Call for Comment: Are Republicans an Oppressed Minority at the University of Iowa?

It's no secret that Republicans and conservatives are a minority population on campus, but what's the appropriate way to deal with that?

University of Iowa College Republicans have dubbed this week "Conservative Coming Out Week." The event's verbal play on members "coming out" is a reference to members of the gay community coming out. This reference, you may remember, caused a bit of controversy last year when a professor lashed out at the College Republicans with a vulgar email.

Here is the schedule for Conservative Coming Out Week, note that many of the events thumb their noses at their liberal counterparts:

Monday: 2nd Amendment Day: Meet up with other conservatives at the IMU and go to the Hawkeye shooting range at 4:00pm. Transportation will not be provided.  
DISCLAIMER: Do not bring firearms on campus. If you would like to bring your own firearms to the range, please contact uiowacollegerepublicans@gmail.com for further details.

Tuesday: College Republican meeting at 8:00PM in 71 Schaeffer Hall with a showing of "Waiting for Superman" in support of education reform.

Wednesday: Come pick up a cupcake in the Ped Mall from 11am-1pm in support of Voter IDs. Show a valid photo ID and get a FREE cupcake!

Thursday: Animal Rights BBQ! Come meet with like minded Republicans for a friendly cook out at College Green Park at 6:30pm followed by a 'spontaneous' Campout.

Friday: Wear RED Day! Come out and show your true colors! If you are interested in a red "GOP - the P stands for Party" t-shirt, please email uiowacollegerepublicans@gmail.com.

Should be a great week! Let's come out!

In other news this week, the Johnson County Republicans expressed their support for a lawsuit against the University of Iowa accusing the school of unfair hiring practices due to political beliefs.

Here is what the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported:

An ongoing lawsuit that calls into question whether political discrimination was a factor in hiring decisions at the University of Iowa College of Law has local Republicans and others questioning whether such a problem exists across the arena of higher education and, if so, what can be done about it.

“We’re concerned that if faculty hiring committees are practicing de facto discrimination against conservatives and Republicans, it’s an issue that needs to be brought to the surface,” said Bob Anderson, chairman of the Johnson County Republican Party. “The more light that comes from resolutions such as ours, hopefully the more attention the public will be paying and the less incidents will occur.”

In February, the Johnson County Republican Central Committee passed a resolution addressing concerns about the lack of Republicans and conservatives on the faculty at the UI law school and in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

So what do you think? Are Republicans an oppressed minority in Iowa City and on the campus at large? Is it right for them to co-opt some of the language of other minorities or sue due to hiring discrimination? Conversely, how can Iowa City be a more welcoming place for conservative ideas?