Why Do College Republicans Whine So Much?
They Should Try Debating
Janice Phillips, Guest Commentary
Issue date: 10/3/05 Section: Opinion
My soul is being sucked out and carved to shreds! Not by left-wing professors or the so-called liberal media, but by conservatives whining about under-representation and soul-eating crocodiles. In a world where George W. Bush is president, and where there's a Republican majority in Congress, the College Republicans should be the last people crying that they're not being heard. We hear them; it's just that some of us really don't sympathize with their complaints.
In his Observer op-ed ["Buried Under Diversity," Opinions, Sept. 26], College Republican Cristopher R. Lepore claims that his article is for the open-minded and those who believe in people's right to freedom. But he obviously doesn't support SGA President Andrew Vigario's right to make a left-wing speech at the 9/11 memorial service. Instead, with Lepore, people that dare criticize the Bush administration are anti-U.S. So freedom of speech apparently only counts when it matches right-wing ideals. I think it's important that you don't hear him critiquing former SGA President David Abaskharon's graduation speech that was arguably offensive to anyone who is not Christian.
I went to a College Republican meeting last year. A good ten minutes of the meeting was spent complaining about professors that wore anti-Bush badges and how Dean Credle had an anti-Bush bumper sticker. I guess freedom of speech goes out the window when it doesn't support your ideology. Or maybe few people want to wear a pin that says "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity" or "It would be a much better country if women did not vote," courtesy of Ann Coulter.
I admit that I've had classes with openly liberal professors, and these classes have often had conservative students in them. Obviously, I can't speak for every professor on campus, but I've found them to be respectful to everyone. They've challenged me and my liberal beliefs, and they've challenged conservatives. Anyone in class may speak, but if you can't back up your argument with credible facts then no one is going to listen to you. Challenging professors is a great way to grow intellectually, but mindlessly throwing around your beliefs with no facts or logic behind them is a waste of everyone's time. Republicans, if you feel so unheard, challenge us!
Once, in an American National Government class, our professor asked me to explain left-wing ideology because she knew I was vocally left-wing. She then asked a known right-wing student to explain conservative ideology and he refused. You can't complain that the mysterious "they" aren't letting you speak if you don't speak up.
Finally, the idea that the College Republicans don't seek to spread their political agenda is absurd. This is the organization that spawned Jack "Indians are losers" Abramoff and Karl "Leaky" Rove. College Republicans may do some good charity work, but the idea that they have no agenda or motive is just silly. On the College Republicans National Committee webpage it says that they are "working to prepare the tools necessary for College Republicans like you to help elect republicans, support the president's agenda, and develop the Republican leaders of tomorrow." The untrained ear may think that that's an agenda, but please correct me if I'm wrong.
College Republicans have the right to exist and speak freely. But they have to understand that not everyone on a predominantly working and middle class, racially diverse campus is going to agree with the party of the rich.
Janice Phillips is a senior criminal justice major/women's studies minor.
In his Observer op-ed ["Buried Under Diversity," Opinions, Sept. 26], College Republican Cristopher R. Lepore claims that his article is for the open-minded and those who believe in people's right to freedom. But he obviously doesn't support SGA President Andrew Vigario's right to make a left-wing speech at the 9/11 memorial service. Instead, with Lepore, people that dare criticize the Bush administration are anti-U.S. So freedom of speech apparently only counts when it matches right-wing ideals. I think it's important that you don't hear him critiquing former SGA President David Abaskharon's graduation speech that was arguably offensive to anyone who is not Christian.
I went to a College Republican meeting last year. A good ten minutes of the meeting was spent complaining about professors that wore anti-Bush badges and how Dean Credle had an anti-Bush bumper sticker. I guess freedom of speech goes out the window when it doesn't support your ideology. Or maybe few people want to wear a pin that says "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity" or "It would be a much better country if women did not vote," courtesy of Ann Coulter.
I admit that I've had classes with openly liberal professors, and these classes have often had conservative students in them. Obviously, I can't speak for every professor on campus, but I've found them to be respectful to everyone. They've challenged me and my liberal beliefs, and they've challenged conservatives. Anyone in class may speak, but if you can't back up your argument with credible facts then no one is going to listen to you. Challenging professors is a great way to grow intellectually, but mindlessly throwing around your beliefs with no facts or logic behind them is a waste of everyone's time. Republicans, if you feel so unheard, challenge us!
Once, in an American National Government class, our professor asked me to explain left-wing ideology because she knew I was vocally left-wing. She then asked a known right-wing student to explain conservative ideology and he refused. You can't complain that the mysterious "they" aren't letting you speak if you don't speak up.
Finally, the idea that the College Republicans don't seek to spread their political agenda is absurd. This is the organization that spawned Jack "Indians are losers" Abramoff and Karl "Leaky" Rove. College Republicans may do some good charity work, but the idea that they have no agenda or motive is just silly. On the College Republicans National Committee webpage it says that they are "working to prepare the tools necessary for College Republicans like you to help elect republicans, support the president's agenda, and develop the Republican leaders of tomorrow." The untrained ear may think that that's an agenda, but please correct me if I'm wrong.
College Republicans have the right to exist and speak freely. But they have to understand that not everyone on a predominantly working and middle class, racially diverse campus is going to agree with the party of the rich.
Janice Phillips is a senior criminal justice major/women's studies minor.