FROM THE COVER | the political divide
By Maureen Harmon | Illustration by Charlie Powell
ick Foglesong, professor of political science, has absolutely no data to back up his latest political observation. But he’s pretty sure there aren’t as many political lawn signs popping up in Florida as there were four years ago. And he’s certain that fewer and fewer of his students want to engage in political discourse in the classroom. His theory? People are more closeted these days because talking politics with neighbors or roommates who aren’t voting your party line can quickly get you uninvited to the holiday potluck or may draw a permanent line down the dorm-room floor. But online, it’s a different story. On Facebook, voters repost news stories that tout the strengths of one candidate or blast the opposition. They take to Twitter during the debate, cheering on zingers and encouraging their candidate to go for the jugular as if they were watching Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier duke it out in the ring. Rollins saw the online battle firsthand last July when it announced that President Obama would make an appearance at the College. Within 10 minutes of a Facebook post, the Rollins page received its first comment, and the online debate that ensued ranged from excitement to frustration to sheer anger. “It is unfortunate that Rollins would allow such a president to speak at their learning institution,” wrote one alumnus. The next day, when Rollins released details about ticketing, it took only two minutes for a graduate to chime in: “I just puked in my mouth.” By August 2, the day of Obama’s visit, the back and forth had gotten much uglier. “Adds to our University’s resume of HAMAS Terrorists speaking on campus. One in the same,” wrote commenter X. To which another commenter responded: “[Commenter X]’s the Rollins’ chapter president of Bigots R Us.” Some graduates and students blamed Rollins for taking a political stance by footing the bill for Obama’s speech. (It didn’t, by the way.
16 | FALL 2012 | rollins.edu