Letter to the Editor

College Republicans encourage students to attend, appreciate Huckabee lecture

Mike Huckabee will speak about “The Future of Conservatism” tonight at 7:30 in HBC Gifford Auditorium. Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and 2008 presidential candidate, will offer his opinion on conservatism’s future in the wake of the 2012 election.

Left-wing pundits, the media at large and even some moderate Republicans have questioned the future of conservatism; they’ve called for Republicans to abandon their principles and move to the center.

Despite claims that the 2012 election marked the end of the Republican party, we must remember in terms of the popular vote, Obama received only a narrow endorsement. Because of this, the College Republicans remain optimistic about America’s future and the future of conservatism.

In theory, colleges and universities are supposed to support and encourage fruitful discussions on topics, notably discussions pertaining to politics. However, at Syracuse University, conservative viewpoints are often silenced, shunned or looked down upon.

Often, in the discourse of political conversation, whether in the classroom, in the Schine Student Center or on the Quad, it is rare to hear professors or students advocating for a conservative stance on an issue.



However, blame cannot be placed solely on students; rather it must be placed on our educational system, one that attempts to indoctrinate students from grade school to college, where students are rarely exposed to conservative thought.

It is safe to bet that history, political science and economics class discussions result in the mention and admiration of Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes more often than these discussions result in admiration of Edmund Burke, Milton Friedman or Friedrich Hayek.

Chances are, professors have spent little to no time discussing the latter group of historical figures, perhaps naming only one of them in passing and for derogatory purposes.

Therefore, the College Republicans believe that “The Future of Conservatism” lies with students who are brave and willing to think freely and form opinions on their own.

While embracing adversity and challenging the political climate, it is a College Republican’s job to foster opportunities for students to hear the other side of the story.

By bringing speakers such as Gov. Huckabee to campus, we strive to clear up misconceptions about conservatives and conservative ideals that are often propagated by media figures, professors and peers.

The conservative ideals of upholding the Constitution, a free enterprise system, smaller government, pro-growth tax policy and liberty are not “radical” — as some of our left-wing friends might say — but logical.

The College Republicans encourage students to attend the lecture for the sake of exposure to new ideas and ideological challenge. It may prove to be a rewarding experience.

Mike Demkiw
Treasurer, SU College Republicans





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