OPINION & EDITORIAL
It’s not easy being GOP at Wisconsin
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Guest Columnist:
- Stop America's 'green scare' (December 10, 2007)
- Greek sexuality misconceptions unfair (December 6, 2007)
- Security fee shows UWPD's prejudice (December 6, 2007)
- Vote Democrat, vote equal LGBT rights (December 6, 2007)
- Free trade stagnates upward mobility (December 6, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Later on (May 8, 2003)
- Take a stand by walking out (April 18, 2007)
- Questions emerge on marriage issue (September 4, 2006)
- Undergrads' apathy hinders voting (October 24, 2006)
- Paper shows plight of many homeless (November 22, 2005)
by Guest Columnist
Thursday, September 14, 2006
I was walking across Library Mall the other day, in front of University Book Store, when a dirty, unkempt man tried to hand me a copy of the Socialist newspaper. I consider myself to be a compassionate conservative, so I politely raised my hands in declination. I suppose it was at this moment that the man noticed my attire — fully decked out with red, white and blue flip-flops, hair band, jewelry and, of course, my College Republican T-shirt from last year that reads "Celebrate Diversity: College Republicans in Madison" with an absolutely adorable little picture of Stampy, the GOP elephant. The reaction of the Socialist man to my patriotic ensemble was something I will never forget: he spit at me and said, "Fucking Republicans." Needless to say, I was not thrilled and forced myself to leave immediately before I did something I would most certainly regret.
It has since been brought to my attention how difficult it is to be a conservative — no matter how compassionate — on a hugely liberal campus. These people, who rant and rave about "nonjudgmental equality" and "free love for all," are damn hypocrites. They make it very difficult, almost impossible at times, for conservatives to communicate their ideas. What's worse is our university practically endorses this behavior.
Everyone should be well aware that the vast majority of campuses in America are liberal. There is really no point in arguing that; it's just a fact of life. And as young Republicans, we understand that. We expect it. Before I got to campus my freshman year, I had horrible nightmares about being a political science major hoping to go into law at Madison. Because of my intense beliefs, I was told — by UW alumni no less — to find a new major, find a new school or switch to a Democratic ticket. I was told the university, especially under this Board of Regents, does absolutely nothing to protect people who share my political beliefs. "Whatever," I figured. "It can't be that bad." Surprisingly, it is.
Conservatives on campus are discriminated against even by the Wisconsin Union Directorate, which has threatened not to give us another conservative Distinguished Lecture Series speaker if we don't fill the auditorium to capacity when we have little-known Dinesh D'Souza this January. Conversely, huge Hollywood names that will undoubtedly fill the seats, such as Michael Moore, are brought in to represent the liberals. Seriously, if our own student union is against us, who is going to be for us? Nobody. So we fend for ourselves, and we create one of the largest and most amazing groups on campus — the College Republicans.
On my way home after my run-in with the evil Socialist, I continued to think about how horribly rude this man was to me. It was then that I realized it was not the first time I had come in contact with someone as irrational as he on campus, nor do events like this happen solely to me. Hippies, Socialists and liberals here at UW all have something in common: They bully Republicans because they know they are in a position of power, and they think they're better than us. Now, I'm not saying, by any means, that we Republicans have a perfect party, but we're a lot closer than some because at least we follow through and do what we say we're going to … and we shower regularly.
Sara Mikolajczak (mikolajczak@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in english and political science and a committee member of the College Republicans.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 4:03am):
um, no, they bully you because you're crazy.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 4:08am):
You're in the minority on campus, of course more people will show up for WUD and other "liberal" activies. Students have rejected this conservative bias claim for years. You guys better try something new, cause you are getting no where with the argument.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 4:45am):
Haaaahahaha! Thanks for a great laugh!
/goes back to playing world's tiniest violin
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 8:21am):
its alright, its ok, we will work for you some day
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 9:09am):
Aww, pobrecita...
There are clearly hippies on this campus, but don't confuse them with anyone who's inately political--hippies sit on their porch on Mifflin St and smoke pot all day. And to say that someone who cares about social issues is a "hippy" is no worse than calling you a "fucking Republican."
And the administration really does nothing to protect ANY political viewpoint, so don't consider yourself special. Are there views of administrators on how to conduct a university ethically? Yes. But do they tailor to political parties or ideologies? No.
As for WUD... it really makes no sense for them to book a second rate speaker who won't bring in people. And face it, Michael Moore packs the auditorium. They have to sell tickets, and they can't spend $30,000 on a nobody that will sell $10 in tickets.
I know you all love to feel like the victim, but seriously, chill out, you all control all three branches federally, along with the state legislature, and good chunks of the county and city polity.
