It was essential that Weinberg junior Andrew Thompson did not stand too close to The Arch or The Rock while passing out literature supporting Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul. Instead, during its political rally Nov. 28, Students for Ron Paul confined themselves to the sidewalk and the grassy areas in between.
Though The Rock is considered a focal point for gatherings on campus, holding a political rally there is against Northwestern policies.
Because Students for Ron Paul is not a recognized Associated Student Government group, Thompson - the group's founder and leader - had to petition for permission from ASG to reserve the area. But soon after he received ASG's approval, Thompson was informed that permission was denied by the administration.
"Students are, of course, free to assemble and to discuss their political views and to work in support of - or against - candidates of their choosing," said Thomas Cline, NU Vice President and General Counsel, in an e-mail to The Daily.
Because NU is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt institution, the university cannot engage in partisan political activity. For example, the university cannot endorse a candidate. But the Internal Revenue Code's prohibition is broader, which prevents the university from letting student groups use its resources to campaign for a candidate.
Student groups are allowed to meet in university buildings to discuss political issues as long as they are promoting causes - the Democratic candidates as a whole or a political issue like health care - without endorsing an individual candidate. Political rallies, endorsements and individual advocacy for campaigns are prohibited.
Violating that section of the code could mean both tax penalties and a revocation of NU's tax-exempt status.
More general political action groups, such as College Democrats, have not run into trouble with the policy because they refrain from endorsing candidates.
"Officially as a group, we don't endorse any candidate," said Alexandra Hunstein, secretary of College Democrats and a Communication sophomore. "We talk about many different Democratic candidates because we don't want to isolate any members of the group."
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