Opinion
Why Mikolajczak was bad for UW
Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.
Also by Kevin Bargnes:
- Lawton not yet a viable candidate (September 29, 2009)
Sharing tools:
E-mail this article:
Sometime around the beginning of my freshman year, I, along with 40,000 of my closest friends, received an e-mail from Sara Mikolajczak, the ex-chair of College Republicans.
It encouraged me to come see David Horowitz speak at the Wisconsin Union as a part of Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, to learn about radical Muslims and how they “murder women, Christians, Jews, and homosexuals simply because they are women, Christians, Jews, or homosexuals.” It had big red letters, too.
The e-mail sparked my interest, and my Jewish roommate, a fan of Horowitz, talked me into going. Those there remember what a spectacle it was.
Arab-American students lined up at the microphone and started reaming into Horowitz for being a racist, moderates and liberals criticized him for doing more harm than good, and no real question seemed to be asked or answered.
Horowitz’s responses could be best explained as a series of chuckles and sentences along the lines of “The left… blah, blah, blah” and “Liberals… blah, blah, blah.” At one point Horowitz even told a guy who was reading something off his website that he can’t read.
It was, needless to say, a pretty absurd introduction to my career in campus politics. And it showed what Mikolajczak failed to realize in her reign as queen of College Republicans: Social issues, especially certain things related to race and gender, are too damn divisive on this campus to be the focus of a conservative group.
Mikolajczak had her beliefs. And without consulting anyone else in her organization she would give these beliefs to the campus newspapers, effectively causing students to mistakenly believe all members of College Republicans, and even the Republican Party in general, were as crazy as Sara.
Perhaps the most infamous moment was in November 2007 when she told former Herald reporter Ken Harris that Hillary Clinton would be a bad choice for president because women are not well respected in Iraq. I don’t need to say anything beyond that.
And then there were the moments where she would act as if the entire city of Madison was out to crucify the Republican Party.
In fall 2008, the group brought Robert Spencer to speak on campus. Spencer is a member of the David Horowitz Freedom Center and a stanch supporter of Horowitz’s beliefs. Given the push back from campus following the Horowitz speech, it seemed ridiculous to many, myself included, that College Republicans would support a similar event. But again a campuswide e-mail was sent out, and the queen got some negative responses.
“I’ve been getting e-mails comparing me to Hitler, e-mails commenting on the CRs in general, e-mails saying the entire Republican Party is racist, sexist, homophobic,” Mikolajczak told me when I was campus editor. “You know, the usual stuff I get from people on campus.”
Yes, Sara, it’s the usual stuff you get. But there are plenty of reasonable Republicans on campus who voted for McCain, have problems with the stimulus and maybe even hate Obama and like George Bush. But these people, for the most part, do not promote “Islamo-Fascism awareness” and don’t tow a near-militant line on social issues. Guess what? They don’t get compared to Hitler.
These are the people to whom you did a great disservice, Sara. You call yourselves the UW-Madison College Republicans, throw an elephant, a ‘W,’ and some red, white and blue on your logo and then totally ignore the moderate conservative viewpoint, which I can guarantee is more prominent at UW-Madison than the far right.
But now Mikolajczak is gone, graduated, off helping the troops from what I hear. In her defense, she led the group through a difficult time for the Republican Party, and she did cool down after the 2008 election. But regardless, some of the damage she did will take years for her group to get over.
Crystal Lee has taken over as chair of College Republicans. She visited the Herald Editorial Board last week to introduce herself and outline what she wanted to do with the group.
I was pleasantly surprised. While it was clear there were certain disagreements Lee and members of the board had, she did not get fiery or make snide remarks — she kept her cool.
Lee understands she represents her organization as a whole and cannot speak on behalf of the group just by running her mouth when she is asked a question. When asked about the recent lawsuit filed by Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow against UW, she did not comment since she had not discussed it thoroughly with her group. I have a feeling Mikolajczak would not have been so reserved, and would go off on a rant that would sound like a Glenn Grothman press release.
So I have faith Lee and the new leadership of College Republicans will add to the campus discourse by focusing on fiscal and student issues and staying away from the toxic, pointless dribble that found its way onto campus and into the papers during my first two years at UW.
