2008 Woodie Awards
Political Awareness without the megphone
James Gordon
Issue date: 10/11/02 Section: Campus Life
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As you may recall, last year the College Republicans and the Young Democrats each held their own Political Awareness Week, and, believe it or not, participants received a rather slanted view of the discussion topics depending on which week they chose to attend. This year, however, the two political organizations planned to work jointly to produce a single more cosmopolitan week of events, which I completely supported. What better way could there be to get students of a wider range of political beliefs to come together and openly discuss current state, national, and global issues.
But alas, internal struggles arose between members of the opposing groups. Squabbles over unequal funding and event planning threatened the very same open and tolerant atmosphere that the week was intended to promote. Once again I am reminded of the hindrance that political groups can have on honest and effective conversation.
Here is a little for instance that I heard about earlier this year which illustrates what I believe is a fundamental problem with political organizations. Apparently the first meeting of College Republicans this fall was attended by some unwanted guests. Members of STARC (the Student Alliance for the Reform of Corporations) showed up unexpectedly and proceeded to chow down on the free pizza intended to entice new members and later tried to get themselves installed as head officers of the organization. While I do find this mildly amusing, it is ironic and a little disconcerting that members of STARC, an organization that prides itself on being a voice of the oppressed and under-represented, would try to quash our campus's most endangered political species. And what exactly did they expect to accomplish by trying to sabotage another student organization? Such immature antics only garners anger between fellow students.
I am not trying to knock any of the political groups on our campus or the people who are a part of them. Organizations like STARC are invaluable resources for keeping us informed on the goings-on beyond the rim of the Hendrix bubble. What I am troubled by are people who believe that promoting awareness equals screaming louder than the other guy. Such disrespect for the opinions of others is a result of blind loyalty to political organizations which pit people against each other in a battle royale to prove who is right.
But alas, internal struggles arose between members of the opposing groups. Squabbles over unequal funding and event planning threatened the very same open and tolerant atmosphere that the week was intended to promote. Once again I am reminded of the hindrance that political groups can have on honest and effective conversation.
Here is a little for instance that I heard about earlier this year which illustrates what I believe is a fundamental problem with political organizations. Apparently the first meeting of College Republicans this fall was attended by some unwanted guests. Members of STARC (the Student Alliance for the Reform of Corporations) showed up unexpectedly and proceeded to chow down on the free pizza intended to entice new members and later tried to get themselves installed as head officers of the organization. While I do find this mildly amusing, it is ironic and a little disconcerting that members of STARC, an organization that prides itself on being a voice of the oppressed and under-represented, would try to quash our campus's most endangered political species. And what exactly did they expect to accomplish by trying to sabotage another student organization? Such immature antics only garners anger between fellow students.
I am not trying to knock any of the political groups on our campus or the people who are a part of them. Organizations like STARC are invaluable resources for keeping us informed on the goings-on beyond the rim of the Hendrix bubble. What I am troubled by are people who believe that promoting awareness equals screaming louder than the other guy. Such disrespect for the opinions of others is a result of blind loyalty to political organizations which pit people against each other in a battle royale to prove who is right.
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