The College Republicans protest that took place Wednesday was one of the most abhorrent acts I have ever seen; it was a sickening display of partisan politics. The College Republicans were protesting House Bill 2671, which sets the budgets for all state universities. This bill had bipartisan support. The College Republicans misconstrued this bill to make it seem that money from the University was going to Chicago State University. This is completely untrue and it is obvious to anyone who read the bill that the University had the smallest budget cut due to Jakobsson's work. While the lie perpetuated by the College Republicans bothers me, it is the way they conducted the protest that sickens me.

The College Republicans made a body shaped cutout and pasted Representative Jakobsson's head on it, along with other government officials. Then, a member of the College Republicans shouted — quoted in the DI's article on 10/23 (Republicans protest state budget cuts, Jakobsson) — "we need to send her a message." A member of College Republicans then tackled the mock Jakobsson, a mock Jakobsson who symbolizes our state representative, who is a woman in her mid-60s and has eight children, six of which she adopted. The message the College Republicans wanted to send Representative Jakobsson is one of physical violence.

The only conceivable reason I can think of for this detestable act is that the College Republicans are trying to fight something with nothing, and they are participating in partisan politics. The University asked Representative Jakobsson to support HB 2671. Since the College Republicans have no issue based arguments, they resorted to partisan politics and inexcusable acts to do whatever they can to win in 2004. Winning is important, but what the College Republicans did on Wednesday was despicable and went too far.

Jim Monti