While I do not agree with those who would be happy to see the invitation to President Obama to speak at May's Commencement address rescinded, I do admire their courage to stand up for their convictions. To see such an example of principled action in post modern America is indeed refreshing. I encourage those who are opposed to the President speaking to continue their fight long after May of 2009. There are a host of meaningful and substantive follow up actions the protesters can engage in.
While the list would be too long to list in The Observer, off the top of my head I came up with a pretty good one: All protesters should immediately return any FAFSA scholarship money they have received from the federal government that has been applied to their tuition. Also, any unsubsidized Stafford loans should also be returned, converted to private loans and be immediately subject to interest rates as they were at the time of the loan signing. If there is one thing this controversy is teaching us, it is that principle cannot be compromised. And from the vehemence of the protesters so far expressed, it would not be hard for anyone to believe that they would return all of this free money they were given from an immoral and unjustifiable federal government.
Steve McDevitt
alumnus
class of 2007
April 27
