Update from CNN on the Liberty College Young Dems chapter

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Liberty University's College Democrats again will be recognized by the school after the two sides reached a compromise, school and club officials say.

Controversy ensued last month after the school announced it was revoking official recognition for the chapter, citing moral beliefs held by its parent organization. Specifically, Liberty was upset with the national Democrats' views supporting abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

In an agreement announced Tuesday, whose terms begin with the fall semester, Liberty will classify all political clubs as "unofficial" — meaning they will not receive any funding from the institution, but can use its facilities. According to the university's new policy, posted on its Web site, such groups will be able to use Liberty's name "as long as they make it clear they are not being endorsed by the university."

The college Democrats were never going to be banned from the campus. Now the school will treat the College Democrats and Republicans in the same manner.

"We had no policy governing unofficial clubs before all of this controversy," Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. said in a statement on the university's Web site. "The new policy will allow Liberty to protect its Christian mission and at the same time will allow the political clubs to achieve their objectives."

Groups will not be able to use of the facilities "…for purposes that are in conflict with the university's mission statement or doctrinal beliefs," the policy states.

Club officials, who worked with the university throughout the weekend hammering out the agreement, tell CNN they are pleased with the outcome.

"Our goal throughout this whole situation was to be put on the same playing field as our counterparts," College Democrats Secretary Jan Derwish says. "I believe it is a fair compromise."

"Things just worked out better than we could have hoped," incoming chapter president Joel Krautter tells CNN. "I am just appreciative of all the support," including emails and petitions from around the nation.

Check out the coverage YDU board members got this weekend!

The Deseret News just can't get enough of our board! Saturday was a big day for media coverage:

President Mark Hymas was featured in an article on the State Organizing Convention, which can be found here.

And then our very own Crystal Young-Otterstrom was heavily quoted in an article on the annual Human Rights Campaign Gala and Silent Auction! In addition to her responsibilities with YDU, Crystal also serves as Diversity co-chairwoman for the HRC's Utah Steering Committee. We're so proud of Crystal and all our members who further the cause of equality for all in Utah!

And, at the summit of our media mountain, former YDU president Matt Lyon's back is featured at around 1:55 in the video segment of the KSL coverage of Convention. His red YDU shirt was very fetching.

How YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook will Change the World

Iranian College Student's computer, destroyed by militia forces

The tumultuous times in Iran are of major importance to our world, and these events do deserve their own recognition. But once the dust settles, for better or for worse, one thing will become clear: this was the internets first example of its true potential.

Over the past week a new phrase has entered my vernacular “cyberwar.” True, I have heard the phrase before or two-bit sci-fi movies, but I had never actually heard it used in real world terms. Indeed, BoingBoing’s “Cyberwar guide for Iran Elections” may prove to be the opening salvo for a new generation of intelligence and counter intelligence.

In many ways the Green Revolution is a digital revolution. Pro and anti-Ahmadinejad are using tactics similar to overt warfare online – blocking access to strategic pro sites, cutting off or reducing bandwidth (read: supplies) to anti sites, tracking (and yes killing) anti blog writers, and ambushing pro supporters through communication. In short the information superhighway looks less like a road and more like the trenches.

And that is the key - this battle in particular, and struggles in the future, will place information management, disinformation, counter attacks, and media blitzes at its forefront. Sadly, weaponry will still be a part of these disputes, but as the internet becomes more and more integrated, it will be the international community – and more specifically the international citizenry, that decides who is right and who is wrong.

Today, as it comes out that Iran has opened fire on its own people, the Pandora’s Box effect follows soon behind. The simple fact of the matter is that once something is posted, it only spreads. Indeed, that is what the internet is about, the spreading of information – no matter how insignificant or Earth-shattering. We may often mock stupid YouTube clips or Tweets, but, today, we see why the internet is so important.

None of us knows what will happen to the people or government of Iran, but the otherwise tame tool of the internet has shown its teeth. This is the first internal struggle that has had direct fighters from all over the world, where the internet culture is taking active steps to protect those on the front line, feeding everyone vital information. Indeed, information is the only true power the masses have and, in the end, we have seen that governments really do work only through the consent of the governed.

Original post can be found at www.blueinredzion.com

An Open Letter to Republicans

Dear Republicans,

I know that you guys are in bad shape; I mean you guys are grasping at everything you possibly can to make Obama and Democrats look bad. And I get it, I really do: you hate the agenda liberals are pushing now that they are in power – but you guys really need to chill out and regroup. It is just becoming sad.

I want you to think back a year ago, and I want you to think about the term TOTUS. Did you know what that meant? Of course not, no one knew that it stood for Teleprompter of the United States. As big of a political dork as I am, I must admit that I had to look it up, and I gotta say guys, it is amazingly underwhelming. Wow, Obama reads from a teleprompter – that is your attack.

