By CONNOR RYAN
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Nearly a year after Fordham’s College Republicans rescinded its speaking invitation to controversial pundit Ann Coulter, the culmination of a messy response from students and administrators, the group has selected another name that seems to be raising eyebrows.
The appearance of James O’Keefe – the stinger known for secretly recording video and bringing down employees at National Public Radio and Planned Parenthood, among others, by proudly sitting at the intersect of journalism and advocacy – has not yet been announced in any official capacity.
Luke Zaro, FCRH ’16 and the president of the College Republicans group, confirmed Wednesday that an invitation had been extended to O’Keefe. But “it is our understanding that we cannot comment on the event itself until the contract has been signed by both parties involved,” he said by email.
The lack of announcement, however, has not stopped students from voicing their disapproval of the group’s speaker selection.
Among them is Michael Billotti, GSB ’15 and the president of Fordham’s College Democrats. “James O’Keefe’s actions are contradictory to our morals and values as a university and delegitimizes the platform for academically stimulating speakers here on campus,” he said.
The freshly formed Facebook page, “Fordham Rams Against James O’Keefe,” puts Billotti’s sentiment into more direct language and challenges the plans of the College Republicans. As of late Wednesday night, 64 people had liked the page.
Billotti said that while he did not start the page, he believes it is a good way to inform students about O’Keefe. “As tuition-paying students, [students] have a right to know who is invited to speak at the university and they have a right to voice their approval and disapproval,” he said.
It is unclear who first started the page.
Aileen Reynolds, FCRH ’14 and the executive president of Rose Hill’s United Student Government, and Brendan Francolini, GSB ’14 and USG’s executive vice president, released a joint statement Wednesday afternoon.
“Though we personally question the merits of this speaker based on his reputation, we do not see it as the role of any organization on campus to limit the group’s ability to invite him to speak,” the statement read. “USG vehemently supports both the College Republican’s right to bring whomever they would like to our campus, as well as any student’s ability to publicly express opposition to this decision on the principle of freedom of speech and expression.”
But USG recognizes and appears to be gripping for some potentially heated cross-campus dialogue as a result of this pending speaker announcement.
“We look forward to engaging in the conversation formulating in our community around this decision by the College Republicans, and hope our peers continue to exercise their right to express and debate through constructive exchange,” the statement said.
Last week, Rose Hill’s 11-member student budget committee unanimously approved the group’s fund reallocation of $3,390.70 for the O’Keefe event. The event is in the process of being approved by OSL&CD, a member of USG said.
Chris Rodgers, dean of students at Rose Hill, and Bob Howe, the university’s director of communications, did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
O’Keefe, 29, has been labeled a conservative activist known for producing secret video and audio recordings of public figures or organizations — particularly those that are publicly funded — with the intention of exposing misconduct or unethical behavior.
He has picked up national attention for his videos of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) employees in 2009 [VIDEO] and executives at NPR [VIDEO] in 2011. In between, O’Keefe was arrested for trying to record phone lines in the office of Sen. Mary Landrieu in New Orleans.
Describing O’Keefe’s work, a long-form article in The New York Times Magazine said: “He seems to be styling himself as the organizer and commander in chief of a vast guerrilla army of young conservatives trained in his methods and inspired by his example.”
WATCH “O’Keefe’s Greatest Hits”
WATCH O’KEEFE 2010 INTERVIEW ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH2oxRBFbfQ&w=420&h=315]
Correction: Aileen Reynolds is FCRH ’14 not FCRH ’13 and Brendan Francolini is GSB ’14 not FCRH ’13.
