Category: Campus Politics

The Personal is Political: The Power of Local Activism

Isabel Velarde

Our current state of hyper-connectivity through social media allows us to stay connected to socio-political movements on the national level—#MeToo, Black Lives Matter, etc.—and to remain informed, within seconds, of the latest domestic and international news. Interestingly, our use of social media encourages us to take the personal and make it political—by hashtagging, tweeting our own story, sharing a thought-provoking picture, and so on. At the same time, however, it fools us into thinking that we should prioritize change at a national level, rather than at a local level. In…

College Republicans Reflect on Incident at Rodrigue’s Coffeehouse

Matthew J. Santucci

In the week following last Thursday’s event at Rodrigue’s Coffeehouse, Fordham University has been embittered in a battle over the direction, role, and extension of free speech on campus. To the consternation of some, the story gained traction and captured the attention of Fox News, conservative provocateur Milo Yiannapouolus, and even Donald Trump Jr. Amid increased political polarization and, consequently, an intolerance of dissenting views, this event is not anomalous; rather, it is a reflection of the state of American politics today. Just as the incident at Rodrigue’s highlights the…

Left, Right, Bait: Coffee at Rod’s

Jacob Linker

Rodrigue’s Coffeehouse (or “Rod’s” for short) is a staple of the Fordham community. A socially-conscious sanctuary on campus, strong with the ways of chic, organic, fair-trade joe at an affordable price. On a campus that culturally has more in common with Long Island and New Jersey, than that of Manhattan, it’s always been something of a bohemian novelty. If I ever had a complaint about Rod’s, it’s with the odd hours – after all, what coffee shop isn’t open in the morning when you really need a cup of joe?…

My Take on Roger Stone

Jacob Floam

If my only exposure to American politics was through the hyper-politicized society of New York City, and I assumed the rest of the nation was just like it, I would come to the conclusion that the country is a sort of pseudo-socialist state, where anyone slightly right of center, let alone Donald Trump, could never become president. However, that isn’t the reality we face as a nation. Pseudo-socialistic political culture represents the two coastal bubbles that liberal America lives in, but the big stickler is the near 3,000 miles and…

A Conversation with Roger Stone: An Assessment of his Legacy

Marisa Gomez

Managing editor Marisa Gomez sat down with Roger Stone, after his talk at Fordham University, to discuss his political legacy, past controversies, and the future of politics in the U.S. Marisa: Gomez: You’ve been involved in politics for almost 45 years now, correct? Roger Stone: Yes. Marisa: Why did you begin to participate in politics and why was it important to you? Roger: Well, I originally wanted to be an actor and then I figured out that politics was show business for ugly people. It has a lot of the same…

Conservative Provocation and the Assault on Free Speech

Greg Wagner

Free speech is a cornerstone of our democracy, and a college education must herald free speech by exposing students to new ideas that challenge their own convictions. A few weeks ago, a “Free Speech Week” was cancelled at Berkley University amidst logistical confusion. The event, organized by a young Conservative student group, was headlined by conservative provocateurs Milo Yiannopoulos, Ann Coulter, and Steve Bannon. Despite the event falling apart, protests ensued, highlighting the polarization of political views on campus and a burgeoning movement against provocation disguised as free speech.    …