GREELEY, CO- While canvassing the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley today, I was approached by campus security telling me that I had to leave.  Having only been on campus for 45 minutes, I was somewhat distraught and tried to plead my case of free speech to the officer.  

I told the officer that I was canvassing the campus to see where the student's political ideologies lied.  He didn't care what I was there for and said that ever since the incident at Virginia Tech, UNC had a non-soliciting policy.  I told him that I was not soliciting but he didn't want to hear that either.  I asked him about my rights and he basically said that I didn't have any rights.

After five to ten minutes of arguing, the security officer was fed up and said he was going to call the campus police to have me escorted off of campus.  Knowing he was using a scare tactic, I thought it best to not call his bluff and told him that I would move to another part of campus. 

While talking with Matthew Hurtt, Campus Service Coordinator for Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania, via Facebook that night he said, "...that's so lame. They will try and do that...whatever."  Fellow Field Rep, Trevor Leach, told me, "You work for a non-profit organization. It is impossible to solicit."  I wonder if that argument would have held up with campus security?

At least I am drawing some attention.  UNC's first group will be the UNC Conservatives.

-Ryan Williams, LI Field Rep for Colorado