February 19, 2018

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2017 Pacemaker Award Winner/Best Weekly College Newspaper-SPJ

Volume #102 | Issue #16 | Feb.19, 2018 | depauliaonline.com

THE GREAT DEBATE Political debate between DePaul Socialists and College Republicans causes controversy

VICTORIA WILLIAMSON | THE DEPAULIA

By Amber Colón Editor-in-Chief

In an evening rife with political disagreements, perhaps nothing was as shocking as DePaul College Republicans member Brenden Newell’s comments towards the end of Tuesday’s debate between the Republicans and DePaul Socialists. “I would’ve rather had a person (in office) who mildly sexually assaulted a woman than another woman who defended her husband after he raped innocent women,” he said in response to a question about the #MeToo movement. That controversial response capped off a tense evening that saw plenty of activity on social media and a politically-divided audience cheering and booing for and against their favorite sides. While Newell turned down a request for comment after the debate was over, College Republican chairman John Minster said that he enjoyed playing “rhetorical gymnastics” and the moments when it got “hostile” — referencing the question about #MeToo.

“I would’ve rather had a person (in office) who mildly sexually assaulted a woman than another woman who defended her husband after he raped innocent women.”

Brenden Newell

DePaul College Republicans

“Every time you’re having very heated arguments, and arguments where they’re foundational to what you think and how you think and view the world, and someone is directly challenging you in that and telling you that’s wrong, people can get a little bit upset sometimes,” Minster said. “But usually it can be productive and I think it was here tonight.” The debate came several months after the Republicans invited controversial “Bell Curve” author Charles Murray to a speaking event at the Commons, which resulted in a large walkout and protest. In the days following the event, the Socialists ran a statement in The DePaulia urging the Republicans to agree to a public debate. “We wanted to expose the racism of bringing Murray to campus,” Mulroy said after the debate. Finally, Tuesday became the night that the event happened. Students packed into Cortelyou Commons to watch the groups go head to head. The panel was moderated by political science professor Wayne Steger. Steger reminded See DEBATE, page 4


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