DCU response to Horowitz editorial
(04/18/08 4:00am)
The Duke Conservative Union was amused yet saddened to see The Chronicle's April 17 editorial "David Horowitz: an unwelcome guest."
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The Duke Conservative Union was amused yet saddened to see The Chronicle's April 17 editorial "David Horowitz: an unwelcome guest."
We've all been there before. You're walking back from the library, you hear a rustle in the bushes, and all of a sudden-MEOOOWWWWW!!!-some huge cat jumps out in front of you, scaring the hell out of everybody. What's worse is that it's often a black cat and the rest of your day is cursed.
Wheeler Frost's Nov. 1 guest column, "History at Iowa was history at Duke for Mark Moyar," highlighted a grave problem in university hiring practices. While there are probably exceptions, it is clear that history departments have discriminated against Republican historian Mark Moyar because of his views.
The Daily Princetonian reported Nov. 13 that "Yale freshman Jian Li has filed a federal civil rights complaint against Princeton for rejecting his application for admission, claiming the University discriminated against him because he is Asian." Although he received a perfect 2,400 on his SAT, and near-perfect SAT II scores, Li was not admitted to Princeton. Nor was he accepted at MIT, Harvard, Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania.
As I wrote in my Sept. 21 column, "Republicans may not entirely represent conservative interests, but they are a far better alternative to the Democrats-and better at winning, too."
We've heard a lot about diversity this year.
When I was young, I often looked to PBS's Mister Rogers not only to educate me, but also to help me deal with the many troubling issues of childhood-you know, things like "angry feelings." In addition to this, I firmly believe that watching the late Presbyterian minister change his shoes before every show is why I'm so good at tying my laces today.
Last spring I struggled again with the difficult question: "What should I do this summer?" The year before, I had interned for a U.S. representative in Washington, D.C. But returning to the Beltway, and in particular to Congress, was an experience I really did not want to repeat. Giving Capitol tours and stuffing envelopes becomes dull quickly, and Washington's glamour tends to fade with time.
Early in the morning of Nov. 3, 2004, I was waiting at the West Campus bus stop for a ride back to East. My emotions were running high. The palms of my hands were still stinging red from countless high-fives, and my throat was sore from shouting "Four More Years!" It had been an exciting night for this young neoconservative. After hearing the frightening results of the exit polls, the man I voted for had came out on top.
During my freshman year, I was fortunate enough to live in Randolph Dormitory, one of the few air-conditioned residences on East Campus. Although this meant I had to live in a tiny, 148-square-foot room (basically the same size as Saddam Hussein's prison cell, but with a roommate), at least I had cool air pumping through the vents and a thermostat that I could adjust.
The setting sun was scolding the back of my neck as I approached my ball, a good distance from the tee box and well within range of the 18th green. A three iron, I decided, would suffice. After taking my habitual practice strokes, I gave the ball a nice smack that, much to my surprise, sent it straight over the green, right toward the club house and the putting green that lay in front of it. This was bad.
Even if the alleged rape proves false, this is a good opportunity for Duke to improve its campus culture.
Among some of the more interesting national stories, including immigration, the Moussaoui trial or even Rep. Cynthia McKinney's slugging of a member of the Capitol Police, there is the story of Dr. Eric R. Pianka.
Duke students don't know how to protest. Though graced with intellectual brilliance, financial resources and national prestige, they have failed to succeed at one of humankind's most fundamental political activities, and it should worry us all.
One night last year, I had an interesting experience while trying to help out one homeless man in Durham. As I walked out of Cosmic Cantina, he called out to me and my friend to ask for some money. While my friend did not have any, I did, but I offered the homeless man a meal instead. He gladly accepted.
One of the joys of East Campus is its close proximity to Ninth Street. Last year, as a freshman, I found almost whatever I needed just a short walk away.
In the past month, I have read two front-page Chronicle articles in which temporary students invited to stay here for a semester due to Hurricane Katrina's devastation of their schools have claimed that Duke should amend its transfer policy to accommodate them. "Duke is all I know," they say; or "These are the only classes I've had, the only friends I've made." These students, along with Duke Student Government, claim that the administration's unwillingness to make an exception for them shows a lack of compassion and understanding.
Everyone has probably noticed the "Drought in Durham!" warnings posted in Duke's dormitories. According to the fliers, we only have 72 days worth of water left, so "please conserve" and "report leaks."
Other than family, President George W. Bush may have been the only person to like Harriet Miers. Of course interest groups obsessed with overthrowing Roe v. Wade defended her, especially after all the guarantees of her pro-life credentials. But in truth the Miers nomination never had a chance.
To the casual political observer, the Republican Party has seen better days. After the excitement following the re-election of President George W. Bush, the administration has received hardly any positive press and approval ratings have tanked. On top of this, much has seemingly gone awry for Republicans in general. One must simply look to Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, cronyism and scandal to get a full picture of what has lately vexed the Republican Party.