We are in the heart of the calm before the storm. Nearly exactly halfway between the 2022 Midterms and the 2024 Presidential Election, we have found ourselves in a period of relative political calm. Generally, conservative voices have been relatively accepted, and even if we are a minority viewpoint, we are not ridiculed, ostracized, or even endangered for representing it. For the most part. The campus left- namely the Student Union, Student Activists, and certain professors- have been relatively quiet, letting College Republicans and those with conservative viewpoints go about their business relatively undisturbed. But that is about to change.
As it feels like there is another Republican candidate dropping out every week, it is increasingly likely- indeed it is almost certain- that Donald Trump will once again be the GOP nominee. Trump has been, and will continue to be an extraordinarily polarizing candidate. I find no issue in extensive critiques of Trump- his temperament and legal struggles, along with his old age, provide plenty of reason to doubt he will be the best fit to be President. However, a much more ominous development will nearly certainly transpire at WashU, and campuses across the country.
As Trump once again becomes increasingly synonymous with “Republicanism” and “Conservatism”, the large and influential leftist sentiment will spring into action not just against Trump, but also against campus conservatives, regardless of whether we actually support Trump. Accusations of hateful and divisive rhetoric will quickly swarm the classrooms, newspapers, and the minds of students. Attempts to shut out Trump will inherently manifest in shutting down conservative voices. It therefore should take nobody by surprise that a concerted effort will be made to prevent College Republicans and conservative-minded students from being able to freely express our viewpoints and go about the activities we see fit, under the deceptive guise that they are shutting down hateful and divisive rhetoric.
Given that anti-conservative sentiment will almost definitely rise, this leaves the question of what should College Republicans and conservative thinkers be prepared to do. Openly combatting a much larger and more well-resourced student government or professors appears futile, and bound to lead to more problems and reinforcement in the minds of these. leftists of their preconceived notions that conservatives are intolerant and combative.
Therefore, I believe a two-pronged strategy that relies on growing a conservative community is the most effective mechanism going forward. Firstly, College Republicans should intensively recruit centrist and conservative thinkers looking for a haven to freely express their opinions. Outreach efforts focused on deliberative discussion may help attach members of these groups towards conservatism, or at least away from adopting leftist sentiments. The second, and more important strategy is for new and existing campus conservatives to foster a close-knit community. In a time where we will increasingly be under attack, it is crucial to have a group of people we can band together with, and freely and openly discuss our thoughts. Furthermore, given in most social settings there will be repercussions for expressing conservative viewpoints, College Republicans should work to create alternative social settings where we can be ourselves. This does not mean we should abandon our connections to campus life, but simply that we should have alternative arenas for conservatives to communicate freely and safely.
Much like the phases on the tides, a cycle of assault on conservative values is incoming. However, with a rebuffed and determined network of vocal leftists, the attack will be a tsunami rather than a tidal wave. As centrists and conservatives, we have to prepare proactively and diligently in order to be able to create spaces open to our viewpoints. This is going to be a long project, so we need to start now.