Political discourse turns uncivil on campus

College conservatives say the excitement of a historic presidential election [-] which could send the first black American to the White House [-] has become clouded by an atmosphere of intimidation and hostility on campus.

“People on campus who say they’re the most tolerant, they simply do not walk the walk,” said Brand Kroeger, chairman of the George Washington University College Republicans and head of the D.C. Federation of College Republicans.

Mr. Kroeger said he has been flooded with calls from students who feel they cannot express their views in favor of Republicans for fear of being shouted down.

GW spokeswoman Tracy Schario disagreed. She said the political atmosphere on campus hasn’t changed much over the years.

“Our students speak out about everything and are not in fear of the liberal elite. It’s just as partisan as it was the first time I moved here 15 years ago,” she said.

GW College Democrats President Cory Struble was accused of sanctioning harassment of Republican and conservative students with comments he made at the beginning of the semester WRGW Radio.

Mr. Struble countered that he wasn’t speaking about all Republicans but members of the staunchly conservative Young America’s Foundation (YAF).

According to an audio file provided by Mr. Struble, he said, “We seek to marginalize them as much as possible. You remember YAF last year put an ad in the paper saying how marginalized they felt [at GW]. Well, this year we want to make sure that GW is an even more uncomfortable environment for Republicans and conservatives who seek to destroy our country.”

The statement came in response to the following question from the radio hosts, which was accompanied by laughter: “How will you crush the Republicans in every way this semester?”

Mr. Struble’s response also included standard fare about outdoing the Republicans rhetorically and in scheduled debates as well as turning out more volunteers than the Republicans and muster.

Campus Republicans said they were outraged and that the comments blatantly incited political intimidation.

“There is no place for such intolerant, bigoted comments,” said College Republican spokesman Brandon Hines.

The campus GOP posted an incomplete transcript of Mr. Struble’s comments but removed it from their Web site after Mr. Struble complained to them [-] as well as to The Washington Times, which was also provided with the transcript by the Republican group. The incomplete transcript ommitted reference to the YAF and suggested the word “them” referred to all Republicans.

The College Republicans also told The Times that Mr. Struble’s remarks were made last week, rather than in early September.

Mr. Struble amplified his feelings in an e-mail to The Times.

Story Continues →