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Kustra threatens College Republicans and may have terminated BSU staff member
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The Boise State College Republicans may not be the only ones taking the heat for the controversial fliers promoting “America’s Illegal Alien Invasion”. According to a BSU College Republicans Press Release, Assistant Director of Student Activities, Michael Esposito, may have been terminated.
In charge of the approval process for multiple student events on campus, Esposito has been said to currently be on a personal leave of absence. The College Republicans stated in its press release that unnamed University officials “insist that he was forced to leave and say his contract will not be renewed. Esposito has not been at work or available for comment since meeting with BSU President Kustra and Vice-President of Student Affairs Michael Laliberte, Monday, March 19.
Other University officials will not be available until school resumes its regular session after the Spring Vacation.
In a mass e-mail to BSU students, faculty and staff, Kustra called the fliers to promote the speech by Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez “offensive and insulting”.
Kustra also threatened action against the BSU College Republicans due to the nature of the fliers through the student judicial process. Vasquez is known for his opposition to illegal immigration.
College Republican Lindsay Christensen-Stoker is frustrated.
“It’s deplorable that the administration would fire an employee for doing their job and refusing to censor student advertisements because of political content. Haven’t they heard of the First Ammendment?” Christensen-Stoker said.
BSU Director of Communications and Marketing Frank Zang stated the flier is “unacceptable and inappropriate in any context,” and told NewsChannel 7 that BSU was taking steps “to make sure this does not happen again.”
College Republicans President Jonathan Sawmiller considers BSU “intolerant of diverse views”.
“They’re trying to silence our political opinions with threats and intimidation,” Sawmiller said. “President Kustra’s remarks and actions are extremely offensive and disrespectful towards those who oppose illegal immigration.”
The flier, a copy of which is also posted on the College Republicans website, invited everyone to “Celebrate Cesar Chavez Week” by coming to Vasquez’s speech, where a drawing would be held in which participants could win a free dinner by climbing through a hole in a fence.
Despite the threats of judicial action against the group, fliers remained posted on campus, and the event took place mostly as planned.
“We’re not going to stop advertising our event just because the BSU administration has no respect for alternative views or freedom of speech,” Sawmiller said.
Hundreds of BSU students, staff and faculty attended a protest outside the Student Union Building in response to the fliers. The response to the fliers was almost wholly negative at BSU. A slim percentage of the people at the protest were in support of the actions taken by the College Republicans. Many of the protestors also attended Vasquez’ speech in the packed Hatch Ballroom.
The College Republicans did succeed in advertising the event through the fliers, albeit in a negative manner. The attendance to the speech by Vasquez was very high.
Jessica Christensen