Commentary on Kyle's Campaign Platform

This post is a commentary of Kyle Bristow's campaign platform for his run as a member of the Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU) , MSU's student government, which was put in the previous post.

There are several logical fallacies and inaccuracies to Bristow’s arguments. The first point, about funding for homosexual groups, is discriminatory. It would deny all funding to any non-straight group, even if they otherwise qualified under ASMSU’s Funding Board. The board allows funding for all Registered Student organizations that are in financial need, are relatively new, or who’s planned activity can be of great benefit.

http://asmsu.msu.edu/safundingboard.php

The second point shows misunderstanding of Kyle of the activities of several groups on campus. He first attacks the Hispanic group Culturas de Las Razas Unidas (CRU) as being anti-American. This is a bias of Kyle’s, who seems to view all Hispanics as illegal immigrants.

CRU’s Facebook group description shows no anti-American intent in the group

“CRU’s mission is to increase the quality of life academically, socially, and culturally through retention and cultural programming while promoting Chicano/Latino unity and celebrating diversity at MSU through our membership at large and affiliated organizations.

Some of our goals behalf of CRU are as follows;

-Increase the level of unity and compromise among all of our Chicano/Latino affiliate organizations.

-Continue to coordinate programs that will educate and address issues that concern the Chicano/Latino community.

-Increase self-awareness through the cooperative exchange of ideas, viewpoints, culture and information

-Continue to fight for the recognition of the rights of the Chicano/Latino community.

We are really looking forward to working with all of you this year. We are also looking forward to partnering with you in efforts to increase Chicano/Latino community collaboration, communication and awareness at Michigan State University.”

http://msu.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2201560079

Kyle makes insinuations that the LGBT Alliance group is anti-straight. The group’s website suggests otherwise, saying “We strive to create an environment on campus that is supportive for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

http://www.msu.edu/~alliance/about/

Kyle advocates removing Arab Cultural society, North American Indigenous Student Organization, and the Asian Pacific American Student Organization, as putting in a European-American Cultural Society. He then says "If we choose not to eliminate the Black Council, then we must create a White Council". First it must be corrected that there is no Black Council at MSU (correct name is Black Student Alliance). Under his plan white people would get double representation with the European-American Cultural society and the White Council, which counters Kyle’s statement that ASMSU reps should assure that equality is maintained at ASMSU.

Kyle’s creation of a Nationalist Student Association disregards the needed input of international students into the student government, especially as the university tries to develop an international outreach.

Point three about allowing a Christian group, mistakenly regards Arab Cultural Society as a religious group. Arab Cultural Society represents all Arabic students, many of which are of various other religious, including Christian.

Part four about putting a flag in every classroom shows the narrow view of Kyle. The placement of the US flag is not the idea I wish to critique. His statement that “Spartans are proud to be citizens of the greatest nation on earth” disregards the large population of foreign students on campus. This is not a call to include all flags, or to not include the American flag, this is to correct Kyle’ misperception that MSU hosts only American students

Part five and seven shows Kyle’s hypocrisy on free speech. He derides MSU for bringing to speakers, radical Joe Carr and pro-affirmative action group By Any Means Necessary to campus and claims they should not have gotten funding (Part 5 subsection 1 and 3). In part seven he then calls for ASMSU to fund conservative speakers. Kyle’s view that money should be spent on those he agrees with and no one else follows the discriminatory logic of the first part calling for barring non-heterosexual organizations from receiving money.

Part seven includes a call to give money to the College Republicans. ASMSU is a non-partisan organization and does not give money to any political party or there affiliated college groups.

Part eight calls for the removal of Planned Parenthood from Grand River Avenue. This is off campus and outside the jurisdiction of ASMSU or the university.