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The University of Maine The University of Maine
DigitalCommons@UMaine DigitalCommons@UMaine
Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Special Collections
2-10-2020
The group formerly known as the UMaine College Republicans The group formerly known as the UMaine College Republicans
deserves to be ousted deserves to be ousted
Gabriel Karam
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Repository Citation Repository Citation Karam, Gabriel, "The group formerly known as the UMaine College Republicans deserves to be ousted" (2020). Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. 64. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/social_justice/64
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Letter to the Editor from Gabriel Karam
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To the Editor:
The group formerly known as the UMaine College Republicans deserves to be ousted.
The former UMaine College Republicans (UMCR) got what it deserved: it is no longer recognized by the University of Maine Student Government (UMSG). The
UMCR’s conduct over the last several months has been more intended at childishly offending people instead of contributing a venue for political discussion.
An earlier offense was around Indigenous People’s Day 2019. The group, which regularly used its Facebook page to warrant hostility through idiotic memes, posted an
especially offensive post. The post argued that the holiday should still be called Columbus Day, which is �ne. The offensive part was the group’s rationale: they
reasoned that Columbus, an explorer guilty of genocide and slavery, had saved these “savages” from cannibalism and barbarism. Yes, some Indigenous people had
engaged in human sacri�ces, cannibalism, etc. However, one wrong (genocide and slavery) does not “cancel out” another wrong. Instead of mentioning how European
imperialism dislocated and killed countless Native Americans who had their own cultures, the former UMCR pivoted by alluding to a racist “white savior” myth.
One of the more recent offenses was booking a speaker who had ties to a Holocaust denier. The Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) refused to allow this speaker to
present. It is beyond ignorant to welcome a speaker like this. History repeats itself because of people who ignore history. This action was beyond a slap in the face to
Jewish and other students.
Additionally, the former UMCR idolizes President Trump. The president is not even a true conservative. He has changed parties numerous times, his protectionist
tariffs run contrary to neoliberalism, his outlandish spending does not equal �scal responsibility and his disdain for climate change run contrary to Nixon and Theodore
Roosevelt’s environmental concern. Trump is a constitutional threat due to his frequent executive orders and his attempt to repeal the 14th Amendment.
The former UMCR had it coming. As a conservative myself, they give Republicans a bad name. It is good that they are no longer recognized by the university.
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Troy • a year ago
• Reply •
Wow. A piece that sides with the university gagging the free speech of a minority political club. So brave. Just because you say you’re conservativedoesn’t make it so. Conservatives stand by the constitution. They support speech, rather than suppressing differing points of view. This article is grosslynarrow minded. Anyone opining that the opinion of one group should be silenced is bordering on fascism. Clearly the university is failing to harborintellectual diversity, as can be seen in the ignorance of this article. 2△ ▽
Eaglesees • a year ago • edited
• Reply •
Your rant is way off base if you think a group should be "ousted" for exercising free speech. I hope you are not a UMO student or faculty member becausethis comment has ignorance of the constitution written all over it. 1△ ▽
Dr. Ed • 10 months ago
• Reply •
> Eaglesees
Sadly, I have no doubt the person is -- and your use of UMO dates you to a time (1969-1986) when that institution actually valued free speech.The place has changed, and not for the better.△ ▽
Dr. Ed • 10 months ago • edited
• Reply •
Additionally, the former UMCR idolizes President Trump. As, I presume, the Democratic Club idolized President Obama.....
" contrary to Nixon and Theodore Roosevelt’s environmental concern." As opposed to Obama differing from Sam Nunn and Zell Miller?
"Trump is a constitutional threat due to his frequent executive orders and his attempt to repeal the 14th Amendment What do you think DACA was?!?
Kicking clubs off campus on this criteria is a very dangerous game -- I say this as one who once defended the Wilde Stein Club, who were equallyunpopular at the time. Yes, people wanting to boot the Wilde Stein Club to people actually booting the Republican Club -- that university has changed butI haven't -- and free speech remains the speech of those whom you don't like and who want to say things that you really would prefer they not say....△ ▽
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