A week ago today, a majority of the Programs Finance Committee voted to reject the Oregon Commentator’s mission statement. As the ASUO and Student Senate presidents, we both write to express our disapproval of this decision and to convey our confidence that the checks and balances in place will ensure that all student groups are properly funded.
During last Wednesday’s hearing, several members of the PFC used their votes to voice student disgust for recent articles published by the Commentator. While we too often disagree with the Commentator’s editorial decisions, it is of the utmost importance that our personal feelings about a publication’s content do not interfere with the funding process.
The PFC plays an important role on our campus: allocating your incidental fees to a wide array of student groups in an effort to enrich the college experience for us all.
The US Supreme Court’s Southworth decision affirms this important supplement to our education while also introducing viewpoint-neutrality as an imperative protection for students with unpopular beliefs. Southworth requires that “in the interest of open discussion, (fee allocation) may not prefer some viewpoints to others.”
In the case of the Oregon Commentator, PFC has rightly recognized the benefit student publications provide to our campus, and must not deny funding to this conservative journal on the basis of its content. Should PFC manage the unanimous vote needed to defund the Commentator, we will work to prevent the proposal from moving through Student Senate, after which it would meet certain veto by the Executive.
The firmness of our response does not reflect a lack of regard for the students deeply concerned about the Commentator’s subject matter. We hope instead to illustrate our resolve to conduct a fair incidental fee process, respectful of the Constitution’s First Amendment.
In short, PFC must not decide to insulate us from speech we find distasteful and even vile. On the contrary, PFC should continue to empower students by allowing a forum in which we can debate issues any student finds meaningful. Ending discussion by defunding the Commentator may seem worthwhile at first glance, but is instead myopic. Social and political progress is much less likely in an environment where debate is stifled and ideas remain unchallenged.
The vigor of this dialogue is only possible on a campus where students control, and correctly administer, the incidental fees. Members of the PFC should preserve our right to speech and properly fund the
Oregon Commentator.

Adam Petkun is ASUO president
and James George is Student Senate president