Rep. Steven Tilley, R-district 106, has chosen Rush Limbaugh to be inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians, a choice that infuriates some, said Nicole Silvestri, spokeswoman for Students for a Better Missouri.

On Thursday, Silvestri and a team of other students and community members traveled to the Capitol to personally oppose Tilley’s nomination of Limbaugh.

Limbaugh recently drew heavy criticism for referring to Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown Law student as a “slut” and “prostitute” for supporting Obama’s contraceptive mandate.

“What does it say about the college co-ed Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says she must be paid to have sex?” Limbaugh said on his show. “What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute.”

Limbaugh’s remarks followed Fluke’s testimony on Capitol Hill in support of the mandate, which would require private companies to provide contraceptive coverage for women at no cost to the employees, according to the White House website.

Students for a Better Missouri believes Limbaugh has no place in the Hall of Famous Missourians because of comments like these, Silvestri said. The organization believes that anyone who financially benefits by being crude or insulting should not be considered worthy of induction.

“This induction would turn our hall of fame into nothing but a hall of shame,” Silvestri said. “We should be honoring people who better society, not people who outwardly and purposely offend the citizens of this country.”

Limbaugh would join Mark Twain, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Harry S. Truman among others if inducted, with a bronze bust of his head and shoulders in the state capitol building, according to the House website.

The induction of individuals into the Hall of Famous Missourians is solely at Tilly’s discretion. If he believes an individual has earned the prestige necessary to be inducted, he has that authority, according to the state’s website.

Tilley defended his decision in his weekly news release, saying he believes Limbaugh is famous for what he has accomplished in life and said other inductees, such as Truman, have taken controversial stances at times, as well.

“Rush Limbaugh is probably the most recognizable radio personality not just in the country but in the world,” Tilley said during the news conference. “I think he is certainly deserving of being in the Hall of Famous Missourians and I am excited and honored to be the one that does it.”

Tilley went on to explain that he has received some emails in opposition to Limbaugh’s induction, but he will move forward with plans to induct Limbaugh into the Hall.

“When you look at what Rush has accomplished in life, as well as in his radio career, undoubtedly, probably the most famous Missourian,” Tilley said during the conference.

Members of Students for a Better Missouri are outraged by Limbaugh’s nomination and will continue to raise awareness and bring publicity to the issue, Silvestri said.

She said her organization believes the nomination and induction process needs to be more open and public. With the sole responsibility of inducting an individual on the shoulders of one person, there is more room for controversial decisions.

Going forward, some students from the organization might join Planned Parenthood in further demonstrations at the Capitol as a means of continuing to apply pressure to Tilley, Silvestri said.

“We definitely showed him we’re not going to stay quiet,” Silvestri said. “If enough people connect (Tilley) as the person who inducted Limbaugh, maybe we can put enough pressure on him to change his mind.”