Republican Club faces off against hecklers, protestors
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The University of Massachusetts Republican Club held their "Rally for Public Decency" earlier today, even after the University released a statement requesting the Radical Student Union remove the brochures from the window of their offices.
Club members spoke to a crowd of varying sizes on a range of issues, from free speech and pornography, to the Iraq War and the morality of the nation. Speakers included Club President Brad DeFlumeri, Ed Cutting, and Joe Saracco.
Though at times the assembled crowd of students, faculty, administrators and news media numbered between 100 and 150, many came out to heckle the speakers. At times, DeFlumeri had condoms hurled at him where he stood on the front steps of the Student Union. Members of the Radical Student Union and the Student Government Association handed out photocopied pictures of DeFlumeri in a costume that depicted a naked woman and a doctor reportedly taken from Facebook.com.
From inside the Student Union, University police officers looked on, but did not take a visible presence throughout the event.
The rally ended shortly before 1:00 p.m. today. For continued coverage, check today's and tomorrow's Daily Collegian.
Club members spoke to a crowd of varying sizes on a range of issues, from free speech and pornography, to the Iraq War and the morality of the nation. Speakers included Club President Brad DeFlumeri, Ed Cutting, and Joe Saracco.
Though at times the assembled crowd of students, faculty, administrators and news media numbered between 100 and 150, many came out to heckle the speakers. At times, DeFlumeri had condoms hurled at him where he stood on the front steps of the Student Union. Members of the Radical Student Union and the Student Government Association handed out photocopied pictures of DeFlumeri in a costume that depicted a naked woman and a doctor reportedly taken from Facebook.com.
From inside the Student Union, University police officers looked on, but did not take a visible presence throughout the event.
The rally ended shortly before 1:00 p.m. today. For continued coverage, check today's and tomorrow's Daily Collegian.