After more than four hours of debate over wording, the Undergraduate Council of Students passed "A Resolution Calling for Accurate Coverage of the Students of Brown University by The O'Reilly Factor and the Fox News Channel" during its weekly meeting Wednesday night in Petterutti Lounge.
The resolution, drafted by David Beckoff '08, academic and administrative affairs chair; Jonathan Margolick '06, UCS/UFB representative; and Zachary Townsend '08, admission and student services committee chair, was intended as a response to a segment "The O'Reilly Factor" Monday night that claimed to uncover University-sponsored "debauchery" at the annual Sex Power God party sponsored by the Queer Alliance.
"I have never seen so many students as offended and furious as after 'The O'Reilly Factor' aired," Beckoff said. "I think that it is our duty to formulate a swift response to the blatantly inaccurate information O'Reilly reported in his show."
The resolution calls upon Brown University Public Affairs and University Relations to ask the right-wing talk show host to correct inaccurate information he cited about the use of student government funds for the party, as well as his unsupported claim that students were treated for abuse of the drug ecstasy. The resolution also calls for a retraction and apology for "the unbecoming and derogatory language used in his characterizations of Brown University students and administrators on his cable show and radio program."
The resolution will be sent to O'Reilly, the Fox News Channel, Brown administrators and local newspapers.
UCS members denounced the personal attack O'Reilly leveled against President Ruth Simmons when he called her a "pinhead." In an attempt to disprove O'Reilly's statement, the resolution lists Simmons' academic and professional accomplishments.
During the debate, members of UCS said they were extremely concerned with O'Reilly's lack of respect for the privacy of Brown students, especially in light of the TV host's frequent emphasis on personal privacy. Though it may be legal for O'Reilly to display the faces of students being assisted by EMS, members of UCS questioned his ethics.
Although students from other schools were able to purchase tickets and attend Sex Power God, many members of UCS believed attendees still deserved some measure of personal privacy. "There is a huge difference between students with personal cameras taking pictures and live footage on national television," said UCS Representative Kevin McDonald '08.
The resolution also questions O'Reilly's motives for featuring Brown and Sex Power God on his program. "The O'Reilly Factor unfairly impugned liberals, homosexuals and the Brown education," the resolution reads.
"Students get drunk and go to parties wearing practically nothing every weekend on college campuses across the nation. Why did O'Reilly specifically target Brown University?" Margolick asked.
The committee briefly discussed the possibility of creating a council within the Ivy League to address future concerns about news coverage of prestigious, liberal schools that are targeted by conservative media.
Many members of UCS said they struggled with the delicate line that separates standing up for the University and sinking to O'Reilly's level of mudslinging and personal attacks.
Brandon English '06, a community member who attended the meeting, urged members against passing the resolution. "We're only giving him more ammunition. He's obviously homophobic and anti-liberal. We should be passing a resolution that's based on facts and not opinions that will be misquoted anyways," he said.
Several members of UCS shared English's opinion. "We need to be very careful and realize that we aren't sending this resolution to someone fair and reasonable. O'Reilly will take our words and twist them against us," said Alumni Relations Liaison Doug Faron '06.
Student Activities Chair Cash McCracken '08 asked everyone in the room to think seriously about the consequences of passing the resolution. "Everyone here is very emotional right now. We need to step back and look at all the possible outcomes and realize that none of them are positive. It's much more beneficial for us to spend our time debating actual changes to future policy," he said.
After hours of heated debate and several amendments to wording and tone, the resolution finally passed with a unanimous vote.
During the meeting, UCS also announced that Spring Weekend will begin April 23, 2006. The first performance will begin after sundown in order to accommodate students observing the final night of Passover. In addition, venues will be chosen with an emphasis on respecting the needs of students preparing for the Medical College Admission Test.
Dean of Admission James Miller and Director of Financial Aid Michael Bartini were also present to discuss policy changes connected to the Boldly Brown campaign. In an attempt to increase yield among accepted students, the admission office is considering personalized acceptance letters that contain references to individual applications. Miller also discussed a proposal to pay to fly students to ADOCH who could not otherwise afford to attend, based on his belief that students who see Brown are more likely to attend.
Bartini addressed the need to raise additional resources to match increases in annual tuition, which is predicted to reach $50,000 by 2015.
Campus Life Chair Deanna Chaukos '08 and Brian Becker '09, a class representative, discussed possible 24-hour study spaces in the Ivy Room, Arnold Lounge, Morriss-Champlin Hall and Barbour Hall. They also proposed renovations of run-down lounges in Perkins Hall, Hope College, Littlefield Hall and New Pembroke 3.
Bidadi told those present that he had spoken to President Ruth Simmons about the planned revision of party policies and gotten assurances that students would be integral to the policy review. The University is not looking to overturn "beneficial" alcohol policies, he said.
Treasurer Will Cunningham '07 reported that UCS has approximately $3,000 in its account that will go back to the Undergraduate Finance Board if it is not used. He suggested giving $789 left in UCS's travel budget to the University to send another bus to the football team's game at Columbia this weekend. "We need to support the football team," he said.
Class Representative Sarah Damiano '08 announced the nominees for UCS's Excellence in Teaching award, which will be presented to the winners of a WebCT vote at a dinner Dec. 8. WebCT voting will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday and continue until 11 p.m. Tuesday, she said.
