The Majority Speaks
Below is a letter that was just sent out to the MFCR Board and the State Party Leadership.
June 30, 2005
Fellow College Republicans,
Now that the 2005 College Republican National Convention is over and Michigan’s delegates
voted for Davidson, it is time to look at our federation. We must increase our effectiveness and
unity, both internally and with the National Committee.
Who is the Michigan College Republican Chairman? Sam Moore, who MIGOP Chairman Saul
Anuzis set up as Chairman of the Michigan College Republican federation or Ryan Cassin who
was elected Chairman of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans?
The best we can tell, our organization is called the “Michigan Federation of College
Republicans,” not the “Michigan College Republican federation” that Sam Moore is the
Chairman of.
In January, the Michigan Federation of College Republicans held the largest convention in our
history. On that day, College Republicans from every corner of the state came to Kalamazoo
College to elect their leadership. Ryan Cassin was elected Chairman, Dan Carlson was elected
Co Chairman, Laina Shuey was elected 1st Vice Chairman, Ally Jacobs was elected 2nd Vice
Chairman, Jon Kowalski was elected Secretary and Justin Roebuck was elected Treasurer.
Furthermore, we ask that all claims to the contrary yield for the sake of unity within the
Federation.
We, the undersigned, accept Ryan Cassin as the duly elected Chair of the Michigan
Federation of College Republicans and his slate of officers listed above that were elected at
the Kalamazoo convention.
Ryan Cassin
MFCR Chairman
Laina Shuey
MFCR 1st Vice Chairman
Ally Jacobs
MFCR 2nd Vice Chairman
Jon Minjoe
MFCR Political Director
Albion College Chairman
Katie Allardyce
MFCR Women’s Outreach Director
Joseph Potvin
Saginaw Valley State University
Chairman
Andrew Ball
University of Detroit Mercy Chairman
Derek Moss
MFCR Minority Outreach Director
Eastern Michigan University Chairman
Nicola Hawatmeh
Wayne State University Chairman
Justine Ivanoff
Michigan State University Chairman
John Kelly
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Chairman
Brian Koss
Oakland College Chairman
Ryan Lincoln
Hope College Chairman
Joe Sylvester
Delta Community College Chairman
Rob Walter
Lansing Community College Chairman
Jonathan Williams
Northwood University Chairman
Political Director Minjoe
Last January students from across the state of Michigan attended the state convention at Kalamazoo College and elected Ryan Cassin to lead the Michigan Federation of College Republicans. During his brief time in office MFCR meetings had the best attendance in its history and the federation set forth ambitious goals that it only dreamt of in the past.
Then the hell storm…
Since Cassin was removed the MFCR has done next to nothing. The ambitious plans put forth by Cassin and his administration have fallen by the wayside. Instead the entire might of the MFCR was put behind ensuring Davidson was elected CRNC chair. The race for CRNC chair is over and now we must look after the well being of our own federation.
Ryan Cassin is a leader who has repeatedly gotten the job done in his numerous endeavors. As a fellow student of Albion College I have watched him build up incredibly efficient and effective organizations of both the political and non-political nature. His leadership has been effective at all levels and his ability to leave left wingers scrambling to stop our conservative machine has been priceless. For a small guy he certainly strikes fear into the liberals who have no idea how to respond to his political knowledge.
For the sake of the MFCR’s integrity, the sake of College Republicans throughout the state, and for the sake of destroying our liberal competition we must have Ryan Cassin resume his rightful position as leader of the MFCR.
If Mr. Carlson wishes to seek the office of MFCR chair he should do the right thing and wait until the next convention. To make a move on that office now would show great disrespect to the college republicans across the state who want their rightful leader to do the job they elected him to do.
Jonathan N. Minjoe
MFCR Political Director
My Response
Some people are angry with my decision to support Ryan Cassin for Chairman. And some people have accused me of never supporting Michael Davidson.
I would like to start by saying that I have always stood up for the constitution of the MFCR. I spent long nights arguing the fine points of it. I thought that it changed the essential foundations of the organization, and I could not support that.