And maybe people wouldn't refer to you as "fucking Republicans" if you didn't treat yourself as the only minority that mattered, when there are groups on campus who actually are disadvantaged and kept down. Hell, most of you aren't kept out by tuition rates, which is more than a lot of students can say.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 9:30am):
Madison: Love it or leave it. Sorry if America has 40 square miles of sanity left. If you don't like it just move an hour in any direction and you'll be free to practice your puritanical life as you please.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 9:50am):
You'd think an English major might be able to grind out an opinion column without crutching on the self-indulgence of repeated "I" references and resorting to simplistic, venomous adjectives like "evil."
And you have to love the subtle juxtaposition of the "dirty, unkempt" Socialist man and the CRs who "shower regularly." Yeah, we get it: CRs can afford nice clothing.
-Victor Blake Marx
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 9:55am):
Yeah, it's a hate crime to spit at anyone other than conservatives.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 9:56am):
Funny how a conservative Poli Sci major calls Dinesh D'Souza "little-known." Maybe if you stop whining and join the DLS committee you can book 'well-known' conservatives like...
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 10:59am):
I'm sick of the filthy, idealistic hippy liberal scum as well.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 11:19am):
Wow, took a little while this year for the "woe is me, the poor little rebuplican in college" article.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 12:09pm):
now if a black person wrote a column talking about instances of discrimination she received on campus, all you liberals would be rallying behind her, giving emotional support, and holding a peace rally.
But if its a conservative, well then you just dismiss it and label her as crazy.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 12:17pm):
If a College Republican spit on an anti-war protester on library mall, you'd be demanding jail time!
It's true, as a UW alum who went through the same environment (during the 2000 election, no less) **you are all a bunch of fucking hypocrites**. The dirty looks, rudeness, and plain harassment one has to endure wearing a Bush/Cheney button on campus is an embarrassment to the UW and the supposed sifting and winnowing they claim.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 12:37pm):
Yup, whine all you want, the strongest thing you'll ever go through is having your beliefs tested. Instead of complaining, come up with a convincing world view that makes others buy into your ideology. Otherwise, save the "Socialists spit in my general direction!" whining for the KK.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 12:55pm):
Thank you, Sara, with the patriotic flip-flops, for showing us liberals how poorly we've been treating you peace-loving conservatives. We should show you the same respect you show to minorities, immigrants, gays, poor people, women, and non-Christians. If Jesus was here, he would be ashamed of us liberals and our crazy ideas. Sorry, our bad.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 1:51pm):
Way to completely contradict your whole "GOP is the party of love and inclusion and hippie liberals aren't being nice to us" argument with that last shower line. It really highlighted your ignorance.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 2:29pm):
I'm sure the founding fathers would be THRILLED that you get to wear your patriotic little shoes to walk on the FILTHY ground with the American flag.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 2:52pm):
Welcome to Madison.
Just suck it up for your stay, you will be back in the real world soon.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 3:59pm):
Perhaps it's not the best idea to call a socialist "evil" and insinuate that non-republicans don't shower if you want people to start treating you and your party fairly on this campus.
Good journalism shouldn't have to rely on name-calling and petty criticisms.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 4:48pm):
Hardly an original topic. The idea that you are bravely soldiering on in the face of unspeakable animosity is laughable at best. I have seen this article written every year, and the campus has gotten progressively more conservative in the half decade. Yes, you probably are not the most popular person in your PoliSci class, and you will hear many unintelligible slurs against your politics, but really, I am not ready to Canonize you yet. The only article that is more predictable on an annual basis is the graduating senior "What I Have Learned at UW About Myself, Life, and Stuff". I can't wait for that one.
-Trent Steele
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 5:49pm):
Sara, don't worry. the ultra-left-wing retards in this town have been losing their status during the last five years and they've trying to get it back ever since. The spitting and name-calling you were subjected to that day was just another sign of how desperate they've become. Hang in there, kid. In another year they won't even dare to show their faces in public.
Anonymous (September 14, 2006 @ 11:08pm):
Dear Almighty God you are right. The left-wing crazies (how dare they call us names) on this campus just cannot get off the fact that the war is not going quite right, that maybe a few Republican congressmen have had "integrity problems" this year and that we can't come up with better comebacks than the ones we were programmed to say. We know that we are the hopeless victims in a country gone mad....
Anonymous (September 15, 2006 @ 12:25am):
Amem. I transfered because of that crap.
Anonymous (September 15, 2006 @ 11:52am):
"The dirty looks, rudeness, and plain harassment one has to endure wearing a Bush/Cheney button on campus is an embarrassment to the UW and the supposed sifting and winnowing they claim."
There's a simple solution. Support a more competent presidential candidate. Gee, doesn't take a genius to figure that one out.
