Conservative Students for a Better Tomorrow (CSBT) recently hosted a reception and speaking engagement featuring David Keane, President, National Rifle Association (NRA). The reception held in the University Center featured photos opportunities, personal conversation and discussion between gun enthusiasts, elected officials, the media and students with President Keane. Many of the local race candidates circulated freely in the reception meeting and greeting new and old friends and supporters. Local News Radio WORD FM personality Bob McLain was also on hand to greet Mr. Keane.
Across campus, at the McAlister Auditorium, support staff set up tables with brochures, cards, stickers and more for the Candidates as well as Incumbents. The students, many of whom were gun enthusiasts, lined up at the Cultural Life Program table to swipe their ID Cards. One of the students explained, “You need 32 (CPL points) to graduate, and I thought this sounded interesting. I came over.” CPL is a part of the overall program of studies at Furman to provide a widely varied exposure to students (and usually the public) of differing viewpoints, presentations, speakers and forums, that broaden the base knowledge and learning experiences.
A generous crowd was on hand at the auditorium as Stephen Sebastian CEO CBST took the podium and introduced the program and speakers. Of note was the dialogue in particular to the students about the event, that this forum was established to provide information and that the views of the speaker were, “Not the ideas or views of the University or the CBST and are his own, and were provided as open-minded intellectual diversity.”
President Rod Smolla, who is widely regarded as one of the foremost scholars in America on issues relating to freedom of speech, academic freedom and freedom of the press, and has presented arguments in state and federal courts throughout the nation, including the Supreme Court of the United States, and has testified before committees of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, gave introductory remarks for Mr. Keane.
David Keane spoke to the audience and shared his thoughts about the current state of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. He shared the history of the NRA and the debate and arguments about the 2nd Amendment and gun control throughout recent years. The full speech can be viewed courtesy of Mr. Tom Hanson at: http://www.southcarolina
conservative.com/.
Conservative Students for a Better Tomorrow (CSBT) works to provide a conservative vision by educating the Furman community and contributing to the vibrant discussion of ideas. Since its founding in 2006, CSBT has tripled in size and is recognized as the dominant student-led political organization at Furman University. They have more scheduled events to follow this school year.
For more information: http://furmancsbt.org/default.aspx.