Dillon Jacobson
Sports & Health Editor
United States Senator Bernie Sanders announced his 2016 presidential campaign on May 26, 2015. Although Hillary Clinton still has a lead over Sanders in the latest polls, at least some WY students may be starting to “feel the Bern.”
George Vassilatos ‘15 is starting a new club at WY called the Whitney Young Progressives. The club is affiliated with the national organization Young Democratic Socialists (YDS). The YDS is the youth and student branch of a larger organization: the Democratic Socialists of America. The Democratic Socialists of America is a political and activist organization working to promote the belief that the economy and society should be run democratically to meet human needs, rather than benefit and make profits for a few.
In an interview the four ministers of the WY Progressives, George Vassilatos ‘15, August Greenberg ‘15, Nick Earley ‘15, and Rachel Clandenning ‘15 tell us everything we need to know about their new club.
Do you all support Bernie Sanders and why or why not?
August: Yes, we all do personally support Bernie Sanders, but the club doesn’t directly endorse him.
Rachel: It’s not the Bernie Sanders club, it’s just that within our club our ideologies match with a lot of his and so we may support him, but it’s not the sole purpose of the club.
George: Although, we do still campaign and fundraise for Bernie Sanders and other politicians that exemplify our beliefs.
Why did you guys decide to start this club?
Nick: Around the time when Bernie Sanders declared his candidacy August posted a video of a Bernie Sanders speech on my Facebook wall and George commented on it saying that we should start a club at school. Progressive ideas need to be advocated and because Bernie Sanders is spreading ideas we feel need to be heard, we’re here to get the message out and encourage WY students to listen to what he has to say.
What will participants/members of this club do?
August: We want to debate and discuss topics and current events that relate to democratic socialism and progressivism. Also we want to do some fundraising and things for any candidate that exemplifies what we believe in.
Nick: We also want to collaborate with other progressive clubs in the school like Eco Club, Pride Club, a new club called AGE or Acting for Gender Equality to share ideas and try to get speakers to come to school to talk to the student body.
Who should join this club?
August: We want to have a diverse range of students, already we have members with political beliefs ranging from anarcho-communism all the way back to progressive capitalism. If you want to learn about the issues that we’re debating and discussing, come up with your own opinions, or want to learn other people’s beliefs on an issue, you should join this club. Even if you’re more conservative or a republican, if you have an open mind you should join this club.
No comments:
Post a Comment