On November 9, 2017, the voting members of the Berkeley College Republicans decided to install me, Bradley Devlin, as President of the Berkeley College Republicans. I am enthusiastic my administration will bring about the change the conservative community at UC Berkeley has been craving for years: a re-commitment to activism that gets more Republicans elected, registers more Republican voters, and offers more professional opportunities to BCR members.
Rest assured, we remain unequivocally committed to our fight for free speech on college campuses to the dismay of a university administration committed to stonewalling our efforts. The Berkeley College Republicans plan on exercising our First Amendment rights to procure these rights for our progeny. American universities used to be beacons of light in a dark world. These institutions recognized that to achieve higher education and foster progress within society, the sensitive subject matter had to be taught, the hard conversations had to be had, and the difficult discussions navigated through like a ship through a reef. Now, the pervasive forces of intersectionality and micro-aggression culture have refocused college campuses on indoctrination, and in the process, stripped these institutions of their integrity.
Don’t believe these philosophical forces are as ubiquitous as I claim? The Brookings Institute conducted a First Amendment-related study with college-aged students. They found that 19% of students believed violence is acceptable to quash a speaker who says “offensive and hurtful things.” Forty-four percent of students believe that un-definable, utterly subjective “hate speech” is not protected by the First Amendment, and 51% of students think it is appropriate to shut down offensive speakers. To those who want to see the survival of our republic, these trends should be deeply troubling and must be reversed before my generation—a generation riddled with anxiety and depression—take the reins of power.
We of the Berkeley College Republicans pride ourselves on our firm beliefs in rational inquiry, and that diversity in viewpoint is necessary to achieve higher education and truth. We will continue to turn the tides in political discourse and be the voices of reason throughout the Bay Area.
However, the Left has been incredibly effective in casting labels onto the Republican Party, and the CAGOP is witnessing a dwindling percentage of Republican voter registration. Polls show the three main negative perceptions California voters have of Republicans is that we hate the planet, we hate people, and we hate the poor. I believe I can say with confidence no BCRs prescribe to this brand of conservatism.
I won on a platform of responsible activism. Since the election of Donald J Trump, by our blood, sweat, and tears due to the Left’s own insanity, we have pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps and built ourselves a national platform. However, like a boxer in the 12th round, we have to be measured and calculated when and where we punch back. Our opponent, the Left, has exposed itself, and now is the time to deliver a strike with punishing force. Note that this is strictly an analogy, and try as ANTIFA might to conflate this with a “call for political violence,” it is anything but.
This principled activism is why Berkeley College Republicans are working tirelessly to connect with local GOP organizations throughout the state, inviting conservative speakers with niche jobs in the political sphere, and organizing more activism opportunities. These actions serve the purpose of educating and equipping conservatives in the hyper-liberal Bay Area as we approach a crucial election year for the GOP.
The members of the Berkeley College Republicans are excited about these changes, remain enthusiastic for the upcoming election cycle, and look forward to the future when leaders developed within BCR define the beliefs of the GOP.
I am beyond honored to represent them.
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