In yesterday's Badger Herald, Jack Garigliano wrote a column ("College Dems do it dirty") criticizing the College Democrats and our ability to focus on the issues facing Americans today. We believe that Mr. Garigliano is right to call on students to become more active in forming their own political opinions, and, as Mr. Garigliano put it, students should be wary of "rallying under a banner without critically examining what it stands for." However, we believe that the College Democrats is an appropriate forum in which to do so.
Mr. Garigliano points to last year's College Democrats kickoff and insists that the speakers were nothing more than pomp and talking points. However, last year's speakers indeed spoke convincingly and powerfully on financial aid, the Wisconsin Covenant, voting rights, and stem cell research — all of which are important to Wisconsin students.
At this year's kickoff, state Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, did a wonderful job of clearly indicating the difference between Wisconsin Democrats and Republicans with a frank discussion of the state budget. He made it clear that Democratic legislators are facing stiff opposition to funding the University of Wisconsin System, and therefore, the very university that Mr. Garigliano attends.
Further, Mr. Garigliano must not be aware that the first two events on the College Democrats' agenda are cosponsored by the College Republicans. The staunch partisanship that Mr. Garigliano alludes to seems absent in the face of this collaboration.
Take heed, Mr. Garigliano, College Democrats are united around the progressive ideas behind the candidate, not the letter behind the name.
Suchita Shah ([email protected])
Vice Chair, UW-Madison College Democrats
