Protests may lead to allocations reform

Daily Kent Stater

In continued opposition to the $82,000 price tag assigned to Bill O’Reilly, students are organizing in formal protest. Ultimately, the protests will be unsuccessful, as the College Republicans, the student group bringing O’Reilly to campus on a date yet to be determined, filed all the appropriate paperwork and went through all the correct channels to secure the money for the event.

However, this is still an encouraging step, as the student groups are discussing this issue and aren’t apathetically standing to the side.

It is disheartening to see students complain about an event on campus, but do nothing about it. That is why representatives from different student groups – Black United Students, Student Anti-Racist Action, Students Eliminating Environmental Destruction and Muslim Student Association, for example – coming together is a step toward a more involved Kent State community. It is arguable that had this sort of involvement been present when Undergraduate Student Senators were elected or when Allocation Committee applicants were chosen, that O’Reilly wouldn’t be a factor.

Apathy has plagued this campus for too long, but this recent campaign rings with the hope for a more involved collegiate community.

There is potential in this incident for allocations reform. If the group that is against O’Reilly’s price tag really wants to bring about a change, and not merely complain about milk that’s already been spilt, then they will work towards setting dollar limits on how much student organizations can request for one event. This way, never again will 34 percent of a semester’s funds go to one occasion.

It doesn’t seem realistic to get excited about the idea of O’Reilly not coming to campus. As soon as the two parties can settle a date, it will happen. However, it may come to pass that the start of good reform will be found in this ugly incident.

The above editorial is a consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board, whose members are listed above.