As news broke of hissing and protests against Rick Santorum when he delivered an address at Yale earlier this month, leaders of the Cornell Republicans were beginning to prepare for potentially comparable action when the former Pennsylvania Senator visits Ithaca in October.
Santorum and Howard Dean are set to participate in a structured debate titled “The Role of Government in a Free Society.” The title itself suggests that both former presidential hopefuls will have remarks that stir their Cornell audience.
Santorum’s message of a family-based society has met protests throughout the summer, as he has strongly advocated for less government involvement in local affairs like education, healthcare, and life creation.
The leaders of the organization, however, claim that no adjustments will be made to their pre-event preparation.
“The response by Yale students towards Santorum’s speech is not a surprise,” remarked First Vice Chair Alex Pruce. “There will be students who will be respectful and come to listen, and there will be students who will probably protest because they disagree with his positions.”
“Either way, the College Republicans will not be changing any of our plans, as we anticipated possible dissent within the Cornell and Ithaca communities,” he added.
Cornell GOP President Jess Reif, ’14, echoed Pruce’s confidence in the Cornell community.
“The Cornell Republicans recognize that not all students share the political views of Governor Dean or Senator Santorum. Nonetheless we believe that the Cornell audience will be respectful and open to diverse opinions,” she commented. “Every political event on-campus inspires protest, but we plan to take all necessary precautions to be certain Dean and Santorum are treated with respect while at Cornell.”
The debate will be held in Bailey Hall on Thursday, October 18. It is being sponsored by Young America’s Foundation. There has been no announcement to date regarding when tickets will be made available.
