Campus politics, left, right, and center

By Matt Matros

If you have been starved for an arena in which to vent your political ideology, you may soon be satiated for life. Yale students have what seem to be endless opportunities to listen to political speakers, take part in political debates and discussions, and even take on active roles in campaigns and protests at the local, state, and federal levels.

Most students initially become exposed to Yale politics through the Yale Political Union (YPU). The largest undergraduate organization at Yale, a former cabinet secretary called it, "the most prominent campus group for campus politics in America." While that may have once been true, the YPU is known more today as the group which brought actor James Earl Jones and attorney Robert Shapiro to Yale than as a forum for politics.

Professor (and later University President) A. Whitney Griswold founded the YPU in 1934. According to the YPU home page, Griswold noticed an "insular and apathetic Yale political culture" in the 1930s and he wanted to combat it.

Speakers from all facets of political life have graced the meetings of the YPU in recent years, including presidential candidates Ross Perot and Steve Forbes, Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), MC '64, LAW '67, Christian Coalition Director Ralph Reed and former Speaker of the House Thomas Foley.

Despite these heralded speakers, the YPU has perhaps unwittingly developed a penchant for wackiness. When Communist Party National Secretary Joelle Fishman visited Yale to speak at the YPU, her speech was delayed by 45 minutes as members of the Party of the Right (POR) continued to interrupt the proceeding with points of order concerning the Pledge of Allegiance. YPU Speaker Andrew Diamond, CC '99, finally declared the points of order dilatory. This seemed to put an end to the fiasco until Liberal Party member Rob Stilling, MC '99, held a match to the American flag and asked POR members, "Does this make you nervous?" An unamused POR member approached the stage and swatted the match from Stilling's hand.

The Progressive Party, one of the six parties in the YPU, requires Internet surfers trying to enter their home page to first declare their opinion on their selected issue, "runner's high or meaningless sex." The Independent Party recently debated another topic titled, "Resolved : Ebonics be dope."

Such antics may have compromised the YPU's credibility as a place for serious discussion and political debate. But topics such as "America needs more Christian values," "The United States media is too conservative," and "Capitalism is inherently flawed," are still discussed seriously at YPU meetings.

Yale College Democrats (YCD) and Yale College Republicans (YCR) throw Yalies into the real political world immediately upon joining their organization.

YCD, the larger of the two groups, describes itself as "an undergraduate organization that works with the College Democrats of America (an affiliate of the Democratic National Commitee) and the Connecticut Democratic Party to promote the ideals and the candidates of the Democratic Party in local, state, and national politics." This year, YCD helped to re-elect President Clinton and Vice President Gore, as well as local Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. YCD also worked on the campaign of newly elected Waterbury Congressman Jim Maloney and hosted a conference for College Dems from all over New England.

Yale College Democrats provides students with "a voice in the New Haven political process," according to Secretary Aditya Bamzai, SM '00. This fall, they will run the campaign for our Ward One alderman. For the past few terms, this position has been held by a Yale student and a Democrat, including the current alderman Joshua Civin, CC '96.

Yale College Republicans, though smaller than YCD, is also a presence on campus. The group met with presidential candidate Bob Dole and also journeyed to Hartford to watch him debate. In addition, YCR volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and takes stands on women's issues. Debbie Schmuhl, TD '00, coordinates the College Republican's Women's Voter Education Program (WVEP) which publishes a monthly women's issues newsletter called "Opening Minds."

In addition to the aforementioned organizations, Yale has the Conservative Forum, the Yale Black Political Forum, the Women's Center, and others. Each has its own agenda, and speakers. Yale also has a strong activist community, with groups like the Student Labor Action Coalition (SLAC), which sided with Yale workers' unions in recent contract negotiations, and Students for Corporate Responsibity (SCR), which criticizes the university's investment practices, acting on their political convictions.

Whether you want to register voters in nearby senior citizens' homes or just be a member of a frenzied YPU audience listening to James Earl Jones bellow out, "I find your lack of faith disturbing," Yale has the means to satisfy your political fix.

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