Scholastic Magazine University of Notre Dame's Student Magazine since 1867

Sara Felsenstein

Last April, a group of Notre Dame students sought to change a school policy that seemed to be hindering political discussion on campus. The old policy read: “Allocated funds may not be used in support of candidates whether federal, state, local or university level.”

Junior Grant Schmidt, student body vice president, says, “We realized that the three political party groups [College Democrats, College Republicans and College Libertarians] should have access to use their funds in support of a candidate post-convention because that’s their only job.”

The resolution needed approval from the Student Senate to be enacted. “It was approved 27–0, so that was a pretty big deal in order to show that this was definitely a change that students wanted to see,” Schmidt says.

Before the amendment there was an unequal distribution of funds among the three political groups. Now they receive equally allocated funds — $2,606.04, to be exact.

Junior Mark Flanagan, co-president of the College Libertarians, was in contact with senior Student Body President Bob Reish throughout last spring’s process. “We will be purchasing bumper stickers, club T-shirts, signs and literature in support of Bob Barr,” Flanagan says. “From a third-party point of view, we acknowledge and appreciate the equal allocation of funds provided to the three political groups on campus.”

Senior Spencer Howard, president of the College Democrats, says, “We have put up posters in dorms with information about Senator Obama’s energy policy, and we plan to have a couple more position posters up before the election.”

“Overall, [the amendment] is increasing political dialogue on campus,” Schmidt says. “The university isn’t taking a stance; it’s these political groups supporting a candidate.”