David Swanson, After Downing Street
David A. Caputo
President, Pace University
New York City, NY
president@pace.edu
To President David A. Caputo
From David Swanson
I visited your university a couple of years ago for a presidential candidates debate, and the whole event was very well done. I still have a Pace sweatshirt. But I will feel less comfortable wearing it, knowing that you are charging two of your students with freedom of speech and assembly. These are not crimes, but protected rights under the first amendment to the US Constitution.
Because of failures in our educational system, many students are guilting of failure to hold rallies and perform the other duties required of democratic citizens. But you are charging your students with “Failure to register a rally.” This is akin to finding an alcoholic who’se finally sobered up and charging him with unlawful use of a water fountain. Where are our priorities?
Many students never learn to act as citizens, to form opinions, and to urge those opinions peacefully and nonviolently on their fellows. The role of a university should be to encourage such habits. Yet, you are charging your students with “Violation of distribution and solicitation policy.” Why? Were they advocating violence? Were they selling something? Were they infringing on anyone else’s rights? No, they were fighting the apathy that their elders constantly condemn while imposing on them by force. Are you not ashamed?
A healthy society is one in which people are free to organize. Yet you are accusing your students of “Reservation of university space by an unrecognized organization.” What you fail to recognize is the value of organization as something you should be teaching, not regulating.
Please reconsider. Don’t expell the leaders among your students. Learn from them.
David Swanson
http://www.davidswanson.org
http://www.democrats.com Washington Director
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org Co-Founder
http://www.pdamerica.org Board Member
http://www.impeachpac.org Washington Director