Even when MSU’s Young Americans for Freedom officials don’t talk, they make news. This time, they’re remaining mum about how they fund their notoriously controversial speakers, who have included British National Party Chairman Nick Griffin and Minuteman Civil Defense Corp. president and co-founder Chris Simcox.
Such attempts at secrecy and media manipulation aren’t necessarily new — in March, the MSU YAF chairman issued a media strategy to the organization’s members to control press coverage. Among other things, the media strategy prohibited any members from talking to the media other than the chairman and prohibited members from apologizing for anything the group did, saying anything negative about the chairman or allowing the group to appear divided in any way.
But in this case, the media-loving Kyle Bristow, MSU YAF chairman, wouldn’t reveal where the group gets the money to sponsor such speakers. After repeated attempts by The State News to contact him, Bristow either declined to comment on the financial aspects of his organization or did not return State News phone calls.
The organization has received funds in the past from the Leadership Institute, a conservative organization located in Arlington, Va., where Bristow interned last summer. Leadership Institute President Morton Blackwell said his organization gave MSU YAF a $2,890 grant for a Simcox speaking engagement Tuesday. Simcox, who faced protesting students when he visited MSU in the spring, said he received a stipend from YAF to cover travel and hotel expenses. This week his check covered those same costs plus a $1,500 honorarium for him to spend at his own discretion.
MSU YAF would not reveal where the money came from to fund Simcox’s spring visit, or whether they funded any of the other speakers to visit campus. ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, is the only organization that disperses funds to registered student organizations, and has not given MSU YAF any money.
If any publicity is good publicity, MSU YAF will do just fine. In the meantime, however, the MSU community will be left wondering what exactly MSU YAF is trying to hide.
The State News contacted three registered student organizations Monday evening to determine how other organizations would respond to requests for their financial records. Leo Madarang, vice chairperson for the MSU College Republicans, said although he wouldn’t have the final say on giving the information out, he would have no problem with disclosing his financial aspects of the organization. Scott Hendrickson, MSU Democrats president, said giving out financial records would be no problem and most of the organization’s money comes from fundraisers anyway. Mike Epstein, a member of the Jewish Student Union, also said the group’s financial records would be readily available.
MSU YAF’s secrecy is suspicious, to say the least. Political organizations at any level should have complete financial transparency. If this group has nothing to hide, it’s time to come clean with its funding sources.
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