Drexel students, community slanted left, not right

Academic environment at U. purports postmodernism, liberalism; neoliberalism and conservatives ignored

By: Cameron Wicks

Posted: 3/4/05

In response to Brad Levinson's article entitled "Drexel Republican Support Pathetic at Santorum Visit," I would like to personally commend Mr. Levinson and the Drexel Democrats on their babbling tirades.

Mr. Levinson's article, which referred to personal opinions on FreeRepublic.com as "lies," contains many, as Mr. Levinson himself might say, "very interesting comments."

At the protest, Mr. Levinson writes, "the Drexel Democrats and their coalition of approximately 50" began a chant against Senator Santorum. The Daily Pennsylvanian reported that there were 30 protestors there total. Where is Mr. Levinson getting his numbers? Levinson must have forgotten we were Republicans when he counted.

I would also like to point out that not even all 30 of those people were Drexel Democrats. A good portion of the protestors were older people, some of whom appeared to be over 50. Nice try, Levinson, but I don't think they count as Drexel students. What's more, many were there protesting things other than Social Security reform.

At least one man was holding a sign that read "TAX THE RICH," something I know the Democratic Party stands for, even though some of them may tell you otherwise.

Besides the Drexel Democrats, there were members of the AARP and supporters of far left, anti-Semitic presidential hopeful Lyndon LaRouche. The uninformed, disrespectful LaRouche activists stood up in the middle of the Senator's presentation, accusing him, of other things, being "for Pinochet," referring to former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. He asked Santorum when he would send out the "death squads." Another muttered something about letting Arnold Schwarzenegger run the country. While I know Levinson himself may not have sanctioned these statements, I'd like him to thank his comrades for making my job easier. There's a reason Republicans swept the last elections.

As for William Mulgrew's comments in The Free Republic, he was talking about TheFacebook.com as an unofficial indicator of where the student's loyalties lie. While the "Drexel Democrats" group boasts 88 members, the "Drexel Republicans" group crushes that, boasting 146 members.

Like most Democrats, I'm sure Mr. Levinson believes that Republicans are out of touch with the country. Maybe he should think about that.

Mr. Levinson also brings up the point that, the day before the debate between his group and mine, I considered canceling because I could not find a third member for our debate team. The debate was set for four o'clock on a Thursday afternoon, a time when many of our members were in class, and a time that was picked and set before the Republicans were asked to come to the table with input.

I also find it funny that Mr. Levinson attacks Dr. Papadakis for "going on about how Santorum's social security plan was amazing, and how much money he would have made if the plan were implemented in the past." He then ponders "if he's a Republican." It is very possible that Dr. Papadakis may have made more money had Social Security been privatized in the past, but what's wrong with that? I was unaware that the desire to make more money was something only Republicans had. It is the American dream to earn wealth so that one can live comfortably and provide for one's family. If the desire to earn money is simply a Republican notion, then Mr. Levinson's party is in a lot of trouble.

As for Levinson's claim that Drexel has a "political bias" to the right, I would like to stress the number of stories I heard, and the number of incidents I experienced, where anti-Republican comments were made in classes, and where pro-Bush, conservative students were attacked for their beliefs. I was told that George Bush was a racist, and that I belonged to a "fascist" party by a pair of professors. When another professor found out I supported Bush, his response was that the Bush administration ha caused untold pain and suffering. And I have yet to see Professor Robert Zaller or any other professor who writes in the Triangle speak favorably Mr. Bush or the Republican Party. I think Mr. Levinson needs to think about some of his statements.

As much as Mr. Levinson would have you believe, the Republican Party is alive and well at Drexel University. We have good numbers, and are steadily growing. We will continue our support for the President's agenda and ideas, especially Social Security reform.

We encourage all students with conservative viewpoints to speak up, join our group, and support our causes. They need not fear liberal professors or classmates any longer. We are here to act on their behalf, to defend them and to help fight for their beliefs and ideals.

As much as Levinson would love it, we're not going to be quiet and we're not going to disappear.

Cameron Wicks is a junior majoring in film and video. Mr. Wicks is the Chairman of the Drexel University College Republicans.