Students told attending Hillary press conference was “part of class”

FITSNews – October 18, 2007

Students at Claflin University, a historically black college in Orangeburg, are accusing the school’s administration of prohibiting them from forming a Students for Barack Obama chapter, yet simultaneously compelling them to attend a press conference supporting his chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton.

In fact, several students who serve as volunteers on Obama’s presidential campaign tell FITSNews that they were coerced into holding Clinton signs and standing behind State Sen. John Matthews, who unveiled Clinton’s higher education plan at a press conference held at the school last week.

Which would probably explain some of the unenthusiastic expressions visible in this photograph.

Here’s what we’ve been told:

About three weeks ago, an honors student at Claflin University says she approached the administration about establishing a Students for Barack Obama chapter at the school. The student was told that she and fellow students could not form such a group on campus, but no reason was given for the school’s decision.

Fast-forward to last week, when this same honors student says that she and other Obama supporters were in a class that was cancelled so that students could attend Sen. Matthews‚ presentation on behalf of the Clinton campaign. She and other scholarship students say they were “coerced by administrators” into standing behind Matthews during his address. About half of those students are Obama volunteers who felt they had “no choice” but to stand behind Matthews at the event.

Not surprisingly, Clinton stickers and placards were passed out while the Senator was making his presentation, and a sign-up form for the Clinton campaign was circulated, which many of the students said they felt they were obligated to sign.

Claflin is technically a private institution, but it receives millions of dollars in government grants each year due to its historically-black designation.

According to a senior U.S. Department of Education official who spoke with FITSNews on the condition of anonymity, the school’s political favoritism – if proven true – may violate the irst Amendment rights of these students, as well as a federal prohibition against using tax dollars to promote a political campaign.

“It stinks to high heaven,” the official said. “Given that Claflin receives federal money and based on the school’s clear support for Clinton and its efforts to limit support for Obama, this could be a violation of that prohibition. It could also be a potential violation of the First Amendment rights of free speech and free association, but you’d have to determine the constitutional standard for a private school that accepts federal dollars. Are they considered a government actor for constitutional purposes or not? That’s what a case like this would hinge on.”

Claflin University did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment. Clinton’s campaign said it would look into the allegations.

Reading an item in today’s paper was salt in a fresh wound. Seems that dogs in my neighborhood are fair game for animal control officers, who now have the authority to shoot them. Thanks to Lexington County Council’s recent revision of law, “nuisance dogs” may be shot after other methods of trapping them fail.

This news pains me deeply. As an animal lover and passionate vegetarian, I already find it hard to live in a place where hunting is glorified and animal welfare is so low on our list of priorities. But this license to shoot dogs is shocking.

I shouldn’t be surprised, really. Ours is a culture that buys into property rights in a big way, which in turn feeds a mindset that dominion and ownership afford the powerful the right to control the powerless. It is how, I believe, we tolerate such high rates of domestic violence and child abuse. Small wonder we are also the home to organized fighting using dogs, hogs and gamecocks. Violence isn’t just accepted, it’s entertainment.

The fresh wound? It happened Sunday. I was out running in the woods near my home when I came across a dog that was severely malnourished and appeared to have been on his own for way too long. He wouldn’t let me touch him, but I coaxed him to follow me back to the house, where I gave him food and water. After several hours of working to get him to trust me, I was able to get close enough to read the tag on his collar.

I left a message for the owner, Pierre Lybrand, who called back and said he was on his way to retrieve the dog. He said he’d just gotten out of church. But what I’d thought would be a happy reunion turned ugly after the man showed up. The dog cowered when approached, and Pierre ended up dragging him to the truck and throwing him into a cage in back.

When I asked how long the dog had been missing, he said “since yesterday.” That’s when I lost it, and threatened to call the Humane Society. He said, “He’s a hunting dog,” as if that explained the clear neglect. “I’ve got 12 dogs. Go ahead and call them.”

I knew I wouldn’t. The dogs would be removed and euthanized. I couldn’t do it.

So instead I’m left with a profound sense of guilt and sadness, wondering if I did the right thing. I can’t shake the look in those eyes as the dog was hauled off, back to his life of abuse. God bless him. And God help the rest of us.

Becci Robbins