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BSU lobbyist attacking student leaders?
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In politics, as in life, the most intriguing actions often occur away from curious eyes. This appears to be happening in the often internecine realm of campus politics.
The current conflict between student leadership and the administration, of course, revolves around whether university president Charles Ruch should resign. As everyone knows, ASBSU president Nate Peterson has called for Ruch’s resignation, citing a lack of leadership, and is asking students to sign a petition to that effect.
However, not everyone may be aware that Boise State retained the services of a registered lobbyist last year after students stormed the Capitol Building in February. The students staged the action to protest the lack of minimum wage protection for migrant farm workers.
Daryl Jones, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs said last fall that it was necessary to hire a lobbyist to repair political relations after some legislators blamed Boise State for the actions of the campus activists.
In reaction to the hue and cry by provincial politicians, BSU retained the services of Pat Sullivan of Sullivan & Associates. Sullivan has since begun lobbying to inform legislators on the goals and interests of the university.
Now it appears that Sullivan may be more concerned with undermining student leaders and their efforts to encourage Ruch into early retirement.
According to Glenn Miles, a BSU alumnus from when Boise State was Boise Junior College, Sullivan derided ASBSU representatives as radicals best ignored. This rankled Miles, who has been quietly providing input to student leaders behind the scenes.
“He told me in the outer chamber of the house that these are just kid radicals, implying that we didn’t have to pay attention to them at all,” Miles said. “My question is, are the people of the state of Idaho paying for a lobbyist who then turns around and criticizes their children?”
Miles is a familiar face in BSU’s political scene and has been trying to force the university to match the Promise Scholarship for freshman. Interestingly enough, he served under Karl Rove back in the early 70s when they were both leaders in the national College Republicans organization. Yes, that Karl Rove: President Bush’s Senior Advisor.
It must be pointed out that the students in question, Peterson and the two ASBSU lobbyists, Brad Christensen and Doug Stokes, are hardly radicals. All three belong to the College Republicans, and Christensen and Stokes have completed their LDS missions.
Commenting on the alleged comments by Sullivan, Petersen was nonplussed, but not surprised.
“He’s using the art of character assassination on yours truly,” Peterson said. He also pointed out that a petition drive is a far cry from radical activism. “There’s nothing radical about something so democratic as a petition.”
Sullivan denied calling the students “kid radicals,” insisting that Miles misquoted him.
“I didn’t call them kid radicals, I said the actions they are taking are radical,” Sullivan said.
He added that his job is to promote the interests of the university. “That’s what I was hired to do and that’s what I’ll continue to do. I do see that as my goal. I was critical of Nate Peterson’s actions, I wish he didn’t do that. It didn’t further the interests of Boise State.
John Franden, executive assistant to the president and primary lobbyist for BSU prior to the hiring of Sullivan, confirmed that Sullivan is paid $2,000 per month but wouldn’t comment on Miles’ allegations.
Andy Benson
