Students For Academic Freedom

DePauw University Multicultural Director Attacks College Republicans · 10 May 2004

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2004
CONTACT: CARL HECK, (812) 208-4179, check@indgop.org

DEPAUW UNIVERSITY MULTICULTURAL DIRECTOR
ATTACKS COLLEGE REPUBLICANS

INDIANAPOLIS-Jeanette Johnson-Licon, Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at DePauw University, publicly attacked the leadership of the College Republicans for inviting David Horowitz, a nationally known author and lifelong civil rights activist, to speak on campus. Mr. Horowitz has been a long-time defender of the rights of minorities and other groups under attack - including the rights of blacks, gays, women, Jews, Muslims, Christians and white males. Horowitz's speech had been scheduled for Friday, May 7, but was postponed due to travel difficulties.

In an email addressed to numerous campus organizations at DePauw University, including the Association of African American Students and the Committee for Latino Concerns, but excluding College Republicans, Johnson-Licon chastised the College Republicans for Horowitz's invitation. "I'm feeling anger and frustration that CR has chosen to end their programming year by writing a check to David Horowitz," she stated. "It's a waste of my precious time and energy to feel anything but irritation for hate-mongers like Horowitz. Stupidity bores me."

Johnson-Licon goes on to state that by inviting Horowitz, the College Republicans have jeopardized future cooperation from her office. "What I will do is remember this moment, especially the next time that [the College Republicans] expects me to be generous and accommodating."

"These appalling comments, made by an administrator whose focus should be on promoting a multitude of cultural and ideological perspectives on campus, illustrate the pervasive climate of hostility towards conservatives at DePauw University and demonstrate the urgent necessity for the school to adopt the Academic Bill of Rights to protect its students and faculty from further ideological discrimination," said Carl Heck, State Chairman of the Indiana Federation of College Republicans. "As the Director of Multicultural Affairs, Ms. Johnson-Licon should take an active role in increasing intellectual diversity on campus. Instead, she has made it clear that conservative views are not welcome."

"I find it quite disturbing that an administrator is allowed to be intolerant of different groups on campus simply because of their political beliefs and I fear for the future of our educations at DePauw," commented Jessica Beeson, the Student Body President of DePauw University, in response to Johnson-Lincon's statement.

According to DePauw University's Website, www.depauw.edu, "The Office of Multicultural Affairs provides students with a sense of cultural identity and belonging through programming, services, and campus education and advocacy."

"With the comments Johnson-Licon has made as the Director of Multicultural Affairs, I do not feel that Ms. Johnson-Licon is adequately and effectively fulfilling the roles and duties laid out by the University," concluded Heck. "I respectfully request a public apology from Ms. Johnson-Licon addressed to the student body of DePauw University, the DePauw University College Republicans, and to David Horowitz. I would also ask that the university look into the bias presented by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and consider adopting the Academic Bill of Rights." The Academic Bill of Rights is available at www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org.

The DePauw University College Republicans is a member of the Indiana Federation of College Republicans.

Read the email here

—