Akshay Seetharam HM ’27 responds to a prior TSL opinion piece arguing against memeification by claiming that mockeries are a vital and enduring part of liberal democracy.
Tag: Charlie Kirk
OPINION: Memetic warfare — when comedy gets deadly
The Claremont Colleges were placed at the center of scrutiny as a conservative X account condemned jokes posted in light of the first anniversary of the death of Republican political pundit Charlie Kirk on Fizz. Calli Taffel SC ’30 argues that regardless of political substance or leaning, joking about severe political outcomes such as death and war can lead to desensitization and apathy, a consequence of memetic warfare.
CMC ranks second in FIRE free speech rankings, other 5Cs receive failing grades
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) gave Claremont McKenna College (CMC) the second-place spot on its 2027 College Free Speech Rankings, a report that rates the free speech climates at college and university campuses nationwide. CMC received a passing “B-” grade from FIRE, while all of the other undergraduate Claremont Colleges received failing “F” grades.
Of the 261 colleges surveyed, Pitzer College ranked 160th, Scripps College ranked 167th, Harvey Mudd College ranked 184th and Pomona College ranked 226th. While the other Claremont Colleges saw increases in their rankings compared to last year, CMC dropped by one rank, losing its first-place spot to the University of Chicago.
CMC’s Turning Point USA chapter yields debate and ‘bike porn’
More than 150 5C students engaged in debate at a political tabling event hosted by Claremont McKenna College’s chapter of Turning Point USA on Thursday.
Audrey Between (YouTube) Frames: Jubilee and the decline of curious discourse
Close your eyes, and you can already picture the scene: a circle of foldable chairs, an eerie clinical glow of studio lights, maybe even an oversized clock sitting ominously in the center of the room. Jubilee and other media companies have drawn the attention of many 5C students for their jarring political debate videos.
OPINION: MAGA conservatism has no place in Christianity
Charlie Kirk’s death was certainly an important moment in the history of the Trump administration, and perhaps even for the world at large. However, it certainly was not as important as Jesus’s death. That hasn’t stopped comparisons between the two. The MAGA movement’s hijack of Christian imagery, says Ansley Kang SC ‘29, is fundamentally in conflict with their rejection of Christian morals. Christians and agnostics alike should fight for the separation of church and state now more than ever, as MAGA’s new church only worships Trump.
Conservative student groups host vigil for Charlie Kirk
Over 20 5C students gathered in memory of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk at Claremont McKenna College on Thursday night. Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while on stage at Utah Valley University Wednesday.