Bruin Republicans gave a series of speeches supporting the
Republican platform to start off their self-created Conservative
Culture Week in Meyerhoff Park on Monday afternoon.
The political group plans to host various activities to promote
the Republican ideology throughout the week.
Events include performing the Pledge of Allegiance and marching
down Bruin Walk.
Monday’s theme was titled “Coming Out
Day.”
“We’re holding Coming Out Day to galvanize and
mobilize conservatives for next week’s election. What
we’re doing is not unlike what any other group is
doing,” said Nicholas Louw, vice president of the Bruin
Republicans.
Speakers from the Bruin Republicans gathered around a microphone
and spoke about how many of them were former Democrats turned
Republicans and why they were choosing to vote Republican in the
upcoming election.
They presented their view on a number of topics ranging from
economics to foreign policy.
“It doesn’t have to do with race, principles or
ideology. I would hope everyone just listens to what we have to
say,” said Faith Christiansen, an organizer of the event.
Though Louw said the presentation in Meyerhoff Park was simply
meant to provide information, some students felt naming the event
Coming Out Day was inappropriate since it appeared to have been
taken from a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender event and used
in a manner different from what it had been originally
intended.
“The title Coming Out Day undermines the purpose of the
LGBT community’s Coming Out Week. This event makes a mockery
of the entire community,” said Miguel Chavez, a third-year
history graduate student.
Others felt that naming the event Coming Out Day was suitable
for an occasion during which people would come out to declare their
political beliefs.
“LGBT (community) is welcome to have their Coming Out
Week. Why can’t we have ours?” said Jose Lara, a
first-year graduate student of education.
Still there were those who were pleased to hear about the
event’s name. Ronni Sanlo, director of LGBT Campus Resource
Center, felt that there was no harm in naming the event after LGBT
Coming Out Week.
“Imitation is the sweetest flattery, and LGBT Coming Out
Week must be very effective for another organization to want to
copy it. It’s a great idea,” Sanlo said.
The Bruin Republicans’ event on Monday incited a range of
emotions in those who were on the sidelines watching.
Sharleen Higa, a third-year religious studies student, believed
the manner in which Bruin Republicans demanded to be heard was
disrespectful. She referred specifically to the use of
inappropriate language to describe liberals.
“(That) diminished the strength of their argument,”
she said.
Other students present at the event believed the presentation by
Bruin Republicans helped to educate students about the Republican
side of issues as Michael Moore had done for the Democratic side in
his recent visit to UCLA.
“It’s important to have a balance. A university
should be a place where ideas can be exchanged freely, but this is
not the reality at many universities. This is why Culture Week is
everything,” said Alethea Avramis, a second-year history
student who was present at the event.
Some participants had an even simpler request.
“All we ask for is respect,” said another speaker
present at the event.