Vladimir Rudenko, editor-in-chief
of conservative publication The Broad
Street Journal, says when people think
of conservatives, they think of “neoconservatives,
bigots, who walk around
yelling about hell.”
Rudenko and his staff – all VCU
students – recently received a grant to
publish a newspaper and present an
alternative to what he says are liberal
viewpoints in the mainstream media
and in classrooms.
Rudenko says one of his goals is to
combat stereotypes about conservatives.
He says among the paper’s staff are people
subscribing to Buddhism, Judaism, Islam
and atheism.
“We don’t discriminate on religion or
sexual orientation,” Rudenko said. “We
don’t do the usual things that people
think conservatives do.”
The Broad Street Journal, which
published its first issue this month
and distributed it around campus, is a
creation of student group Libertarians
at VCU.
The group was asked by the Leadership
Institute, a national conservative
advocacy organization, to start a conservative
newspaper to combat liberal
viewpoints at VCU. The Leadership
Institute provided the students with a
grant and lessons about producing a
newspaper.
Ian Ivey, director of communications
for the Leadership Institute, says the
group often provides grants to help
conservative students get their views in
print. Ivey says 210 campus publications
have received funding so far.
“We are happy to help young conservatives
put together their own conservative
newspapers,” Ivey said, “often
because most main campus newspapers
are dominated by left-winged ideology,
and conservatives don’t feel like they
have a voice on campus.”
The debut issue outlines in great detail
its missions, which include everything
from tolerance, the right to self-defense
and capitalism. Within the paper appears
opposition to socialism, collectivism and
relativism.
Steven Latimer, who recently ran to
be president of the Monroe Park Campus
Student Government Association, is
serving as the paper’s managing editor.
“We hope to give our peers the ‘other
side of the story,’ which can be easily
overlooked on a liberal campus,” Latimer
stated in an e-mail. “Though we may
not like to admit it, there are always at
least two sides to every story.”
Rudenko moved to the United States
from Russia when he was 12. He credits
the move with helping him appreciate
American culture. He says the low level
of patriotism he has seen in the United
States motivated him to start The Broad
Street Journal.
“I don’t see how one can denounce
(America) and then take advantage of
all that is available here for people,”
Rudenko said.
As far as reactions to The Broad Street
Journal go, Latimer states he has received
mostly praise for their efforts.
“Overall, the reaction has been very
positive,” Latimer stated. “Students are
glad we are working to increase the
diversity of the campus media.”
The Broad Street Journal staff is
planning to host an “affirmative-action”
bake sale to show people why the staff
thinks affirmative action is wrong. The
staff will sell cookies, and the price will
vary depending on the buyer’s race or
gender. A second issue of The Broad
Street Journal will come out in May, with
plans to expand the operation.
“Conservatives are very hard to find,
especially ones that are willing to write
and project their viewpoints effectively,”
Rudenko said. “I’ve been able to find
enough to keep the newspaper running.”
The Broad Street Journal is available
in the Monroe Park Student Commons
and at www.broadstreetjournal.org. The
next issue is scheduled to be distributed
May 1.