By Jake Shore
Roger Stone, advisor to President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, sparred with some Fordham students and shook hands with others yesterday during a Fordham College Republicans event.
Known for working on the campaigns of Republicans as early as Richard Nixon—the subject of a tattoo on his back—Stone addressed Fordham students in Keating Hall on his history working with Republican candidates and specifically his work with the election of President Trump. While some students waving Trump and Vice President Mike Pence flags and wearing “Make America Great Again” hats roared when he took the stage, other students frequently interrupted Stone’s speech throughout with yells and taunts.
Stone touched on topics ranging from Nixon’s career with affirmative action, North Korea, the nomination of Donald Trump and issues of free speech on college campuses. He also called out Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, for releasing a statement, preemptively disavowing Stone’s speech.
“I am happy to be with you today. I am delighted with this turnout. I appreciate the kind words of the university president who hasn’t gotten a chance to get to know me,” said Stone sarcastically.
Stone had trouble completing his speech without interruption. Discussing Trump’s foreign policy and wars abroad started by past presidents, Stone said that the Republicans who supported Trump’s candidacy “invented a non-interventionist president.” One student shouted back, “and a member of the KKK,” met with boos from the crowd.
Stone shot back, “The KKK was invented by the Democratic party,” to louder cheers.
Tina McCain, FCRH ’18 and co-programmer of Women’s Empowerment, said she is worried about how the ideological direction of the Fordham College Republicans impacts other groups on campus.
“It’s hurtful for students of color and LGBTQ students and women I think to some degree,” said McCain. “I mean when you’re a student of this institution you expect respect and protection from hate speech and this man has literally used slurs against, like numerous slurs, very harmful slurs against marginalized groups and that is not something that should be supported.”
Fordham Public Safety checked students’ bags on the way in and lined the walls of the first floor of Keating. Public Safety tried to keep students quiet while Stone was speaking but, when he opened the floor to questions, some students took the opportunity to voice their complaints with some of Stone’s past comments.
One student prefaced his question with “I have four lovely sisters” and asked why women or LGBT students should be listening to his speech when Stone’s past comments include calling women “elitist C-words” and saying Hillary Clinton should be executed.
After loud yells and applause, Stone said, “they do want to listen to me,” pointing to the middle of the crowd where other students were cheering for him previously.
Set up by Fordham’s College Republicans, Stone’s speech required funding outside of Fordham University. The club asked for $3,253 from the university to pay Stone’s speaking fee but was denied due to “not aligning with Jesuit values.” The College Republicans set up a GoFundMe page to pay Stone’s speaking fee and were able to secure a space for him to speak.
Brian Reardon, FCRH ‘18,president of United Student Government (USG) said in a statement that USG “is currently looking into steps to investigate the most recent event with Fordham College Republicans and Roger Stone. USG does not take action without the approval of its entire body.”
While speaking, Stone fielded students questions: some pointed and some complimentary. Stone repeated to some students that “you don’t have to stay here and listen to me. You’re entirely free to go.”
The College Republicans who set up Stone’s speech and the logistics behind it, said they were happy to get an insider perspective of Trump’s landmark campaign.
“I’m not in favor of bringing people here just to piss people off. [Stone is] someone who’s actually substantive, giving an inside look at why Trump got elected; nobody else can provide that, except for Roger Stone,” said Colton Hillman, vice president of the College Republicans. “Yes, he is controversial — of course, I don’t agree with everything anyone has ever said — but he’ll give everybody here a look at what brought Trump to power.”
