i received this earlier today:
for immediate release: kalamazoo, michigan
kalamazoo college students refused entrance to bush campaign stop
by:
laura lonneman (cincinnati, oh) k02ll01@kzoo.edu (269) 337-5898
ted hufstader (toledo, oh) k02th03@kzoo.edu (269)267-4523
leah busch (cincinnati, oh)
shanna barkume (detroit, mi)
lisa dallacqua (detroit, mi)
julia vanausdall (cincinnati, oh) k02jv01@kzoo.edu (269) 552-5051
in an effort to expose ourselves to the wider spectrum of politics in ourcountry and educate ourselves for the election this coming fall, a group ofstudents from kalamazoo college obtained tickets and went to see presidentbush speak monday, may 3rd, at wings stadium. our group includescoordinators of a bilingual mentoring program, members of the non-violencestudent organization, athletes, and work-study employees. on the 3rd ofmay, we canceled our work-study hours, moved up exams, and missed classes tohear the president speak.
unfortunately, our group was denied entrance to the event after beingidentified by members of the kalamazoo college republicans (who werevolunteering at the event) as “”potential threats.”” our classmates knew thatwe were not bush supporters and that many of us have engaged in non-violentpolitical protest. because of their suspicion of our political historiesand motivation for attending the event, they refused to allow us to enter,and the police forcefully removed us from the site.
in a functional democracy, individuals from all perspectives are involved indebate and discussion so that solid policy can be formed. the way to formsolid policy is not to surround oneself with only likeminded citizens, butrather to interact with a wide range of people and opinions. it was in thisspirit of open debate that we sought to hear our president speak.
we showed the event organizers our photo ids and learned that we were on””the list”” to attend the event. as we approached, several kalamazoo collegerepublican members acted astonished that we had tickets and asked us how wegot them. we replied that we had obtained the tickets from the chamber ofcommerce in downtown kalamazoo.
the kalamazoo college republicans then alerted the event security staffabout our presence. we waited in line to enter and event security told usthat we had been identified as “”potential threats”” and had to leave. theirexcuses were numerous– they said we failed background checks, that we wereplanning to protest, and that we were on a secret service list of people whowere likely to cause a “”disturbance.”” we all demanded to see this “”list””and wanted to know who told them this information. they told us “”hearsay isenough to be escorted from the premises.”” the event security proceeded totell us that we would be arrested if we did not leave immediately.
we remained and again demanded to see this “”list,”” saying that we had neverbeen informed the president’s speech was a “”private”” event and that, ascitizens, we merely sought to hear our president speak. we inquired why wewere considered “”threats.”” the police arrived, and under the threat ofarrest, we allowed them to escort us down the road and out of sight of wingsstadium.
what is truly frightening about this incident is that we were “”blacklisted””by our college peers. furthermore, we feel misled and misinformed becausewe had no prior knowledge that the event, for a sitting president, wasprivate and that the republican event organizers held the right to deny usentry. on our liberal arts campus, which promotes community-building andopen political discussion, these acts illustrate a shocking example of ablind loyalty and obedience to the republican party and, ultimately, thepresident. the republican party succeeded in socializing these collegerepublican volunteers to enforce the “”blacklisting”” and profiling of theirown college classmates. unfortunately, this event highlights a trendtowards extreme political polarization and blind party loyalty in the unitedstates