College Republicans stand their ground S.F. State

Samuel Lee Harrison, 21, left, of Benicia, speaks to members of the San Francisco State University College Republicans James Kincaid, second from left, Alan Perez, second from right, and Jamie Hunt, right, at the San Francisco State University campus in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 22, 2009. The club has been causing controversy on campus with events that many students find offensive. less Samuel Lee Harrison, 21, left, of Benicia, speaks to members of the San Francisco State University College Republicans James Kincaid, second from left, Alan Perez, second from right, and Jamie Hunt, right, at ... more Photo: Hardy Wilson, The Chronicle Photo: Hardy Wilson, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close College Republicans stand their ground 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

The College Republicans student club set up a table on the San Francisco State University quad, offering information about and speaking out against the Fairness Doctrine, which would require broadcasters to provide balanced and fair views of an issue.

Though the doctrine was eliminated in 1987, there is some talk of reinstating it. Conservative groups - like the College Republicans - oppose that move because the doctrine could curb conservative talk-radio shows.

James Kincaid, president of the San Francisco State College Republicans, and three other club members were gathering signatures for a petition to stop the Fairness Doctrine when Jacob Barcena, a junior studying music, stopped by to ask a few questions.

"What do you do beyond ruffling feathers on campus?" he asked.

At San Francisco State, which has a long and storied history of activism and a diverse and liberal student body, the College Republicans stand out. While the scene at the table last month was tame, some of the group's past events have been anything but: A bake sale to support a wall at the Mexico border, an anti-terrorism rally that invited students to throw a shoe at a Hamas flag and a victory party for George W. Bush's re-election in 2004 all drew heated protests.

Going too far?

Members of the College Republicans say such high-profile events help spread their conservative message. But students from some campus groups say the Republicans go too far with their events and disrespect others.

"I'd like to see the school re-establish that line between making a political statement and defaming someone's religious, sexual or moral beliefs," said Anthony Aboujaoude, president of the San Francisco State Muslim Student Association.

But after a March 2008 lawsuit settlement, in which a federal court found the California State University system violated the First Amendment rights of the group, campus administration is taking a hands-off approach.

San Francisco State's College Republicans group was formed in 2003 and has nearly 300 members. It is part of a national group with 45 charter groups in California. "We've done a good job of establishing ourselves on campus and opening up political dialogue," said Leigh Wolf, a former president of the group. "In the '60s, left-of-center students wanted a place on this campus, and now it's the opposite."

In the past, the College Republicans held political forums and debates, but because of lackluster participation, the group scratched that approach, Wolf said. Today, it favors more in-your-face events.

At a February event, the College Republicans invited students to throw a shoe at the Hamas flag, a sign of disrespect in Muslim culture. Some students protested the event, and two nonstudents, were arrested.

'Misguided patriots'

"They've been known to stir people up on campus," said Coby Obiesie, a senior coordinator for the Black Student Union on campus. "They are the misguided patriots of America."

In March 2006, the College Republicans held a bake sale to raise funds for the Border Fence Project, which supports building a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. They had a makeshift wall around their table and dressed in fatigues to resemble border patrol agents. A protest over the bake sale turned violent, and Kincaid suffered minor head injuries after being hit by a glass bottle.

"I'm pretty sure they knew it (the event) was going to make people angry," said David Verdin, a member of the student group La Raza.

Nonetheless, the group has become a model for College Republicans, said Michael Antopolis, administrative vice chairman of the national group. "We encourage clubs to follow the example of the S.F. State College Republicans," Antopolis said.

And one club - the College Democrats - is trying to live with its political rival. In recent years, the two groups have co-hosted events such as political debates and a 9/11 memorial.

"They've done things that I don't necessarily agree with, but I think they're important to the campus and provide important political dialogue," said Renee Darner, president of the College Democrats.

In 2007, the College Republicans organized an anti-terrorism rally that involved stepping on homemade flags of Hezbollah and Hamas. Some student groups complained that the group was disrespecting a flag that carried the word "Allah" on it. The school investigated.

The university found that no rules had been broken and did not pursue further action. But the College Republicans sued the California State University system, alleging a violation of First Amendment rights.

Favorable decision

The court found in favor of the group, and, as a result, the California Education Code was amended to make it clear that "civility" could not be grounds for student discipline. The court also required the university system to pay the group, its president and vice president each $100, as well as $41,000 in legal fees.

"Disagreements, expression, exploration of ideas and debate are in fact central to universities - and activities highly valued at S.F. State," university spokeswoman Ellen Griffin said in an e-mail. "We teach our students to aspire to civil and responsible free speech that reflects tolerance, mutual respect and values of equity and social justice."

Kincaid, the group president, says the Republicans have every right to be on campus. "We are not going to be intimidated."