In light of the College Republicans’ recent speaker event with Roger Stone, a close friend of Donald Trump and a central figure in the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s campaign ties to Russia, we at The Fordham Ram would like to discuss the event within the context of the Fordham College Republicans’ motives. We feel that the College Republicans failed to fully consider the detrimental consequences this speaker could have on our community.

We are not arguing that Fordham should have prevented Stone from speaking on campus. We understand and treasure our right to free speech here at Fordham. As a college newspaper in today’s society, the right to free speech provided by the First Amendment is the reason why we can exist and write this editorial without fear of censorship from the university. However, we have learned that although we have freedom of speech, we are not free of the social and moral consequences of our words. It seems to us that the College Republicans do not understand this concept.

According to an article in The Fordham Observer, the College Republicans’ said that the reason for inviting Stone was to “give students the opportunity to view the 2016 Presidential Election through the lens of a political insider.”

Although the sentiment is admirable, we believe that this is neither a genuine reason nor full explanation for bringing such a controversial figure to our campus. The harm that Stone has caused with his words and actions far outweigh what he knows about Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

In light of Stone’s disturbing professed beliefs and past history of harmful rhetoric, how could the College Republicans expect something other than backlash from the student population? Specifically, how could they expect thoughtful and productive dialogue to occur with a man who has ostracized women and provoked multiple minority groups? For students who claim to be from a party that believes in solutions grounded in common sense realities, it hardly seems realistic to expect our student body to engage in constructive communication with such a divisive and incendiary figure.

This, again, is not a matter of free speech, but rather an abuse of it. By inviting Stone on campus, Fordham College Republicans are abusing the right to free speech in order to simply provoke members of our community. Such an invitation by the Fordham College Republicans goes beyond politics and partisanship. This goes beyond being a proponent of free speech.

Our nation and campus is already divided. Inviting Stone to campus has only created an even larger rift among students.

Roger Stone is not a true Republican. He is a racist, sexist, homophobic and xenophobic man who hides behind a political facade to further his own intolerant agenda. We as the Executive Board were strongly considering not writing this editorial, as to not give this event more attention or validation than it is already getting. However, we ultimately decided that the damage has already been done. Now, we must move on and compel our student leaders to consider the consequences of free speech and the feelings of students on campus before organizing events within our community. The Fordham community deserves better and expects more.