Union Board Rejects Tom Woods Proposal Because Students Were Too Well Prepared
Last week the Union Board Lectures Committee denied a proposal for a contract covering Tom Woods' $3000 Honorarium to be presented and voted on at last week's Union Board's programming meeting, a group of 16 student programming directors and 4 faculty. However, tonight they were gracious enough to let me have a seven minute open discussion with them in order to help me understand the following statement regarding the feeling of the Lectures Committee toward the Tom Woods event:
They were concerned about the role Union Board would have in the programming aspects of the lecture. Your organization seems to have this planned out very well already and there would little room for Union Board’s help besides the monetary contribution.
In other words, we were too well prepared. The Board members said that the purpose of the Union Board programmers is to help student groups who are unable to plan events have them planned for them. Furthermore, they claimed that YAL had this event "planned to a tee," and that this deemed the Board irrelevant.
Union Board prides itself in the planning and implementation of campus events, and is moving away from the funding board model.
The Board stressed the fact that the rejection was not based on political philosophy, but rather that we didn't need their planning skills and were just looking for money. They said that the purpose of Union Board programming is to give the students on the Board the opportunity to "get their feet wet" in planning events, contacting agents, speakers, booking rooms, etc. The fact that we came prepared, had already contacted Woods and secured a date, proposed a schedule for the event, and selected (although not booked) a room, this caused the Lectures Committee to feel left out of the process.
The Union Board concluded that I look elsewhere for money. So here I am looking elsewhere for money.
With all of your help and dedication, we've already raised $2225. However, we need $4000 to make this event a reality. Young Americans For Liberty at IUB needs YOUR help. Indiana University needs YOUR help. The message of liberty needs YOUR help. Please make a contribution HERE to help bring Tom Woods to IU Bloomington.
There are four levels of sponsorship*:
Supporter $25
One Ticket for a reserved seat at the event**
Silver Sponsor $100
One Ticket for a reserved seat at the event
One Ticket to invitation-only private reception with Tom Woods
Gold Sponsor $250
One Ticket for a reserved seat at the event
One Ticket to invitation-only private reception with Tom Woods
One Copy of Tom Woods' newest book "Nullification"
Platinum Sponsor $500
Five Tickets for reserved seats at the event
Three Tickets to invitation-only private reception with Tom Woods
One copy of Tom Woods' newest book "Nullification"
96” x 30” Table in entrance way of the event for your business or organization
Your name, business, or organization published on all promotional materials.
*If you have made a prior contribution, you qualify for the sponsorship level that corresponds with your secured donation amount. If you wish to make a second contribution, your net contribution will be considered toward your sponsorship level.
**Student VIP seating is also available for $5 a seat (please include "Student" in the donation memo and bring a valid student ID to the door at the event).
Bringing Tom Woods to this campus is important to me, and I hope to you, too. If you agree with me that IUB sorely needs a freedom-loving speaker, please contribute through our PayPal account, HERE.
In Liberty,
Samuel Spaiser
President
YAL at Indiana University Bloomington
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Comments
Is this Board funded by student fees? Is it the only body that distributes student fees to students orgs?
Why does this Board have to have a hand in something other than the funding? So it's only going to fund something that it can have more control over? Why should a group like YAL, in order to get funds for an event, be forced to accept the help of students outside their group who may disagree politically?! This is unfair to ANY student group but esp. to political and religious groups.
Am I reading this right?
Mar 05, 10:55 am
There is also IUSA, where we could possibly get the $3000 from, but the Lectures Committee seemed specifically appropriate for the event. They did stress that it wasn't a political issue, and although they seemed sincere, I do understand your point. The Board is indeed funded by student fees. However, I wanted to see this to an end, and as far as I can tell, I've found the end, and it's time to fully pursue other means.
Mar 05, 11:11 am
I think one of the key points is that they've now changed their story: First it was his academic credentials which were the problem. Now that they're in the media spotlight, his credentials are suddenly not an issue and it's just a procedural matter where you all planned too much to need their help. This is a revealing shift and -- I'd argue -- implies that they're on defense now.
Mar 08, 11:34 am
I accidentally ran across this article and I couldn't agree with you more. It appears that it must be an old's wives tale that the purpose of the university is to help young adults become independent critical thinkers. Guess that was wishful thinking regarding that train of thought. The board should take on more of a consulting role and allow the students the opportunity to go through the experience of putting the event together. That would be a greater teaching experience but as an older returning student at I. U. East I quite often see this type of control on the campus. Like a mother smothering a child rather than letting that child have an opportunity for growth. Never be afraid to stand up for something; it is better than blindly following like sheep.
Mar 07, 7:21 pm
Too well prepared to get funding...
So, the purpose of the board's existence is to reward incompetence?
Mar 08, 7:51 pm