Or lets take the flip side, you want to call us the Democrat-Socialist party. I mean I don’t even know where to being on this one. O.K. a) socialism is an economic system while Democrats are a political ideology, b) it is not like us Democrats are giddy about this economic situation and want the economy to fail so that we can implement socialism, and c) you assume that socialism is a derogatory word to the youth vote you so desperately need to win back in order to win elections.

Oh, and did I mention the fact that the de facto leaders of your party are Rush Limbaugh and Fox News, not your chairman? You are letting these guys dictate the debate, (see points above as an example) and you are getting creamed. Now look, Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow are very liberal and tow the party line well – but no liberal thinks that they are the “true voice” of the party. Clamp down on these talking heads as fast as you can. We all see the hypocrisy they spew.

To be fair, I understand why you are using these scare tactics – I mean they did work for a good decade. Liberals are coming for you guns, take away Americas belief in God, make you get married to another man before marrying your dog; oh and lets not forget that terrorists will kill you in your sleep if you don’t plaster your pickup truck with “these colors don’t run” and “God bless America” bumper stickers (you know, right above your truck-nuts). But it is not working any more.

When I was a kid, I used to sneak five dollars from my mom’s purse and go buy candy – and you know what? It worked for a while. But my mother got wise and the strategy started to fail rapidly. Once I recognized this, you know what I did? Not try that strategy anymore! I said I was sorry and would ask permission to have a kit-kat.

And I think that is really the point of this rant. Republicans, if you want to win you have to apologize for the past eight years and try to make amends - going after Obama has not really put a dent in his 65 percent approval rating. Remember when you guys used to be all about small government? Perhaps you should talk about that some more, I dunno, I am just thinking out loud. In order to win back people, you can’t just appeal to your doctor killing base (yes I went there) - you have to show that you are not all wing-nuts.

Long story short: get your act together, I don’t even want to argue with you guys, there is no sport in it – I just want to pat you on the head and give you a cookie.

Original post can be found at www.blueinredzion.com

Gay Pride 2009

It was a great and busy weekend for the Young Dems, we participated in this weekends Gay Pride celebrations. Volunteering at the soda booth in addition to having our own booth at the festival, but the highlight was definitely the rainy Sunday morning parade. I took the liberty of documenting the day's events. A brave few started out the morning by arriving at 7am to construct two massive balloon arch's!

Our float looked great with all the balloons and we couldn't have done it without all your help!


We had a great turn out of members to walk with us and as the parade got closer the downpour definitely began to get more intense...the crowed loved the blow pops we were handing out and at a point I definitely began to accept that I was going to get wet and I embraced the downpour of rain!

The end of parade picture the young dems wet, tired and satisfied after the parade!

A few more pics from the Festival after the parade, just look at those rockin tshirts!

The day's events were great, thanks again for everyone who came out and showed support!

Kristin Dobbin on the impending Herbert administration

The next six months will quite possibly be painful ones, I am talking of course, of the reign of our soon to be Governor Gary Herbert. When current Governor Huntsman is confirmed as the US ambassador to China he will be succeeded by Lt. Gary. Governor Gary Herbert until a November 2009 special election determines a more permanent successor. But what does this mean for some long-term progressive agenda items supported by Governor Huntsman?

The most damning of all reversals I foresee in the immediate future are those having to do with climate change and combating climate change. As we all know Huntsman has been supportive of such causes. Herbert not so much… the fact that he doesn’t believe in human-caused global warming is not too promising. So far, Herbert has said that he does not plan to pull us out of the bi-partisan cap and trade program, however seeing as I am naturally skeptical, I am not too sure.

Another possible deviation could come in the form of a starkly different policy regarding same-sex marriage and equality than the one held by our current Governor Huntsman. It is well known that Huntsman supported the Common Grounds initiative and civil unions (however I am skeptical about his true level of commitment to this cause). Herbert on the other hand, has already indicated that in terms of this issue, his administration will be shifting to a more conservative view.

The good news is that with only six months until election, massive overhauls will be difficult and with a more progressive pool of voters in Utah than ever before, hopefully Herbert will think twice about excessive conservative policy changes before a probable election bid. But looking at the two above issues is a good reminder that in order to avoid sweeping changes in these and other categories, we as Democrats, must elect a Democratic governor in November 2009. With stimulus funds flowing into the state and support from our nation's capitol, we need to, as a state, take the opportunity to move towards a more sustainable and fair minded society, which will only be done effectively without people like Herbert and Shurtleff in the highest office of the state.

- Kristin Dobbin