BY BRITTNEY WILLIFORD / Assistant Campus Editor

After much heated debate, SGA president opts for free speech

Student Action Network now has provisional status

SGA President Lauren Hayes announced on the SGA Web site Tuesday morning that she signed the bill passed March 10 in Senate giving provisional status to the Student Action Network.

The group’s purpose is to raise awareness about current social, economic and political problems and to encourage solutions.

SGA Senate originally heard and turned down the bill March 3.

Monday night Senate convened a special meeting giving the Student Action Network, the College Republicans and senators an opportunity to debate their viewpoints on whether the organization should receive provisional status.

Hayes posted a response regarding her decision on the SGA Web site. She said the Student Action Network has the right to be recognized as an organization by SGA and Auburn.

“We have made a commitment to embracing diversity on our campus, and this is clearly displayed in the over 200 chartered student organizations possessing starkly different ideologies and agendas,” she said. “Though I may not personally agree with the missions or activities of all organizations on our campus, I believe that as a public institution, Auburn University must recognize the rights of all students to have the freedom of speech as well as the freedom of assembly as stated in the United States Constitution.”

At the debate, Mike Mulvaney, president of the Student Action Network, said he feels his organization would be beneficial to Auburn.

“I think Auburn University’s reputation could only be enhanced by promoting peace issues on campus,” he said.

He said the group is not looking to cause trouble.

“Peace is not a political issue,” he said. “Peace is something we all can agree on.”

The group often holds peaceful protests at Toomer’s Corner. Mulvaney said the group always notifies the police beforehand and wants its message to be heard in a peaceful way.

“I think we have a right to voice our concerns on peace issues,” he said.

Chandler Harris, executive director of the College Republicans, said he disagrees with the Student Action Network. He said he thinks the issue is not one of free speech and the group would not be beneficial to Auburn.

“Our shortsightedness now has the potential to do great damage to Auburn University down the road,” he said.

Tonya Spann Ingram, the sister of Mike Spann, the first American soldier to die in the War on Terrorism, also voiced her disapproval of the group.

“Freedom of speech does not give you the right to make a mockery of soldiers,” she said.

She said she would be offended by the protests of the Student Action Network.

“I don’t want to drive through campus and see a body bag as a representation of my brother,” she said. “You can say your words without being distasteful.”

Julian Vida, a senator in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction, also said he thinks the Student Action Network would be harmful to Auburn.

“It’s going to be more of a problem than a benefit for Auburn,” he said.

Sen. Sarah Molony from the College of Engineering disagreed, saying she thinks the First Amendment gives the group a right to be heard.

“I think it does come down to free speech,” she said.

Molony also cited the 1989 Supreme Court Case Texas v. Johnson, in which the Court ruled in favor of demonstrators based on the First Amendment.

Sen. Leanne Marek from the College of Liberal Arts also said she thinks the group has a right to express itself.

“It’s not our job to interpret the Constitution, but it is our job to follow it,” she said. “Just because we don’t like their speech doesn’t mean you can go against it.”

Katherine Davis, senator at-large, cited a line from the Auburn Creed that says, “I believe in the law, which protects the rights of all.”

She said the Constitution grants the right to peaceful assembly, and Senate should honor this right.

“When our soldiers go to war, they die for all our rights, not just certain ones,” she said.

Sen. Andrew Greene from the College of Business said he thinks the group is using peace to conceal its efforts to instigate trouble.

“I think their intent is to cause emotional discomfort,” he said.

Brandon Demyan, a senator in the College of Liberal Arts, said he thinks the majority of Auburn students are not in favor of the Student Action Network.

“All of us took an oath to uphold our constituents’ views,” he said.

Hayes said she thinks the debate at Senate went well.

“It was great to see students actively participating in government and passionately expressing their viewpoints on the issue,” she said. “I certainly took all that was said at the debate into careful consideration before making the decision to sign the bill.”

-For the complete response from President Hayes, isit the SGA Web site, www.auburn.edu/sga