We are a small group of students committed to promoting individual rights (and the associated political philosophy of classical liberalism) through respectful discourse and occasional on-campus events. We are neither Republicans nor Democrats: we recognize that both major parties are philosophically inconsistent with respect to the question of individual rights. The Republican Party encourages fi
scal responsibility while attempting to curtail personal freedoms; the Democratic Party, meanwhile, champions social tolerance while upholding an extensive welfare state. Our position may be succinctly summarized as “socially liberal and fiscally conservative.”
The basis of our politics is the non-aggression principle, which affirms each individual’s freedom to do as he pleases providing his choices do not inflict harm upon others. (We take “harm” here to mean threat to life or property.) As a corollary, we believe human relationships should be governed by voluntary exchange. We condemn all forms of coercion or non-retaliatory force—both between individuals and between citizens and the state. Our outreach focuses primarily on education and dialogue. This club is not intended to promote any particular political candidate. Rather, we aim to provide an open forum for discussion of various social and economic issues, along with more abstract questions like “What is the nature of rights?” and “What is the proper function of government?” We welcome input from those who disagree with us, providing it is offered in a civil manner. We are also willing to collaborate on projects with other student groups to the extent that our values align.
