St. Kate's students protest ban on political speakers

Student protest
A student at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul protests the school's decision to not allow political speakers on campus.
MPR Photo/Tim Post

About two dozen students at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul protested the school's decision to deny political speakers a chance to appear on campus.

Students representing several groups at St. Kate's are unhappy that school administrators didn't allow conservative commentator Bay Buchanan to speak on campus.

Protest at St. Kate's
About two dozen students gathered at the College of St. Catherine to protest the school's decision to deny political speakers a chance to appear on campus.
MPR Photo/Tim Post

The same decision was made when speaking requests came from former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken. "We really feel that shut out a lot of communication and dialogue that could've happened for the community surrounding political speakers, and what issues they had to bring and what they had to say," said senior Sarah Stockholm.

The college's dean of student affairs Brian Bruess says the school didn't allow the events for fear all sides wouldn't get a chance at equal time, and that runs against tax rules governing non-profit institutions.

"We are absolutely an active, engaged, vibrant atmosphere, including political engagement. But doing so in a way that's consistent and supportive of our obligations with the IRS," said Bruess.

The student protesters are scheduled to meet with college administrators tomorrow to discuss the issue further.