I have to admit something, though — part of me will miss Sara. Her antics were always good for a hardy laugh around the newsroom. But this campus is a better place without her.
Kevin Bargnes (kbargnes@badgerherald.com) is a junior majoring in journalism.
19 Comments | Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Herald Blogs
The Beat Goes On
Fans of Waits will not be disappointed
Muckrakers
Report: Barrett to make decision by the end of the week
Extra Points
Top Classified Ads (view all)
SPRING SUBLET: 1 bedroom in 2 bedroom at the Aberdeen. Rent negotiable. Email arkramer@wisc.edu
GENTLE WOMEN...THROUGH the lens of Douglas J. Nesbit, newly released book now available for holiday gifts! www.gentlewomen.us
IP hash: 35d22c1e
crystal probably didnt comment on cfact cuz shes ignorant and doesnt know about them or there suit. keep in mind she was a paid member of the college demorats! (spelling error intentional)
IP hash: 01d8bea8
I think this piece shows both a real lack of maturity and a lack of appreciation for democracy at work. You say that the campus is a better place without Mikolajczak, but what you really mean is that the campus is better FOR YOU. There is a faction on campus, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, that both enjoyed and learned from the speakers that Sara brought to campus during her tenure, and you completely dismiss their presence and importance by writing that no one needed Sara on campus for anything more than entertainment value.
The cornerstone of democracy is having an arena for many different political, social, religious, etc. etc. views, and by losing Sara your community is losing a very important voice (whether it’s the majority or dissenting voice is irrelevant). Maybe you (as a liberal) feel that your campus would be easier to navigate and enjoy without this “far-right” point of view, but I guarantee you that there are MANY on campus who stand in opposition to what you have put forth in this piece, and they have every right to be heard. They don’t deserve to be marginalized because you had a personal thing against Sara or her beliefs.
IP hash: a4c66074
The CRs will still stand firm on social issues. We never exclude anyone who is not a social conservative. Economics will be a focus, but there is room for social conservatives in the CRs, and I bet Crystal is among those social conservatives that you hate so much!!
IP hash: 48010421
where were you to criticize sara while she was still cr chair? it’s quite easy to criticize her when she doesn’t even go to school at uw anymore. to me, this seems a little bit of a below the belt (a sucker-punch so-to-speak) and i am ashamed that the herald would even publish such an article like this. i thought the editors would have more sense. i do admit, however, that her personal focus led the cr’s astray which gave the cr’s a campus-wide black eye but i am interested to see where the new leadership takes the group. hopefully crystal lee can focus on issues that can bring more people into the fold; such as health care and economic issues…staying away from social issues. but seriously, shotty article.
IP hash: 5972ad88
You mention in your article that Sara unduly spoke for all of CRs. You do realize, however, that they elected her for a reason - because they agreed with her view points and her vision for the group. Did you speak with any of them who denounced her as their group leader? Just curious…
IP hash: af2ccc4d
I’m glad that the Palin clone has moved on.
IP hash: 48010421
really, crystal lee a full-dues dem? sources please…that would make a good article.
sara got elected over and over because the cr’s became a buddy-buddy clique of her and her friends and she did not tolerate other republicans who challenged her nor who were bullet-point republicans like herself who could not substantiate their own views when challenged (durrr…sean hannity said this on tv last night, who is edmund burke, who is milton friedman? durrr)…she was on a f’in power trip. it’s a breath of fresh air that the cr’s came to their sense and broke up her group of cronies. i never joined because she pushed issues that, while worthy (ie, abortion, troops, 9/11), did not matter as much to me. she missed the major points such as the economy and campus issues. hopefully that can all change.
IP hash: 00b811b1
Brave as hell. And not too far off the mark either. Although I will say I never ceased to appreciate her straightforwardness. -Sam Clegg
IP hash: ae19572a
Wow. sounds like more of a personal issue here. what you should have done was just kept this “article” to yourself, or possibly confronted her about this on your own time… i feel as though i have just wasted a good 5 minutes of my life reading this pointless OPINION essay. I thought that this was supposed to be COLLEGE LEVEL writing?? Not third grade playground complaints. find a new hobby please :)
IP hash: b2a213d5
Its just an irresponsible move altogether to write an article slamming someone who is no longer a student, who many students on campus would not even know by name, or know the history of any of the choices she made. Even the editorial page is not a place for this mess. This is not journalism and is an embarrassment to the Herald. I know its the first week of school, but there are plenty of other worthwhile things to focus on rather than an alumnus who is not influencing student issues anymore.
