When I attended Ann Coulter’s lecture on April 24, I approached the event with the most open mind possible. As a self-identified liberal, I find myself at home on the Syracuse University campus, surrounded by a community that generally reaffirms my left-leaning political values. Therefore, I try to embrace opportunities to expand my views.

But Coulter did nothing to diversify my personal politics. Rather than offer a legitimate discussion of conservatism and the Republican Party, she only seemed to use manipulative rhetoric to further bigotry and racism.

Throughout her lecture, Coulter highlighted key political issues as a polarized affair. She portrayed President Barack Obama and the liberal left as the ultimate enemies. Politics are not so black and white. Likening the current political climate to such a dichotic split does little to further the bipartisan discussion this country so desperately needs.

But what offended me most was her overt use of racism. Coulter made open jabs toward the black community, Latinos and Asian Americans. To my further disbelief, members of the Syracuse community cheered on in support. These comments only distanced Coulter from those she should have been trying to reach: the diverse group of students in attendance.

I left last Wednesday night filled with disappointment. Coulter’s third appearance at SU reflects poorly upon many and only furthers unfair stereotypes that permeate the Syracuse campus. This is no longer the 1950s, and I hope Coulter, the College Republicans and the entire GOP soon realize this fact.

Billy Ceskavich
Political Science, Information Management and Technology
Class of 2014