Bull-Moose Party convene one last time this semester
Bull-Moose Party convene one last time this semester
The Bull-Moose Party discussed a meeting with the Black and Latino Male Empowerment Group, their new mission statement and the Bill of Rights to cap off a tumultuous, election season semester.
Chairman Robert Morss and several other members arrived at the group’s regular meeting room in the Willard Building on Wednesday fresh from a discussion with the Black and Latino student group in the Grange Building from 6–7:30 p.m.
He expressed feelings of unfair treatment, but also said “they’re not our enemies, they’re other students,” and that although they disagreed on many issues, they shook hands in the name of civil dialogue.
Morss moved on to discussing the Bull-Moose Party’s mission statement. In a previous meeting, he asked members to come up with ideas to create a new post-election statement. With the suggestions, he presented a preliminary statement, which goes as follows:
“We Are the beacon on campus that will dedicate our time and energy to educating our fellow colleagues on the rights bestowed to them by Our Creator. We Are the club that illuminates the responsibilities of a Citizen of the United States of America. We Are the voice of authority to disseminate virtues of limited government, promote accountability, and spread a constitutional conservative ideology on campus.”
“We Are Penn State,”
“We Are the Bull moose Party.”
Immediately after reading the statement, Morss asked for questions, and a member immediately questioned why the words “Our Creator” are included.
“It’s in the Declaration of Independence,” Morss responded, “so that’s why it’s in there.”
“I would suggest keeping this mission statement secular,” the student responded.
“Your creator is whatever you define it as,” said Bull-Moose Party Communications Director Chris Baker.
“Your mother and your father can be your creator,” said Secretary Dom DeCinti to laughs by some in the room.
Morss agreed with this logic. “It’s up to your interpretation,” he said. “Tell me who your creator is and we can both shake hands on it.”
“I think this club is very diverse in what it wants to accomplish,” he added.
The diversity applied to this issue.
“I actually have no problems with “our creator,” said Vincent Cucchiara. He agreed with the idea of open interpretation but added, “I would not capitalize it.”
Cucchiara also wasn’t for the word “ideology” being included. “It sounds culty,” he said.
Kylie Thomas expressed concerns about the alleged religious reference. “It’s a little out there,” she said. “I feel like it’s going to turn people off.”
Members continued to disagree and soon the dialogue deteriorated, with all voices speaking over one another. Morss stopped the commotion and decided to move on to other topics, promising to address the statement next semester.
After describing plans for a shooting trip on Saturday, Morss described his goals for the trip. “This is going to be a good opportunity for us not to only socialize, but also to give you guys a better understanding firearms and to be the most dangerous club on campus,” he said.
After a history lesson, Morss held a lesson on the Bill of Rights before adjourning for the evening and the year.
Several members, as usual, led out the meeting in prayer in a corner of the room.