 "Photo: Mark Mulligan")
When Brian Boyko became a columnist for The Daily Texan, he knew his liberal opinions might get strong reactions. But he never imagined his words would entice the Young Conservatives of Texas to create an essay contest in his name.
The conservative student group has created "The Brian Boyko 'Canada, eh?' Contest" where students are asked to write a 1,000-word essay on "Why I Plan to Leave America."
The winner gets a one-way ticket to any location in Canada of the group's choosing.
"We're not funding half a trip to Canada," said Kevin Potter, a spokesperson for YCT. "We're funding a move to Canada."
The writer must sign a contract written by an attorney, agreeing to remain in Canada for at least a year, said Lauren Conner, chairman of YCT.
YCT picked Boyko for the namesake of its contest because of a column he wrote about moving out of the country as a result of President George W. Bush's re-election.
"We named it for Brian because he was the most overt about [leaving the country] and close to the campus," Potter said.
Will Esler, a YCT member and the contest coordinator, said some people have already submitted essays.
The best essay will explain why the author wants to leave the country and the thought process behind their decision, Potter said.
"We're inclined to think the idea is pretty silly," he said. "We're trying to be convinced."
In September, the Texan reported that YCT would give out a "Robert Jensen, I Hate America Scholarship," sending one student to North Korea.
"It was just an idea we had at the time," Conner said. "It wasn't official. That's kind of where [the Boyko contest] started."
Boyko said he didn't learn about the contest until 9 a.m. Monday morning when a humor writer for the Austin American-Statesman called him for a quote.
"This is kind of an honor, to be loathed by loathsome people," he said.
He is currently working on plans to move to New Zealand.
In response to YCT, Boyko has set up his own essay writing contest, the "YCT Pork Barrel Essay Contest."
Entrants will have to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay resolving YCT's claim that "liberal tradition is using someone else's money."
The winner will receive a canned ham and $5 in New Zealand currency. Boyko's plans to leave the country have also been featured in articles published on the BBC Web site and The Detroit Free Press.
All the controversy that stemmed from his column left Boyko with mixed feelings.
"[I]f this is an opinion that needs to be out there and if people are talking, I've done my job as a columnist," he said.
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