Politics-Exempt

Anyone who runs a student group knows about the 501(c)(3) section of the federal tax code. This section, which makes nonprofit groups tax exempt, shelters many student groups, and, in fact, the University itself.

But in return for tax-exempt status, the law puts restrictions on such groups and institutions. For instance, the 501(c)(3) rule states that these institutions may not "participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office." This seems fair — why should campaigning be tax-exempt? But the University is so afraid of losing its tax-exempt status that it has kept student groups from bringing candidates to Princeton, thereby limiting our education as voting citizens.

A couple of weeks ago, Jon Corzine's New Jersey Senate campaign staff and the College Democrats arranged for the candidate to speak at the University. The event was a last-minute arrangement, as most campaign stops generally are. The College Democrats managed to secure a room in Frist, and members of Corzine's staff walked through the place to make sure everything would run smoothly for their boss. Many students, including those of us who hope Corzine goes down in defeat, expressed interest in seeing him. Then the College Democrats went to the University to fill out a registration form for the event.

They were told that if Corzine came, he would not be allowed to speak.

Why? The College Democrats were directed to pages 19 through 21 of Rights, Rules, Responsibilities, which outlines the University's policies for tax-exempt status and political activities. So long as the activity is not overtly campaign-oriented and people can ask questions afterward, nowhere in the rules does it state that candidates cannot visit campus.

But the University — according to the College Democrats — said it needed enough time to consult with the lawyers to make sure it was all right that Corzine appeared. Because the Corzine event was scheduled for the same day as the Clinton speech, the office of the dean of undergraduate students also worried about security issues. A few hours between events, they said, wasn't enough time. Consequently, none of us got to hear the man who may be our next senator.

There are lots of other rules, too — some bordering on the ridiculous. To maintain the appearance of non-partisanship, individual groups must invite all major candidates in any particular race to appear on campus even if they wish to invite just one. When the College Republicans (of which I am a part) invited Rodney Fisk, who is running for Princeton Borough Council, to talk tomorrow afternoon, we learned we also had to invite the Democratic candidates. It wasn't enough for the College Democrats to invite them — it had to come from us.

When the Princeton Green Party invited Ralph Nader '55 to speak, it also had to issue invitations to the Bush and Gore campaigns. Had either of those two candidates accepted, the Green Party students would have had to organize those events too. Not the Republicans or Democrats. It had to be the Greens. Eventually it becomes easier for student groups not to invite anyone at all.

Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Students Thomas Dunne said he realizes these rules make bringing candidates to campus difficult, but that the University's tax status is always in danger. Other institutions have come under investigation for possible partisan activities. There's a lot of money at Princeton waiting to be taxed should some IRS agent get it in his head to do so.

No one is arguing that the University shouldn't try to protect its tax-exempt status. It makes sense that we can't hold fund raisers on campus, and that the University can't endorse particular candidates (thank goodness).

But there should be some way to protect the University while still recognizing that students have their own party loyalties. The College Republicans and College Democrats have decided to cosponsor an event for the Borough Council candidates — tomorrow afternoon at 5 p.m. in Frist 307. This solution works, but it will not always be feasible to invite all candidates to all events or to cosponsor every event, particularly when appearances at Princeton tend to happen as last-minute campaign stops.

If anything, the University should be trying to make it easier for student groups to bring candidates to campus. As it says in Rights, Rules, Responsibilities, "The University continues to consider self-chosen participation in political and social action by individuals and groups to be a valuable part of the educational experience it seeks to encourage." Our educational experience was lessened by the cancellation of the Corzine speech, and the loss of any other candidates who these rules have discouraged from coming to the University. Laura Vanderkam is a Wilson School major from Granger, Ind. She can be reached at laurav@princeton.edu.