The Trinity branch of Labour Youth have condemned the University Philosophical Society’s (the Phil) decision to invite former United States Senator Jeff Flake to give an address in College later this week.
The criticism has been focused on Flake’s record while serving in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013 and then in the Senate from 2013 until earlier this year, as a member of the Republican party.
The Trinity branch of Labour Youth described Flake in a tweet as a “pro-gun, anti-environment, sexist, homophobic politician”. They added: “We condemn his politics and invitation to Trinity. His views and values have no place here.”
In an email statement on behalf of Trinity Labour, Hugh Murphy, chair of the organisation, elaborated on the tweet. He told Trinity News that he “condemns” the invitation issued to Flake.
Murphy stated that “the Phil is giving a platform to his politics of bigotry, discrimination and division”, adding that given that “Trinity students have consistently supported the environment, marriage equality and women’s rights…[Flake’s] values go against Trinity’s values, Irish values and what our country fundamentally stands for”.
The Phil responded to some of the criticism on Twitter saying that people should come to the meeting to “challenge Senator Flake on his record during the Q&A with the audience”.
During his time in the Senate Flake voted against legislation which would have required background checks on private gun sales. He also voted to confirm the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh.
While in the House of Representatives, Flake voted twice for an attempt to amend the US Constitution to ban same-sex marriage but was one of only a few Republican representatives who voted to repeal the ban in openly gay people serving in the US military.
The president of the Phil, Ryan Grunwell responded to the criticism, telling Trinity News: “The University Philosophical Society was founded to foster debate and public discourse around the political and philosophical issues of the day.”
Grunwell noted that as a “platform for debate”, the Phil “does not endorse the views of any of the individual guests which are invited”.
He added: “When inviting guests, we endeavour to consider the perspectives of a wide variety of our 10,000 members, including particular groups which may be more affected by the issues discussed. We welcome the fact that this event, and others like it, have prompted important discussion around the issues relevant to our members.”
Flake is due to address the Phil this Friday at 2pm in the Graduate Memorial Building (GMB) and will be awarded a Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage by the society.
