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Senate President Neil Leston [sitting] and former President Neil Cavanaugh [standing], along with College Republicans Chairman Ryan Bilodeau, helped reach a compromise on how to punish the student organization without derecognizing them.

URI Student Senate decides not to derecognize College Republicans

By: Andy Blais and Justin Oswald

Posted: 4/26/07

04/26/07 - After months of debate, meetings and appeals, the University of Rhode Island Student Senate decided not to derecognize the URI College Republicans last night.

Senate President Neil Leston, along with former President Neil Cavanaugh and URI College Republicans Chairman Ryan Bilodeau, worked to create a punishment acceptable for both sides.

The senate debated a compromise bill, which called for a letter of clarification from Bilodeau to each applicant of the White Heterosexual American Male scholarship. It also called for Leston, as president of the senate, to "issue an explanation to the rest of the student body."

Cavanaugh said he was pleased with the senate's action of striking the derecognition bill from the agenda, adding that the bill was an "unpolished gem" and needed to be amended.

"I strongly feel it is in the best interest of the senate to go with that bill, to vote in favor of this bill," Cavanaugh said. "I encourage all of you to trust me tonight, not only for the benefit of the Student Senate, not only the College Republicans, but the entire University of Rhode Island."

Bilodeau said his group would accept the new punishment, but he was proud of where his group had steered debate.

"This has become really a national debate … quite frankly I am proud of that," he said. "It's kind of why we do some of the things we do as an organization."

The new bill was written and brought to the senate floor by the Executive Committee after a vote of 6 to 5 only hours before the meeting.

Leading the charge against the bill was Academic Affairs Chairwoman Cristin Langworthy. "I voted against the bill because I don't believe this sanction is appropriate because of the seriousness of this violation," she said.

Leston, who handled the bill on the floor, defended it from criticism, saying, "I can see both sides of the coin … I am not willing to risk more over a petty apology … There is a huge picture out there, I am asking you to support this bill because it is the senate at stake."

The senate also added an amendment requiring the College Republicans to notify the governing body about its activities and events. The bill only allows the senate to act as an adviser.

LaRocca originally opposed the bill when it was written in the committee, but changed her views after the amendments. "I still have my concerns that this may not happen the way we want it to, but I am going to try to look on the bright side and work on it in the best way that I can," she said.

Another amendment stated, "If the URI College Republicans fail to follow through with the actions outlined in this bill to the satisfaction of the senate, then their recognition status shall be revoked for one year."

Cavanaugh said not to worry about the College Republicans. "I guarantee that they are going to follow through with this," he said.

The threat of lawsuits against the senate was also discussed. Treasurer Brian McGuire feared legal retribution if the senate derecognized the College Republicans, and supported the lesser punishment.

"One of the reasons I feel very strongly about this is … I feel a lot of this has been misconstrued," he said. "I really just see this as the best way we can avoid going to court, in all honesty. I feel it would be silly to go to court over a $100 scholarship … I encourage the rest of you to vote for it."

Leston and McGuire said a lawsuit would take money out of every student groups' budgets, negatively affecting all students on campus.

At the end of debate, the majority voted in favor of the compromise punishment.

"Any time you are wrestling with something as complex as this, compromise is needed," said Memorial Union Director Bruce Hamilton, adding that the bill was a successful demonstration of that compromise.

"I think you have been doing an outstanding job," he said.

In other business, the senate finished its business for the academic year, recognizing both the Newman Club and the Colleges Against Cancer group at Level IV.