GOP 'Catch the Immigrant' Game Catches Flak

By Sam Graham-Felsen

February 23, 2007

» More

Yesterday, Nation intern Elizabeth Schuster and I went to NYU to check out the College Republicans' ever-so-tasteful "Catch the Illegal Immigrant" game. The stunt works like this: College Republicans give a student a name tag that reads "Illegal Immigrant" and players scour the campus to find him or her. The winner gets a gift certificate.

This kind of event has been staged by College Republican chapters all over the country. There were about a dozen College Republicans and several hundred students who opposed them. The event demonstrated, once again, how fast word gets around on Facebook, and how powerful this tool can be for campus activists.

It was impressive to see so many passionate students protesting this offensive prank--but it's a shame that this is what it takes to get students out on the streets. Why should the biggest political event of the year at NYU be a response to a provocation by Republicans? Isn't it time for progressives to come up with our own creative tactics for getting students to show up and actively participate?

About Sam Graham-Felsen

Sam Graham-Felsen has written for The Nation about youth and student politics and also helped to create VideoNation, magazine's online video feature. Since March 2007, he has been on leave as a journalist and is currently working on Barack Obama's campaign for president. more...
Most Read

Issues »

Most Emailed

Issues »

Popular Topics

Blogs

» State of Change

Hank Paulson Could Care Less About Autoworkers | Treasury secretary was filled with urgency for Wall Street's bailout, but doesn't even show up to help the auto industry.
John Nichols
Posted 55 minutes ago

» The Beat

Another Woman Senator From New York? | NOW, Feminist Majority endorse Carolyn Maloney to replace Clinton.
John Nichols

» Capitolism

Realizing the Promise | A people's inauguration
Christopher Hayes

» The Dreyfuss Report

Obama's Gaffe on India | He ought to be urging India to talk to Pakistan, not cross the border to "catch" the bad guys.
Robert Dreyfuss

» Editor's Cut

Bread, Bombs, and the Big Stimulus | We need a smart and focused inside-outside strategy to revive our frayed social compact -- now more critical than ever.
Katrina vanden Heuvel

» And Another Thing

Can you help "Nickie"? | Bringing the abortion debate down to earth
Katha Pollitt

» The Notion

DC to Delhi: Only Our Missiles -- Not Yours | What is Rice going to say to India: only DC not Delhi is allowed to bomb Pakistan?
Laura Flanders

» Act Now!

World AIDS Day | How to help in the fight against the AIDS pandemic.
Peter Rothberg

» Passing Through

Forget GM's Plan -- Where's The Government's Plan? | Create a demand for green cars.
Jane Hamsher