College Republicans: Hampshire College Chapter Unrecognized

Mission Statement
Our purpose is, and will always be, to educate the student body about the Republican Party, support the candidates running for office as Republicans, and develop the younger members of the party to be its eventual leaders. As Hampshire College Republicans we will strive to collaborate and work with fellow like-minded students throughout the valley in order to better serve our Party, Campus, and Nation.

Why I Signed for the College Republican Club
Republican. The word is blasphemy on this campus. We, as some sort of collective community of students, are united in a common enemy: the Republicans. However, regardless of my personal political opinions, I feel it is this exact notion that is extremly problematic to our college and its growth as an institution.

I would like to be the first to break the apparently disturbing news to my peers: we do not all think alike. There is no prerequisite on Hampshire’s application which demands you be a liberal or a bold print disclaimer warning that conservatives need not apply. The paradigm that Hampshire’s political debates are limited strictly between liberals and radical liberals is a taboo that needs to be broken: especially in the classroom. The assumption that we are all somehow on the same page is ridiculous and counterproductive to any academic progress.

Let us examine the repercussions of this universalist train of thought. Alex Torphey in Volume 32, Issue 1 of The Omen wrote a piece called On SJP, Discourse, and Hampshire. In his article he mentions how the term “racist”, “repulsive”, and “disgusting” is being thrown around in such a non-discriminate manner that it seems that we have entered a neo-McCarthyism era in which all those who disagree with the community norm must stand trial in front of the House on Un-Hampshire Activities Committee.

In an article titled Religion in the Public Sphere published in the European Journal of Philosophy, Jurgen Habermas argues that in a secular society religion enters the public sphere with an unjust burden of proof attributed to it. I feel like any thought process that is nontraditional to the rather boring Hampshire mantra of sustainability and social change carries with it an extreme and unwarranted burden of proof. This is the problem. To know is not enough. This is our motto. Unfortunately, it seems that to know is exactly enough; as long as you know the right things. We are creating a mold in which Hampshire will mass produce ‘free thinkers’. In this ‘ideal’ world it seems we’d all graduate with the utmost respect for poetry, Palestine, and sustainable farming.

It seems almost absurd that I am simply arguing for my right to respectfully disagree on political issues with some of my peers without having my character assaulted. Our bubble of free thought is turning into a totalitarian and authoritarian regime in which policies and beliefs are being manufactured and mandated.

This is not a Hampshire I want to be a part of. I have the utmost faith in my peers and the principles in which this institution was founded upon. I pray this school changes course and remains absent of an Orwellian leftist thought police. Constructive debate and disagreement breed progress. Agreement and accord breed complacency and stagnation. This is why I am proud to call myself a Hampshire College College Republicans, and regardless of your political affiliation you should be proud I am too.

Hampfest, Spring 2009
On February 10th, 2009, the Hampshire College Republicans made their inaugural appearance at Hampshire's club fair, 'Hampfest'. Much to their dismay, President Ben Saucier was unable to attend due to severe strep throat. Despite this setback, however, signers Matthew Ferrante and Michael Evanczuk (second years) and honorary officer Michael Hogan (third year) were present at the festivities, proud to represent for their leader and their school. Donning red, white and blue, and flying an American flag, the College Republicans arrived at 7:30 PM sharp - the first of over 140 clubs - early enough to assist Pam Tinto's crew in setting up the back room of Saga.

Once the event was underway, the College Republicans enjoyed great success, recruiting over 30 students as new members. We expressed our excitement and outlined our goals to anyone who would listen. This semester, we told them, we plan to hold weekly meetings, as well as bi-monthly to monthly debates. Also, ideally, we will host a Republican speaker in the late spring. Students seemed enthusiastic about joining the group, writing things like "I LOVE AMERICA" and "LOVING MY COUNTRY" next to their signatures. In addition to signing up for the club, nearly all of the signing students took the oath of the Hampshire College Republicans:

"By checking this box, I (state your name) solemnly swear to uphold the moral code of all Republicans, and pledge my undying fealty to the United States of America."



Of course, the College Republicans were also met with much criticism - probably more than any other club in the building. In addition to entertaining numerous intellectual disputes, we found ourselves under constant scrutinty, as handfuls of students actually called the very legitimacy of our club into question. Interestingly, no one bothered to question the legitimacy of the "Mural Collective" or "Students for a Free Tibet" to the left and right of our booth, or the "War Games" club across the aisle. This type of reception, of course, was to be expected, and is, in fact, precisely the reason we NEED a College Republicans Club at Hampshire. Hampfest proved what we, as signers, already knew to be true: students at Hampshire truly believe they are living in a bubble, that no one standing right of center is allowed to enter. We certainly feel we have, just now, taken the initial steps to erase this perception, and in time, being a Republican at Hampshire will be a point of pride for more than just a select few.

Steven Martinez for Community Council
The Hampshire College Republicans endorse Steven Martinez for Community Council 2009.