University sends 'political activities policy' e-mail

Last fall, political activity filled the Tufts campus as the 2002 midterm election approached. A group of students traveled to Washington DC to protest the War on Iraq. Political groups on campus held a number of events, ranging from rallies to voter drives, to promote a candidate for public office.

This activity has sparked a debate about the merits of the University policy on political activity. At the beginning of last semester, this policy was outlined in an e-mail sent to students by Provost Jamshed Bharucha and Executive Vice President Steve Manos.

When John Kerry wanted to have a rally in support of Al Gore in the fall of 2000, he was able to book Jackson Gym. A large crowd of students gathered to hear his outright endorsement of Gore for president. In the fall of 1999, presidential candidate Bill Bradley unveiled his foreign policy platform in a speech at Tufts.

But when 2002 gubernatorial candidate Shannon O'Brien wanted to hold a rally on campus prior to the midterm elections, the Tufts Democrats were apprehensive that sponsoring the event could violate University policy.

"When a situation arose, my first thought was not 'that's going to be great for Tufts and Tufts Democrats,' it was 'is that going to be legal?' Tufts Democrats President Brian Davis said. The organization only agreed to sponsor the event after it was cleared with the administration.

The Tufts policy exists because the administration wants to ensure that the University remains a non-partisan organization, both officially and in the eyes of those within and outside the Tufts community. The University has "certain obligations as a non-profit organization," Manos said.

The University has set guidelines to determine whether events such as the O'Brien rally are acceptable. The policy constrains political activity on campus by preventing candidates from campaigning for themselves or fundraising at Tufts.

If student groups invite a candidate to speak, the event must be informational or educational. The administration maintains the right to cancel any arranged event if it violates this policy.

One of the restrictions discussed in the e-mail is that no individual or group "may, on behalf of the University, engage in activity in support of or opposition to a candidate for elective public office." This prevents the Tufts name and insignia from being used in any manner for the promotion of a candidate for public office.

This often deters student political groups from planning events they fear will tow the policy line.

"It sort of discouraged our organization from even attempting to get candidates to come to campus," Davis said.

Most students agree that the University should not endorse candidates in any way, but some say that politicians' ability to present their views to students is hampered by the speech regulations.

Junior Jeff Blumberg, Vice President of the Tufts Democrats, says that campaign activity on campus enhances the college experience.

"The University's policy of disallowing political figures to speak on behalf of their campaign is just deleterious," he said. Blumberg does agree, however, that "the University should not be seen as supporting one candidate over another."

Sophomore Michael Handwerker feels that the policy's implications go beyond preventing partisanship. "The University is using the fa?§ade of fairness while limiting free speech on campus," Handwerker said.

The University's policy is not meant to restrict free speech, and the administration believes that the "free flow of ideas" is paramount part of the Tufts experience, Manos said. But, the administration does not believe that a University is an appropriate place for official campaign events.

Manos is not alone in his beliefs: many students support the notion of bringing politicians to campus, but making sure that the politicians aren't actively campaigning at the University. "Tufts does a good job at making sure that students are free to speak freely on campus," sophomore Rachel Kraft said. Campaigns on campus, Kraft added, could pressure students "to accept a stance that they don't agree with."

In the end, federal law shapes the Tufts policy. According to the law, universities that intend to keep their tax exempt statuses cannot involve themselves in political campaigns. This is not consoling, however, to students involved in campus political groups.

"As an educational university, it takes away an integral part of education. Partisan politics is the reality of our political system," Davis said. "There is nothing we can do because it's the law, but it's unfortunate."