Campus Political Club Leaders Sign Pledge Promising Post-Election Calm

Image courtesy of POLITICO

By Patrick D. Lewis

Student leaders and presidents of various political clubs on campus signed a pledge committing to civility following the 2024 presidential election on November 5. The pledge was organized by the Student Government Association (SGA) and was publicly released on October 22.

The following students who signed the statement and the organizations they represent:

• Jeff Lance, Student Body President
• Clare Tong, Student Body Vice President
• Bridget Lucas, College Republicans President
• Lauren Touey, College Democrats President
• Bryce Wnek, American Solidarity Party President
• Joseph Wages, Young Americans for Freedom Chairman
• Max Townsend, Progressive Student Union President

The pledge, in full, reads:

“As student leaders of various political organizations on campus during the 2024 election cycle, we pledge to: 

1. Remain civil in our dialogue, to respect others’ viewpoints, and to rise above hatred;
2. Align my ideological views with my formed conscience;
3. Encounter others as human beings with dignity made in the image and likeness of God; and 
4. Strive for partnership in whatever the political future may hold regardless of whether my preferred candidate is victorious.”

Lauren Touey, a senior sociology major and president of the College Democrats commented on the pledge. 

“I signed it because I agreed with the goal of the pledge, especially to the points of encouraging civil dialogue and respecting other’s viewpoints,” Touey said. 

Touey continued, “I think this was a great initiative that SGA decided to continue, especially as we live in a very politically polarized nation!”

The pledge’s signing and public release comes during one of the most violent periods of U.S. political history – the last four years have featured the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, two assassination attempts against former President Trump, violent rhetoric from Trump and his allies, and contentious protests relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict at universities across the country. 

Joseph Wages, junior politics major and Chairman of CUA Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), gave a statement.

“In a time when political divisions are increasingly stark, it is important that every so often we stand up and acknowledge we are all neighbors and friends, despite our ideological disagreements,” Wages said. He mentioned that democracy relies on compromise, and continued, “I signed that pledge to show Young Americans for Freedom and I are committed to being neighborly and will always strive to be Christ-like first.”

On the opposite end of the political spectrum, Max Townsend, President of the Progressive Student Union also gave a comment. 

“The cornerstone of American democracy, and of our American Republic, is the free and peaceful exchange of power. Our sacred oath to defend the peaceful exchange of power has seldom been violated, and my signature on the SGA agreement ensures that we continue to uphold our duty as Americans towards our republic.” 

The November 5 general election will determine control of the White House and Congress, potentially resulting in widespread changes to national policy and law. The last groups of polls before the election from CNN, NYT, and Washington Post found Donald Trump and Kamala Harris tied just a week before the election. Over 35 million people have already cast votes via absentee ballot and early voting.