The political rallies and marches that take place on campus are usually comprised of the same crowd — progressives fighting for social justice.
But Donald Trump, the antithesis of progressivism, has succeeded in involving members from every area of the political spectrum.
Trump, the infamous Republican front-runner, will be visiting Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for two events this Wednesday, and you can expect that he’ll bring his usual polemic that millions have openly denounced.
Standing together to oppose his usual unabashed vitriol, multiple student groups’ members across the political spectrum — Pitt College Democrats, Pitt College Republicans, The Fourth Wave and Fossil Free Coalition — are meeting in the middle.
According to Monmouth College of Illinois, 49.6 percent of people ages 18 to 24 view Trump unfavorably, and in Pennsylvania, according to a Franklin and Marshall College poll, Trump has an unfavorability rating of 62 percent.
While we can’t change Trump’s uncouth rhetoric or agenda, we can use this visit from the division diva himself to unite our student body against him. We don’t all agree on free college, raising the minimum wage or other issues that have tugged and pulled at the differences that exist between our student body. But many of us do agree that despite beliefs that often do not mesh, we don’t welcome Trump’s views here at Pitt, and his visit should be the catalyst to express our disapproval.
Conservatives, liberals, feminists, students against fossil fuels — this is the chance to attend an event in solidarity and start a meaningful, productive conversation we otherwise may never reach.
Sure, Trump is a tool, but he’s one we can use to rally together and unite against in order to engage in the meaningful discussions that our differences have kept us from starting.
We are a community against the sexism, racism and bigotry that Trump is attempting to disseminate, and it’s time we discuss our solidarity.
While Trump may have an “R” next to his name, many Republicans have chimed in to denounce Trump, even participating in #NeverTrump on social media. Devout conservatives, such as political commentator and syndicated columnist Ben Shapiro, journalist Michelle Malkin and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney have all bashed Trump.
Here at Pitt, Dominic Zboyovsky, a member of the Pitt College Republicans, told The Pitt News he won’t be in attendance at Trump’s speech, unlike many of his fellow Republicans who plan to go, because he’s tired of hearing Trump speak.
“He’s managed to tarnish the reputation of the [Republican] party. Under no circumstance will I back Donald Trump after everything he’s done. He has no regard for conservative values,” he said.
Kevin Burk, president of Pitt College Democrats, told TPN that he saw the event as an opportunity to unite with fellow students across the political spectrum.
“Although [campus political organizations] may sometimes disagree, this is a time for a good portion of Pitt to come together against a dangerous campaign and a dangerous candidate,” Burk said.
Amanda Chan, president of The Fourth Wave, a monthly feminist magazine at Pitt, plans to attend in protest of Trump’s hateful remarks toward Muslims and the violence that his remarks subsequently caused. Along with Andrew Woomer, president of Fossil Free Pitt Coalition, Chan and others are planning a positivity event to counter Trump’s negativity.
During an election year, discourse among students is critical — we are facing a demagogue who does not represent our interests — conservative or liberal.
It is our opportunity to exercise our civility and engage in productive discussion with the peers we don’t regularly see at the rallies or protests that take place at Pitt, who we never thought would be holding the same #NeverTrump signs as the usual protest attendees.
While Trump is permitted on our campus, we concur that his sexist and racist bigotry is not.
The only way we can stump the Trump is when we unite against him.