The first of a new series spotlighting political activism on Yale’s campus, this Then and Now show is featuring the Yale College Democrats and how students interact with clubs, particularly those in the political sphere, in the past and present.
Please note: This show is not sponsored by the Yale College Democrats, and neither the Yale Alumni Association nor STAY endorse the opinions expressed. The panelists have been informed of this, and the discussion is to be centered on campus political institutions, their internal organization structure, how students are involved in the political community, and how these clubs integrate students with Yale, local, state, and national governing entities to prepare them for a future in politics and to cultivate a politically informed populace.
Distinct from the Yale Political Union, a debate society, the Yale College Democrats is an advocacy body with the goal of tangible outcomes. The Yale College Democrats was founded in 1980 to advocate for progressive social and political change at the national, local, and campus levels, urging New Haven to create a student-centered Ward 1 to better represent the student populace. Beyond legislative initiatives, electoral campaign work, policies designed to promote equity in New Haven, and voter engagement opportunities around campus, the group is primarily a community-oriented organization, with social events for students and alumni and an emphasis on being as welcoming and supportive as possible, especially for those individuals entering politics for the first time.
