces it, they are hollow promises."
If the senate does derecognize the group, Bilodeau is willing to exhaust all possibilities. He said FIRE and the College Republicans are "in the beginning processes of a lawsuit if necessary."
"We will fight this till we can't fight it any longer," Bilodeau said.