Since when does the so called conservation faction of the MFCRs support state party intervention? Perhaps they dont realize that when state party removes leadership it is usually because they are too conservative. Like or dislike Mr Cassin the fact remains that he won the Chairmanship in January. The largest convention in MFCR history elected him. Yes it was close, but the results of the vote were never contested.
Now we have these legal complications as to who Sauls letter made Chairman. I for one never liked the idea of state party making the move that they did, but it helped Michigan to vote for the better choice for National Chairman so I went along with it. Some people will try to confuse the issue with other factors, but I made my mind up on one simple premise. What is right and what is wrong. This led me to my decision to support Mr Cassin to continue the job that he was elected to do.
I have made the argument to people that Dan Carlson is a conservative, who betrayed the conservatives to run with the moderates and then later when it was politically expedient chose to become a state party guy. Some of you responded to me by saying that “Dans people were instructed to vote for Matt Hall.” Bullshit! If that was the case Hall would be the Chairman. Who in their right mind actually believes that bullshit?
The people that want to believe it.
Yes I have made some mistakes in the past. And many of you will call me on it, Im sure. But Cassin is the legitimate Chairman of the Michgian Federation of College Republicans. I would argue that a true conservative would more rigidly defend that claim. But apparently I am wrong. Most of the conservative faction that I have spoken with is more than willing to stand in error. Fine, so be it. Principled conservative isnt the word I would use anymore however.
Secondly, people are questioning my support of Michael Davidson. I would like to take a second to remind everyone of who was organizing the efforts to sneak some Davidson delegates under Cassins radar. Or who was the most vocal supporter of Mr Davidson in Michigan? Or who called around the state to solicit endorsements for Mr Davidson? Or maintained a very harsh blog to chastise his enemies? Or to promote plans of his that I liked? Davidson and Cassin are not inter twined. They are two different causes. Yes Cassin did support Gourley, however my support of him does not mean that I support Gourley. I was devastated when Davidson lost. And yes, contrary to popular belief I did volunteer at the convention for him.
Those of you that call yourself the “Conservative CRs,” the “Right Wing,” or the “Paleoconservative Youth Movement” should think about what those things mean. Maybe you will still arrive at the same conclusion, but I think that some of you will realize what the right way of proceeding from here is.
to the mfcr board
June 28, 2005
College Republicans:
I write to you today to express concern over a coup de etat that is taking place within the College Republicans. As many of you know, a few months ago the Michigan Republican Party recognized Sam Moore as the Chairman of the College Republicans so that our votes would go to Michael Davidson for CRNC Chairman, rather than Paul Gourley. Well I do not question the integrity of that decision; I do question the State Party’s power in removing a legitimately elected Chairman. The MFCR constitution does no recognize the authority of the state party to remove chairmen and appoint new ones.
Article IV Section II of our constitution says that: “The term of office for each officer shall be one year from the time the officer assumes office until the time he is reelected or a successor is elected.” Mr. Cassin was elected in January by the entire federation held in a legitimate convention. No one contested this. By my count that would make his term completed in January.
Section IV of our constitution states that “All officers are elected by a simple majority of delegates at the MFCR Convention.” Sam Moore was not elected Chairman in January, therefore is not the Chairman. When Mr. Moore steps down from whatever position it is that he holds, Ryan Cassin is still the Chairman. The Co Chairman does not move up to Chairman unless the Chair resigns or is impeached.
I would ask that the Co Chairman think twice about what he is doing. He was elected Co Chairman, not Chairman.
Another point that I would like to illustrate to my fellow Executive Board Members is the fact that state party has given us little to no assistance in the last two years. No offense to state party, they may have more important priorities.
Last year we received hardly any funds. This year we can expect the same thing as apparent by the slimmest youth budget in recent history.
Although I have been an opponent of Mr. Cassin in the past I believe that he is the legitimate Chair of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans. His position as a Paul Gourley campaign apparatus can greatly help us in securing funds for our Federation.
On top of all of that, the three months that he was Chairmof our organization, it grew by leaps and bounds. People were engaged. Although you can never escape the infighting, our organization was healthy and strong. There is a lot to be said about doing the right thing.
Sincerely,
Joe Sylvester
