Brashier feeds FIRE
CCAC student claims First Amendment rights were squashed
Levi MtJoy and Amanda King, contributing reporter
Issue date: 5/31/09 Section: News
"Using the name of the college has a certain weight to it, and anything that has CCAC on it implies the college's approval," Schlatterer said.
Brashier stated on her Internet forum, "I work in an office, and have the ability to print things which in any campaign of any kind is useful. I'm also fairly handy with a computer, and pretty accurate with a firearm."
Brashier told the Voice she has legally carried a Bersa Thunder .380 semi-automatic handgun since 2007 and has never had any lessons on gun handling or safety but plans to enroll in the fall.
When asked why she was so adamant about forming a club, she told the Voice, "I thought it would look nice on a college transcript."
Nina Lyons, Director of Student Life at North Campus, said CCAC absolutely upholds First Amendment rights, including free discussion on the right to carry concealed weapons on campus, but distribution of materials and recruitment for a campus club that is not established is against college policy.
"Talking about it and doing it are two different things," Lyons told the Voice. "When students come to me with interest in organizing clubs, I give them the paperwork and inform them of the process behind establishing a club."
Brashier said she was "interrogated" by Allegheny Campus Dean of Student Development Yvonne Burns and Student Development Specialist Jean Snider about the pamphlets and was asked to destroy all copies.
Brashier also told the Voice she had been in contact with Burns and thought she would not be in violation when handing out material.
"Whether or not people believe that Burns told me that I had to destroy pamphlets and said that she would never recognize the group at CCAC really doesn't matter," Brashier told the Voice. "I have support now."
Brashier wrote on Campaign for Liberty's website, a non-profit 501c4 lobbying organization, that Burns "feels it is okay to trample a paying students first, second, and fifth amendment rights and threaten academic probation to keep students from discussing a cause she dislikes."
Burns would not comment to the Voice about Brashier's statements.
David Hoovler, CCAC Director of Public Relations told the Voice the college stands by its original statement that Brashier "never faced any disciplinary action from CCAC and remains in good standing at the College" and that "the student is welcome to follow the appropriate CCAC procedures to seek recognition of the proposed group as a student organization."
Hoovler also reiterated to the Voice "CCAC does not have any intention to limit the student's involvement in the group or her ability to discuss her own political viewpoint."
Michael Stefanchik, Dean of Administration at North Campus, told the Voice that CCAC continues to uphold its current weapon policy and that the college's stand on that policy is not likely to change.
Brashier stated on her Internet forum, "I work in an office, and have the ability to print things which in any campaign of any kind is useful. I'm also fairly handy with a computer, and pretty accurate with a firearm."
Brashier told the Voice she has legally carried a Bersa Thunder .380 semi-automatic handgun since 2007 and has never had any lessons on gun handling or safety but plans to enroll in the fall.
When asked why she was so adamant about forming a club, she told the Voice, "I thought it would look nice on a college transcript."
Nina Lyons, Director of Student Life at North Campus, said CCAC absolutely upholds First Amendment rights, including free discussion on the right to carry concealed weapons on campus, but distribution of materials and recruitment for a campus club that is not established is against college policy.
"Talking about it and doing it are two different things," Lyons told the Voice. "When students come to me with interest in organizing clubs, I give them the paperwork and inform them of the process behind establishing a club."
Brashier said she was "interrogated" by Allegheny Campus Dean of Student Development Yvonne Burns and Student Development Specialist Jean Snider about the pamphlets and was asked to destroy all copies.
Brashier also told the Voice she had been in contact with Burns and thought she would not be in violation when handing out material.
"Whether or not people believe that Burns told me that I had to destroy pamphlets and said that she would never recognize the group at CCAC really doesn't matter," Brashier told the Voice. "I have support now."
Brashier wrote on Campaign for Liberty's website, a non-profit 501c4 lobbying organization, that Burns "feels it is okay to trample a paying students first, second, and fifth amendment rights and threaten academic probation to keep students from discussing a cause she dislikes."
Burns would not comment to the Voice about Brashier's statements.
David Hoovler, CCAC Director of Public Relations told the Voice the college stands by its original statement that Brashier "never faced any disciplinary action from CCAC and remains in good standing at the College" and that "the student is welcome to follow the appropriate CCAC procedures to seek recognition of the proposed group as a student organization."
Hoovler also reiterated to the Voice "CCAC does not have any intention to limit the student's involvement in the group or her ability to discuss her own political viewpoint."
Michael Stefanchik, Dean of Administration at North Campus, told the Voice that CCAC continues to uphold its current weapon policy and that the college's stand on that policy is not likely to change.