By Sara Russo

Flyers posted around the campus of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo by the University's College Republicans group advertising a "Rally for Our Troops" became targets of a faculty-led campaign for removal when they were deemed "hate speech" by professors and administrators. The posters pictured terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden and other symbols of the war against terrorism.

"Your posters denigrate an entire people, advocate nuclear attack and incite hatred-all in the name of 'supporting our troops,'" Patricia Harris, an assistant director in Cal Poly's Office of Leadership, Education, and Development wrote to College Republicans President Brent Vann.

Harris proceeded to inform Vann that she believed the posters were a violation of the College Republicans' charter with the University.

"I have to tell you that I find these [posters] to be not only simple-minded, but also quite possibly a violation of your organization's by-laws, Article IV, Section D, which state that: 'this organization or any of its members, shall not conspire to commit any act which causes or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical or emotional harm to any member of the campus community,'" Harris wrote. "Did you give any thought to how these posters with their crude and ignorant stereotypes might affect your fellow students who are also fellow American citizens and voters, and who are of Middle-Eastern background?"

"Your actions are an embarrassment to the university, to your party, and to your country," Harris concluded.

The flyers in no way stereotype Middle Easterners as anti-American, disputes Vann. "The posters they are attacking us for only show Osama bin Laden on them, not Arabs or Persians, some of whom are active members of our club," he explained.

Several designs of posters were created, both to encourage attendance at the "Rally for Our Troops" and to inform students about the College Republicans' weekly meetings. One flyer pictured Osama bin Laden sitting atop a flying carpet and riding in front of a fighter plane. Others contained patriotic images of the American flag crafted in steel, the Statue of Liberty cradling an infant, and the Iwo Jima Memorial. A more controversial poster illustrates the five-day weather outlook for Afghanistan with a mushroom cloud and temperature of 4500 degrees anticipated for the week's end.

Asked if she thought that the image of bin Laden on a flying carpet had angered students and faculty on campus, College Republicans director of public relations Amber Johnson responded, "Then why don't we boycott Disney because the movie Aladdin is also offensive."

Johnson expressed doubt that Harris had even seen the posters before she fired off the threatening e-mail to the College Republicans, and noted that the administrator had later sent an informal apology to the club.

Vann believes that the administration's vehement reaction to the posters highlights the wide breach in political sentiment between patriotic students and the Cal Poly administration. "It's obvious that the people on this campus who are preaching tolerance are only preaching tolerance for terrorists," he stated. "The only hate speech on campus is from campus radical leftists and their pals in the faculty and administration who show their hatred for America's values on a daily basis. You would think thousands of dead Americans would help them wake up to the importance of the military in maintaining our freedoms."

"I hope this is not just another example in a long line of Republican bashing on a college campus," added Cal Poly College Republicans faculty advisor Laura Freberg, one of the few registered Republicans teaching on campus. "My intuition is that this discussion is not at all about the flyer, but a difference of opinion regarding current national policy."

The rally, which took place on Thursday, November 15, was meant to counteract the "divisive anti-American demonstrations organized by leftist groups on campus," said Cal Poly College Republican president Brent Vann. The campus ROTC and local veterans will be present at the Rally as invited speakers.

Recent demonstrations on campus included a five-day fast to protest US military actions in Afghanistan, a candlelight vigil, and an on campus peace march which ended in a "die-in," a protest technique in which students lie on the ground pretending they are victims of a massacre, at the administration building.

Difficulties with the Cal Poly administration surfaced not only in advertising for the pro-American rally, but also in orchestrating the details of the event. "We were told that no electronics and/or public address system can be used," explained Vann. "However last week the California Faculty Association (Union) held a protest, with the same socialist group on campus….They were allowed a full podium, with a microphone and all. And not one American flag was in sight."

Amber Johnson, director of public relations for the Cal Poly College Republicans, told Campus Report that no reason has been given for the discrepancy in allowing amplification equipment at the peace protest held by the California Faculty Association, but not at the "Rally for Our Troops." The College Republican rally will be held in the same time slot as the peace protest, a special period during which no classes are taking place, and all students are free to attend events on campus.

Despite all these obstacles, the College Republicans expect the rally to be highly successful. Johnson believes that due to the organization's close ties with the community and extensive involvement in past political elections, the rally is likely to attract "at least a couple hundred people."

Johnson noted that a police presence has already been ensured, due to the near certainty that protestors will also attend and attempt to disrupt the event. "We've been told today that the PSA [Progressive Student Alliance] is organizing a counterprotest," Johnson told Campus Report.

"It's a shame our professors are too busy attempting to muzzle anyone who believes in the importance of preventing another attack like the one on September 11th," opined College Republican president Vann. "It's sad that they have placed their ideology ahead of saving American lives."