Freedom of speech or just offensive?

The John Carroll University College Conservatives have invited the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps co-founder to speak on campus on  April 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the LSC Room.

Simcox, who leads the political counterpart of the MCDC, is expected to speak about securing the U.S. borders so that illegal immigrants cannot enter. According to the MCDC headquarters Web site, Simcox calls for ceasing “wide open borders, where illegal aliens are given a free pass into our country, then given promises of guest worker amnesty once they’ve gotten in.”

JCU junior Julie Myers is organizing a non-violent protest for the speech. “We disagree with his violence and fear tactics against immigrants,” said Myers.

The president of the JCU College Conservatives, Brendan McCreary, said that the goal of the organization rests within principles rather than strictly politics. He said that this group differs from the College Republicans in that it does not endorse candidates or discuss legislation, but rather educates students about conservative theory, policy and ideals.

McCreary said, “Pro-immigration speakers have been invited to campus in the past, and we would like to bring a speaker in to provide the other side of the issue.”

Myers said, “From the standpoint of a Catholic university, we believed in the inherent dignity of every human being. Simcox’s hate speech denies people of the respect they deserve.”

While the College Conservatives group is yet to be officially recognized as a student organization by the University, it is funded through the Washington, D.C based Leadership Institute.

The Leadership Institute, which aims to place conservative groups on college campuses, holds a budget of $3,000 per semester for each group it sponsors. This budget is used to provide informational paraphernalia and literature.  These serve as educational resources that its members need to defend their beliefs and ideas. An estimated 25 JCU students belong to the organization.

“Simcox is against illegal immigration, and illegal immigration is already illegal. He wants to control borders,” said McCreary.
Yet, Simcox’s call for security seems to be problematic to many JCU students.

According to Southern Poverty Law Center’s Web site, Simcox “refuses to acknowledge that vigilant border patrols are potentially a magnet for violent racists.” The Web site also stated “White supremacist groups openly recruit for Minuteman patrols.”

In Simcox’s defense, McCreary said, “I don’t think it should be as controversial as it is. We want people to be educated and the University cannot ban people from campus.”

The content of Simcox’s speech is controversial, but plays to the tone of the First Amendment of free speech.

Senior Thomas Perko, another protestor, said, “Contrary to what the Supreme Court decided, I believe free speech exists everywhere and it is not limited at a private institution.  As such, I respect the students’ right to bring him here regardless of how much I repudiate anything associated with Simcox or the Minutemen.”

The College Conservatives are planning to bring in more speakers in the future such as pro-life advocates and fiscal conservatives. All students are welcome to attend the Simcox lecture.