Maryland Lieutenant Governor and Hopkins alumnus Michael Steele was brought to campus Wednesday by the JHU College Republicans as the first speaker of their newly developed Spring Capitol Symposium.
Steele, a native Washingtonian and self-proclaimed "Air Force brat," remarked that "Hopkins is unique among universities" for the spirit of its people. After receiving "a hard wake-up call" when he was expelled at the end of his freshman year, Steele worked hard to re-enter the Hopkins community. Steele said, "Hopkins gave me a second chance, and I will forever be indebted to it, because it saw something in me that I hadn't realized myself. It was my potential."
After graduating from Hopkins with a degree in international relations in 1981, Steele entered an Augustinian monastery for three years before attending Georgetown Law Center. Having practiced law for a number of years, he went on to become the first black chairman of the Maryland Republican Party and, in 2002, Maryland's first black lieutenant governor. He is currently running for the U.S. Senate.
In his open and informal speech, Steele challenged the audience -- members of the College Republicans in particular -- to engage differently than he did twenty-five years ago when he was on this campus. Noting many changes through the years, he urged them "to communicate a positive message of hope turned into action, because that's the root of our party." This idea of combating "the backstabbing, the rhetoric that's all hyped up and produces no results" was Steele's overarching message, and one which he sees as a discipline strongly lacking in politics today.
He said, "I've been a republican since I could first vote, which is unusual for an African-American teenager growing up in Washington, D.C. The reality for me was that democrats took me in because they felt sorry for me or wanted to convert me. I learned the art craft of politics from my opponents."
A discussion of radicalism was also a major component of Steele's speech, which he tied into his main idea of urging young republicans to "use a positive voice when all others are speaking negatively." He connected the two by explaining his view that "radicalism isn't protesting, sign-waving, or throwing bombs. It's doing something." Steele emphasized this by citing examples of the efforts made by those who brought about the end to slavery, achieved voting rights for women, and developed Affirmative Action.
Regarding his own campaign, Steele said, "I run because I feel I have something to give back, and something to say about that vision, about that hope, about the actions that we should be taking to empower people."
In a post-speech question-and-answer session, Student Council President senior Atin Agarwal asked if race ought to matter in the Senate election. Steele responded that "it shouldn't be a factor, but it's an undercurrent, that's just the nature of us. I think the testament is how you deal with it."
Agarwal later noted. "It's great and impressive that they [the College Republicans] got the Lieutenant Governor. He spoke very well." However, Agarwal was "disappointed that there weren't more people to see him."
Freshman Jeremy Batoff, a member of the College Republicans, agreed, saying, "It's kind of sad because he's such an important speaker, especially to the Hopkins community. I don't really think it matters what party it is -- when an important alumni comes to the school, people should show respect and come hear what he has to say."
College Republican's President junior Jered Ede was, in fact, pleased with the turn out considering the difficult timing during midterms. Ede said, "This is a much better turnout than I was actually expecting."
Though the crowd was on the smaller side, numbering roughly twenty-five, attendants actively participated in the question-and-answer session, keeping Steele occupied with their inquiries. This informal, debate-style symposium was exactly was Ede has in mind when he began envisioning the idea in 2004. "[The Capitol Symposium] is designed to address the topic of why the speaker is a republican, and what defines that."
The events, which will continue throughout the spring, are open to audiences of all political orientations. Ede said, "I told my friend to bring all his democrat friends. It's more entertaining that way."
Today, Steele credits Hopkins for his success under its tough-love approach, saying that he remembers "the Dean telling [him] that this is an institution where, when you arrive here, they're not about babying you -- they're about making you a man, or a woman, or a professional...It is one of those places that holds a special place in my heart." Continued from Page A1
did 25 years ago when he was on this campus. Noting many changes through the years, he urged them "to communicate a positive message of hope turned into action, because that's the root of our party." This idea of combating "the backstabbing, the rhetoric that's all hyped up and produces no results" was Steele's overarching message, and one which he sees as a discipline strongly lacking in politics today.
He said, "I've been a Republican since I could first vote, which is unusual for an African American teenager growing up in Washington, D.C. The reality for me was that Democrats took me in because they felt sorry for me or wanted to convert me. I learned the art craft of politics from my opponents."
A discussion of radicalism was also a major component of Steele's speech, which he tied into his main idea of urging young Republicans to "use a positive voice when all others are speaking negatively."
He connected the two by explaining his view that "radicalism isn't protesting, sign-waving, or throwing bombs. It's doing something." Steele emphasized this by citing examples of the efforts made by those who brought about the end to slavery, achieved voting rights for women, and developed Affirmative Action.
Regarding his own campaign, Steele said, "I run because I feel I have something to give back, and something to say about that vision, about that hope, about the actions that we should be taking to empower people."
In a post-speech question-and-answer session, senior Student Council President Atin Agarwal asked if race ought to matter in the Senate election. Steele responded, "It shouldn't be a factor, but it's an undercurrent, that's just the nature of us. I think the testament is how you deal with it."
Agarwal later noted. "It's great and impressive that they [the College Republicans] got the Lieutenant Governor. He spoke very well." However, Agarwal was "disappointed that there weren't more people to see him."
Freshman Jeremy Batoff, a member of the College Republicans, agreed, saying, "It's kind of sad because he's such an important speaker, especially to the Hopkins community. I don't really think it matters what party it is -- when an important alumni comes to the school, people should show respect and come hear what he has to say."
College Republican President junior Jered Ede was, in fact, pleased with the turn out considering the difficult timing during midterms. Ede said, "This is a much better turnout than I was actually expecting."
Though the crowd was on the smaller side, numbering roughly 25, attendants actively participated in the question-and-answer session, keeping Steele occupied with their inquiries. This informal, debate-style symposium was exactly was Ede has in mind when he began envisioning the idea in 2004. "[The Capitol Symposium] is designed to address the topic of why the speaker is a Republican and what defines that."
The events, which will continue throughout the spring, are open to audiences of all political orientations. Ede said, "I told my friend to bring all his democrat friends. It's more entertaining that way."
Today, Steele credits Hopkins for his success under its tough-love approach, saying that he remembers "the dean telling [him] that this is an institution where, when you arrive here, they're not about babying you -- they're about making you a man, or a woman, or a professional ... It is one of those places that holds a special place in my heart."
