Certain liberal American University (AU) students expressed trepidation when the Kennedy Political Union (KPU) announced it would be working with the Network of enlightened Women and College Republicans to bring two conservatives, Sabrina Schaeffer and Karl Rove, to campus in February.
“I am f**king sick of my student activity fee going to individuals, ideologies, and organizations that neither I, nor a majority of student organizations support,” said AU student and consistent KPU faultfinder Bill Kakenmaster to The Rival, a student-run news source not associated with the university.
This is complete hogwash. Kakenmaster and the article author, William McNamara, completely overlooked the fact that while there may be a majority political opinion on campus, that doesn’t mean that it is the only belief. And that certainly doesn’t mean that just one opinion should be heard. My conservative colleagues and I have just as much of a right as students in the majority to bring in speakers we want to hear as tuition-paying community members.
Reactions such as these are not uncommon from students. One student responded to Schaeffer’s speaking announcement writing, “When I hear ‘conservative feminism’ I think ‘white feminism’ – empowerment when it’s convenient and ignoring POC [people of color], plus the added horror of supporting those who trample on reproductive rights.”
Personally, I am disappointed with people who think we choose conservatism because it is “convenient.” Do you seriously think we would choose to be constantly treated as outcasts by our classmates if we did not truly believe our stances?
These incidents are not outliers in my time here at AU. During Fall 2015, a group vandalized pro-life student flyers posted on university boards. The group used obscene gestures when noting their sentiments on Twitter under the alias, “AU Justice League.” Using Twitter, the group attempted to harass conservative leaders such as myself. After significant backlash from campus conservatives, other liberal students, and University officials, the Twitter account was deleted.
When the College Republicans previously hosted Karl Rove in 2007, they met similar opposition. After Rove finished his speech, he faced more than a dozen protesters who threw “unknown objects” at him and laid down in front of his car. One student even exposed his backside to Rove, stating “‘I saw his big, bald head in the back seat, and I knew I had my target.” Campus police physically removed the protestors, according to the Secret Service. Whether agreeing or disagreeing with Rove’s actions as a presidential adviser, the man must be allowed to leave without physically bulldozing his car over students and having materials thrown at him.
Last week in my political philosophy class, my professor asked: “What groups functioned as minorities with which the majority of students do not like to associate?” “Republicans,” shouted my peer sitting next to me as the class erupted in laughter. She hurriedly apologized when she realized that my friend and I were conservative. Even though we refrained from claiming personal offense, we still remained isolated from our peers.
Dissenting from pressure to conform to populist ideology is difficult, but that is why I am proud to be the president of the Network of enlightened Women at AU. Demeaning comments and crying racism or sexism just because we talk about conservative ideas do not get far, for the women participating in NeW understand the topics debated are deeper than petty insults. We uplift each other as women and debate policy positions in an environment in which we do not insult or undermine character but rather argue the issues constructively.
We will not conform to the tyranny of the majority because that, in fact, would be convenient.
Krista Chavez is president of the Network of Enlightened Women chapter at American University. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
