Press Release:
Drexel Democrats To Protest After Drexel University and Bennett S. LeBow College Of Business Decline To Offer Democratic Presence at Santorum Social Security Event.

It has come to the attention of the Drexel University College Democrats that Senator Rick Santorum will be speaking on the matter of Social Security reform as part of the Public Policy Forum of the Office of Government and Community Relations and the Guest Lecture Series of the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business. The event will take place at 10 AM, Tuesday, February 22nd, at Behrakis Grand Hall (32nd and Chestnut Streets).

Given the partisan nature of his platform and rhetoric, we feel that this forum will be lacking without a counter viewpoint. We believe that Senator Santorum will be using this academic forum as a guise for the Bush Administration's national tour to promote social security privatization. Given Senator Santorum's highly polemic rhetoric and close ties to the Bush Administration's agenda, we fear that he would use this opportunity to merely lobby the Social Security Reform bill, rather than to educate the Drexel community.

Because of these concerns, the Drexel Democrats have respectfully requested of the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business that an elected Democratic official or academic may be invited to the forum to address and correct partisan rhetoric. Surely, academic discourse would be elevated with multiple viewpoints, in order to allow for Drexel's students to think critically about issues pertaining to their future. Regrettably, Drexel University has refused to meet this request.

The Drexel Democrats believe that as this request has not be met, the organization has the right to and will organize against said event beginning at 9 AM on Tuesday, February 22nd, directly in front of Behrakis Grand Hall. The Drexel Democrats have requested information on the university's regulations on this matter, and will abide to and respect all regulations that the university may have regarding the right to organize and protest.
In addition to the Drexel Democrats, other local democrats groups and progressive grassroots organizations will be in attendance, including but not limited to the University of Pennsylvania Democrats, Philly For Change, and the Action Alliance of Senior Citizens.

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