Students Stand Up to Murtha

The College Republicans would like to congratulate those who stood up to John Murtha's liberal rant of a commencement speech on Saturday. While we had all hoped that he would keep his speech non-partisan, taking the time to advise students on their future, Murtha instead dipped into his stock "pull out the troops" message. Parents and students alike booed the Congressman, the Trib reported.

Seton Hill's insistence on bringing liberal speakers to campus (without any representation from the conservative side) met with deserved resistance at the commencement speech. The Trib's report that Murtha failed to capture the hearts of everyone attending, as only roughly more than half of the graduates stood to applaud the Congressman.

Special congratulations to Geoff Monsour, a Marine and a graduate from Seton Hill's business program, who went out of his way to inform Murtha of his inappropriate choice of politicizing a commencement speech. Mike Whiteman, another graduate, also spoke out, telling the Trib, "I don't think it was appropriate. This is about graduation, not agenda-setting." Anyone who decided to stand up against the liberal propaganda being pushed at this year's commencement is a crusader for academic freedom and student rights.

The role of the commencement speaker is to offer inspiration and advice to graduating seniors, not promote a political message (whether conservative or liberal, it doesn't belong). However, Seton Hill's insistence on embracing such liberal speakers doesn't seem to be stopping. The Trib article closes with President JoAnne Boyle welcoming Murtha back anytime. Let's hope that whenever he does return, we have people like Geoff around!