BYU Students, Grassroot Donors Make Anti-Cheney Graduation a Reality

[babylonsister]

:applause: :woohoo: :woohoo: :applause:

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/232

BYU Students, Grassroot Donors Make Anti-Cheney Graduation a Reality
Submitted by BuzzFlash on Tue, 04/24/2007 - 11:51am. Alerts

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

The seniors at Brigham Young University never asked for a famous graduation speaker, and they certainly did not ask for a liberal one. They just wanted their diplomas and a celebration of their hard work. But when the school picked Dick Cheney to talk, an outraged student body acted boldly to take back their graduation.

In the midst of final exams, expiring leases, and post-college planning, BYU students organized protests, launched a petition which collected thousands of signatures, and tried to find alternative speakers and a separate venue. They were thwarted by BYU officials every step of the way.

Completely on their own, the students booked an auditorium in a different college and three prominent speakers (Ralph Nader, a former Utah Senate candidate, and a human rights advocate). The only problem: they needed $25,000 to pay for it all.

The students did their part to raise money - one made $1,000 over two days doing medical experiments - but they were still well short until local filmmaker Steven Greenstreet launched an online donation drive. Generous folks around the world helped exceed the $20,000 goal in just a few hours.

"Thank you so much for helping these kids out!" wrote Greenstreet. "They've been calling me and they're SO EXCITED!"

What a wonderful story: Conservative religious people openly rejecting the Bush Administration. Successful grassroots organization. Progressives putting their money where their mouth is to make a statement. And perhaps most importantly, a graduation ceremony for absolutely admirable students untainted by a pathological, sinister, maniac vice president.

[Robbien]

1. Another story "Web site pulls through for alternative BYU ceremony"

BRITTANI LUSK - Daily Herald

On Monday morning, students trying to raise money to host an alternative BYU commencement ceremony were $11,000 short of the $20,000 they needed for the event.

But by Monday night, they'd blown past their goal, organizers say, mostly thanks to a plea on the popular liberal Web site Daily Kos.

The BYU students are raising money to host Ralph Nader, Pete Ashdown and Jack Healey in an alternative ceremony because they are unhappy that Vice President Dick Cheney will be speaking at the official commencement.

By Friday, organizer Eric Bybee said the group had raised just $9,000 toward a $20,000 goal. But Steven Greenstreet, who is making a documentary on the Cheney visit, posted the request for money on DailyKos.com on Friday after interviewing Bybee and deciding to do something about their cash problem.

On Monday, organizer Ashley Sanders said she thought something had gone wrong with the Internet account where the group was receiving donations because money was pouring in.

Greenstreet's blog chronicled the struggles the group had finding a venue.

"They searched in every nook and cranny in the city of Provo for a place to hold their alternative commencement and they had the door slammed in their faces. They had been 'blacklisted' in Provo. Someone was trying to make it as hard as possible for them to succeed," the blog said.

Sanders said she had gone so far as to join a migraine study to earn money.

But after 10 hours at the clinic, she found she would not be allowed to participate in the study. Then, she said, she was scared.

"I just got really desperate," Sanders said.

The influx of money is changing her mood. Sanders said that now she can concentrate on her school work.

"I'm going to go with my head high and take my Spanish final," she said.

Bybee called Monday's events incredible and amazing.

"I didn't even think that something like this could happen. I really thought that we would barely scrape by, by begging people for money at the event," he said.

Greenstreet said he is happy for the group.

"I'm as giddy as a school kid today," he said.
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/219041/4/

[Tuesday_Morning]

2. Go BYU!

:applause:

How great is that?

[pepperbear]

3. is dick still going to speak?

it would be kind of cool to see 17 people at dick's and , you know, 3000 at ralph's. :)

[LibertyorDeath]

4. Beautiful !

The Fascist pig Cheney is not welcome at BYU.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

5. Has the MSM said anything about this at all? You'd think this would be big.

n/t

[Marnieworld]

9. First I heard of it

Well it's due to the fact that 24 hour news channels can only do 1 or 2 stories at a time. This isn't very dramatic or sexy.

[peacetalksforall]

6. Yesterday I was thinking about how bitter, vile, and sad our news

is day after day - consequently, our psyche is affected. I read all the stories of progress that I can in the time I have, to get me through. This one is a winner. Because it's our kids.

Not only inspiring - it taught us.

Not all young kids are buying the lies and atrocities. It's like the 70's for resolve, but it's with technology and blogs and safe and legal ACTIVISM! Viva, our youths !!!!!

[ToeBot]

7. I'm wondering if that "different college" is UVSC where, in 2004, a Michael Moore speech...

incited a fascist meltdown. I'd wager it is, since its the only local school of any size. The irony here will be the College Republicans protesting Ralph Nader. When I was attending UVSC, the College Republicans was the largest club on campus, by an order of magnitude. There is something so very wrong with that.

[Tuesday_Morning]

8. Miami Dade College is dealing with Bush coming to speak

at graduation on Saturday.

Give 'em some emotional support and sign the petition, DU!

http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/84376.html

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. I just LOVE this story! See what we can do IF we want something bad enough?

So, will Cheney be speaking before an empty auditorium? Did BYU cancel him? Why was the jerk even invited to speak there? Weren't the students given a CHOICE? Didn't they get to vote for who THEY wanted to speak?

[lady lib]

11. Good to hear. I donated and sent them an e-mail

for encouragment.

[pberq]

12. check out their website - photos, video, etc.

http://byualternativecommencement.com/