NYU Republicans and other mythical creatures

Being a conservative at NYU is a lot like being a Red Sox fan at Yankee Stadium: you know you’re not alone, but common sense tells you to keep a low profile, lest you arouse the anger of the seething masses. At least that’s how it seems to some. But not all young conservatives are lying down. Some, such as NYU senior Neil Dutta, are members of the College Republicans at NYU, and they're fighting back.

“The biggest problem at NYU is that the debate is a closed circle,” Dutta said. “At this school, liberals have managed to keep conservatives out. We can’t engage in a frank discussion.” Certainly, you seem to be more likely to here a professor or student stand up in class and denounce the war than support it.

One such discussion took place on Tuesday, September 30, where Dutta took on other members of the NYU community at a debate. Still, Dutta says that outlets such as the Washington Square News, are shut off to more conservative students. “WSN is run by liberal feminists," said Dutta, "and we have people at this school from all over the country, who aren’t all liberals, and they’re discouraged by the perception that NYU is a liberal school.”

Moreover, says Dutta, despite what many at NYU would have students believe, “surveys show a growing Republican, conservative group at NYU. But because of the behavior of students and professors, they are intimidated in classes and can’t speak their minds.” While Dutta didn't give specifics, he characterized a general anti-conservative attitude in many of his classes.

It’s not just Dutta who feels this way. Articles have appeared recently in the New York Times, Washington Post, and other publications highlighting the growth in popularity of the Republican Party and conservatism among young people, especially college students. While both parties are using booths and volunteers to recruit voters, Dutta isn’t so sure that’s a good idea.

“I don’t believe in going out and setting up a booth and trying to get people to vote. I see Democrats and Republicans stand[ing] outside try[ing] to register votes for their party. I want to see debate, for people to care about the issues.” As for those issues, Dutta, not surprisingly, has some views on them; views you might not see in WSN anytime soon.

“I think the economy, and economic growth, as well as Social Security and health care are the issues I’m most concerned with. Of course, I’m concerned with terrorism as well, but I’m an Economics major, so I tend to care more about those issues.”

It’s here that Dutta differs from other campus conservatives, like Joe Metzger, president of the College Republicans at NYU. In an e-mail interview, Metzger said “Defeating terrorism and promoting the values that will stem the spawning of future generations of terrorists represent the most important issues the world faces today. President Bush's principled stance against terrorism is very appealing to our generation.”

Dutta agrees, sort of. He says that we “need to pursue a foreign policy based on free trade, because it’s been shown that economic freedom leads to political freedom. I think President Bush is ignoring some things, especially in other countries. Sanctions against Cuba, North Korea, and Iran don’t accomplish anything except making us more hated in those countries.”

Still, as excited as both men are about the election, they acknowledge that the Republican Party has by and large ignored the youth vote. “Neither campaign has paid enough attention to the youth vote," said Dutta. "I think young people can find a lot to agree with President Bush on, especially looming concerns like Social Security, where Bush has a better solution. There are plenty of Bush lovers, even on campuses.”

Metzger agrees, adding “I feel that College Republicans are becoming an ever increasing voice on campus - despite the fact that NYU is so liberal, it is clear there is a strong and growing conservative minority. If you look on TheFaceBook[a popular friend-networking website], you'll find over 600 people who call themselves ideologically 'conservative' or 'very conservative.' We also have the highest weekly membership this year that we've ever had (average near 60 per meeting) and the highest number on the e-mail listserv that we've ever had (almost 400). We feel we're an important aspect of campus life, providing a dialogue that we won't get from either our professors or the campus left.”

From where Dutta and Metzger sit, College Republicans are on the march, poised to take back the campuses from the denizens of the left and far left. Just so long as they can avoid being spit on.