The students elect the student senate (or likely choose not to vote in most cases). Elections have consequences.
In regards to the repeated student senate votes (and I am not looking to get into a political debate in any way), individuals in organizations like student senate (and academic senate, etc.) need to ask themselves "would we do the same if people of the opposite persuasion wanted to create an organization?" Like policies, decision making needs to be consistent regardless of persuasion (with probably some exceptions - but they would need to be really extreme).
For President Konkol, stuff like this can create an enormous challenge that he needs to elegantly thread with minimal effort. There are alum who would say, "I will not support Valpo if they have a TPUSA chapter" and other who will say "I will not support Valpo if they (the big "they") do not allow a TPUSA chapter." I think Pres. Konkol is the kind of person who may be able to threat that needle by emphasizing how we are all bound by higher order values and mission.
other who will say "I will not support Valpo if they (the big "they") do not allow a TPUSA chapter."
Those people, though, are already not giving because they think Valpo is too “woke” or because they’re sore about the Crusader. If they start giving because of a TP chapter, they will restrict their giving only to the TP chapter.
I still think a TP chapter is a net bad for Valpo.
other who will say "I will not support Valpo if they (the big "they") do not allow a TPUSA chapter."
Those people, though, are already not giving because they think Valpo is too “woke” or because they’re sore about the Crusader. If they start giving because of a TP chapter, they will restrict their giving only to the TP chapter.
I still think a TP chapter is a net bad for Valpo.
@kreitzerstl, I would be careful about making such sweeping assumptions about "those people" for two reasons.
First, there has been tremendous growth in the visibility and activity of TP-USA chapters all throughout the USA over the last five years. It may not resonate so much with us (and you might not be aware about how big it is), yet the impact on people younger than 30 is tremendous. There are now hundreds of high school chapters of TP USA and tens of thousands of young people already part of the organization.
If VU continues to deny a chapter, it looks bad; denying a chapter is much worse than just not having a chapter on campus. I cannot see why VU would want to put a big, "Not Welcome Here" sign to students who lean conservative, or who (like the late Charlie Kirk) would be fine sharing their Christian faith and Christian values. Denying a chapter is exactly like a big stop sign to some potential students, even if they would not be interested in joining the organization.
Second, I resent being lumped in with, "those people." I have been a long-time donor to VU and care deeply about its success. Most likely, I would not join TP-USA if I were a student. However, I am upset that VU (and it doesn't matter if it is some student senators or the administration) will not allow a chapter. The University needs to find a way to fix this, or it will turn off potential donors.
Look at it this way: Imagine a group of students wants to form a VU chapter of "Lutherans for Life" to advocate against abortion. Another group of students wants to form a chapter of the "National Abortion Rights Action League." It would be fine for VU to have student chapters of both of them even if they are diametrically opposed to each other. VU could say, "You are welcome at VU. We have students who support opposing views a divisive issue, and we foster dialogue and respect." Students and families would recognize that well-meaning people have different views, and they are free to associate if they wish. Donors to VU would be unlikely to be upset that both are recognized student organizations; approving one and denying another would have the opposite outcome.
@valpo95 — I think indoctrination clubs have no place on college campuses, period. Just because something exists and grows does not make it good for society.
I think Valpo — and this board — should move on from this noisy blip. If there is genuine student demand for a TP chapter, those students should run for seats on senate and change the policy from within. Isn’t that what self-professed civic educators should know how to do? Or do they only want to bully people for what bathrooms they use?
Your public image and founding mission cannot be forfeited in whole to students. The university's public image is a major asset that the board owns. At Valparaiso, there is (or was) a motto of some type that says that VU will "follow the truth wherever truth might lead." Tthe board and president need to enforce neutral considerations of truth. Kudos for saying the students "misinterpreted the guidelines."
The students need to be actually educated and taught the merits of giving all people access to a forum for their ideas. Why are some groups or clubs deemed partisan, but not others? Google (any ivy league school) and "palestine" to find the very public blowback which higher education gets now from its big fat thumb on the scale.
I think there’s more nuance than what appears at first glance. It’s clear the rule that can’t have a “political organization.” If the rule is being enforced fairly across the board, then that’s the end of discussion.
It’s worth noting that in the original rejection, Student Senate encouraged them to start a club, unrelated to TPUSA, to create discussion on political topics.
Which seems to be a fair compromise. No one is preventing anyone from voicing any views. If the TPUSA branding is so important, then that gives away the game of how it’s just a purely political organization.
My confident feeling is that the student senate tends to lean left with a majority of A&S majors.
Can you make an argument that TPUSA is not directly affiliated with a political party, although their discussion lean toward the far right?
If there is interest, I think having a TPUSA chapter and other opposite view chapters at Valpo is a good thing. Bring it on!
What is the far-left counterpart to TP?
Again, I think the student senate made the right call. This is not about censoring conservative speech. This is about not extending an invitation to the undue outside influence of a group that has, shall we say, advanced more than a few untenable positions.
Socialist groups? They are everywhere.
If sponsoring organizations that can provide peaceful thought and can bring in quality students, then the university should override the student senate decision. Bluntly, we need leaders to make Valparaiso University strong. That is not a primary objective of the student senate.
