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MU fraternity embroiled in gubernatorial spat

File
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KBIA

A fraternity at the University of Missouri-Columbia is removing a Republican campaign banner after concerns were raised by Democratic Governor Jay Nixon's communications director.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence hung a banner last week on a house being built for Beta Theta Pi, where Spence is an alumnus.

Fraternity chapter counselor Jason Swindle said he got a phone call the next day from the fraternity's national office saying Nixon aide Sam Murphey had expressed concern the banner might jeopardize the nonprofit status of a fraternity foundation.

Murphey declined Wednesday to comment to The Associated Press about any actions he took.

Bill Toalson, a Beta representative on the construction site, said the banner was taken down because some alumni had reservations about favoring one candidate over another.

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