From the President's Desk

Kieran Laffey, NY - Chairman of George Washington College Republicans

Every week, it’s the stories I hear that remind me why this moment matters. A student rewriting a paper to hide what they believe. Another staying silent in class, afraid a professor may mark them down for thinking differently. Or friends who feel the need to whisper what they truly think just to fit in. Honest discussion is what this nation was built on, and it should never feel dangerous.

We live in a time when saying what you truly believe takes courage. Even as our country shows signs of real improvement right in front of us — from the National Guard helping keep Washington safe to our president wielding a culture of peace and self-determination throughout the globe — too many people still hesitate to admit what they know is true. And that must change. It is time for students at our school to have a place where they can speak freely and think boldly. That is why we are launching The Right Angle, the hub for freedom of thought and open discussion on a campus that desperately needs it.

This paper is more than a project; it is a purpose. It is about building a space where curiosity is valued over conformity and courage replaces silence. On our campus, we have seen protests that cross the line from activism into radicalism. We have seen moments where students celebrate violence over understanding and ideology over truth. Yet through it all, I am reminded that this is not the majority. It is a loud minority trying to drown out the rest. Most students, regardless of politics, just want to learn, speak, and be heard. The GW College Republicans are here to make that possible, and The Right Angle is an extension of that mission.

We did not create this paper to shout louder; we created it to think deeper. The Right Angle is a place for honest conversation, civil debate, and strong ideas. It is for those who believe that freedom of expression is the foundation of education. It is for students who still believe that tradition and reason are worth defending.

It’s no secret our movement has momentum. Just look around, and you can feel it. A new Morning Consult poll found that the share of Gen Z adults who call themselves conservative jumped by double digits in 2024. Barna and Axios both report more young Americans returning to faith and rediscovering church. Our generation is rethinking what matters. We’re putting responsibility over cynicism, something that was unimaginable just a short time ago.

At GW, I have made it this club’s mission to restore dialogue. Disagreement is not something to fear; it is something to value. What is not acceptable are the threats and hostility that have become too common on college campuses. I have seen it up close. It hurts everyone, and it has to end. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” That line, first spoken by Reverend Charles F. Aked in 1916, says it all — and doing nothing in this crucial time in our country’s history will not be occurring in our organization.

Here, we believe this country is worth preserving. President Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” And he was right. The Gen Z vote helped send Donald Trump back to the White House, but our work does not stop there. Leadership is not a season; it is a duty, and we must keep pushing onward.

I have always believed America’s best days are still ahead. I have seen students here rediscover confidence in their beliefs and realize they were never as alone as they thought. That is what this movement is about. It is about people finding their voice again.

We are here for a reason. This is about truth and common sense. It is about believing that this country, for all its challenges, remains the greatest on earth.

As we launch the first edition of The Right Angle, I hope you’ll read it, share it, and take part in it. This is where honest voices find their strength again.

God bless,

Kieran W. Laffey