IP hash: 29b97e15
To Kevin:
I’m really curious what prompted this sudden burst of undue criticism towards a person that already graduated. Clearly she’s moved on to bigger and better things, while you’re still here plowing on with some immature rant against her. Why you feel the need to make a public paper a forum for your own personal contempt makes me question the credibility of the paper that you work for. You have several thousand new undergrads who have no idea who Sara is, yet you’re devoting precious space on venting your own dislike for Sara and her personal political views? Try writing something that can apply to anyone in your audience.
Also, who are you to criticize someone for exercising their right as an American citizen to promote their political views? You must be one of those people who think only liberal media should be allowed in this country.
I’m glad you’re such a great American that you gloss over the fact that she’s working to help the troops now that she’s graduated and say the only thing to her credit is that she backed off a little. Heaven forbid people should participate in the political system.
Finally, I sure hope you were man enough to personally inform her that you were writing this column, or at least tell her about it after it was published. Somehow, I doubt it. I sincerely hope you don’t intend to go into a career in journalism, because this article was in no way, shape, or form remotely professional.
IP hash: eb58b59e
Good thing Kevin writes for the Herald or he wouldn’t have anywhere to trash people now that JuicyCampus shut down.
IP hash: 649ebf5f
I agree with Bargnes, as a campus we are way better without her around. She was like Glenn Beck, consistently entertaining but utterly incapable of adding anything substantive or useful to the discourse.
IP hash: aad805bb
HATE HATE HATE! some courage you have, shouting it out after she is gone. Are you in high school? Do you need mommy to come and take care of the little boo-boo you got? My guess is Sara tore you a new one and now this is your chance to vent your childish emotions. Man up, move on, and write an article about current events, not a one sided rant about a person with different political beliefs from you.
IP hash: de393d78
In the past few years, when someone would criticize Sara in an article of some sort, she would immediately spread the word to “say mean things to the person who wrote that about me!” Or, “tell everyone to comment on my article and agree with me!”
Funny thing is, she did it after she read this one too! Some things never change.
IP hash: 28964408
publishing this article was a poor choice for the herald, especially during the first week of school. this isn’t journalism, it’s just cruelty towards a person that uw students no longer need to concern themselves with. i would like to see herald issue an apology, if not to sara at least to the general public, with a committment to no longer include personal attacks on their pages, especially when there are so many more pressing topics on which to write. that said, though, as someone who has been close to both sara and crystal in their involvement with CRs, i have to say this is spot-on. hopefully this article will at least do some good by making it clear to conservatives and right-leaning students that the reign of el fuhrer is over it’s safe to come back to the CRs with the new e-board hellbent on change.
IP hash: f507623b
I think its kind of funny how pretty much everyone here remained anonymous with their comments. I never met Sara, but have heard about her and the lack of true leadership that she had portrayed throughout her career as chair. I think most people that are seriously butt-hurt over this editorial are missing the main point, it is supposed to be an advertisement and recruitment to get more people involved in the CR’s that were turned off by the previous leadership. Its not geared towards the “several thousand new undergrads who have no idea who Sara is”, but rather towards the other several dozen thousands of students who have been attending the UW. Have any of you complainers even taken the time to think about the fact that Kevin may have just started working for the Herald.
IP hash: 30f94aca
Eric, you’re an idiot. Kevin has been at the Herald for quite some time. You’re the one missing the point, that being POOR JOURNALISM.
IP hash: 4ef488ce
Kevin you must have gotten picked on a lot as a kid. Thats too bad that now anyone who disagress is a bully that you need to cry about.
The events of 9/11 and those who are kiling our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan I believe are a little more than just a social issue. I see that you get free speech to say whatever, including hate speech, but for Sara you try and censor her. Its good that the newspaper business is dying so you never get a job in journalism.
Give Sara credit for the fact that she stood up for what she believed in and everyone knew what that was. Be honest you are hoping that Crystal keeps the CRs quiet and out of sight and mind. I got news for you save your hate up because after 2010 theres going to be a lot more Conservates in office.