The Independent Party of the Yale Political Union is one of the premier forums for student debate at Yale. The IP is the largest party in the Yale Political Union, and the only one that adheres to no specific ideology or political viewpoint; instead we aim to foster robust, open, and wide-ranging political discourse.

Our weekly debates are open to the entire Yale community and address challenging political, cultural, and philosophical issues. Our debate format is easily accessible and relies on Robert's Rules of Order to ensure that all voices are heard and respected. We encourage everyone—the casual visitor and committed member alike—to ask tough questions, give speeches, and actively explore their own convictions. Recently, we have debated some of the following resolutions: Resolved: "Human Rights" is a Noble Lie; Resolved: The Western Canon is Essential to a College Education; Resolved: Boycott Sweatshop Labor; Resolved: Overturn Roe v. Wade; Resolved: God is Dead; and Resolved: Democracy is the Best Weapon against Terrorism.

The Independent Party's motto is "Hear All Sides," and this is an imperative we live by. At our debates, you will find bold expressions of opinions from across the political spectrum. One could say that the IP is home to libertarians, socialists, neo-conservatives, hard-line moderates, and almost everything in between--but in fact, we are a group of students who resist the claustrophobic categories of "liberal" and "conservative" popular in today's politics and reject the partisan pressures that demand adherence to a mass-produced political platform. In the Independent Party we believe that openness of mind is the truest mark of genuine intelligence.

Along with our debates, the Independent Party hosts a wide variety of social events throughout the academic year. Whether watching a movie, arguing over drinks, or toasting at Mory's, IPsters are always having fun together. As we like to say, we take our ideas seriously, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. The IP is one of the closest groups of friends you will find at Yale; the friendships formed in the IP stay with us forever.

We also go to New York City every semester to meet with prominent politicians, journalists, business people, artists, and media personalities. In recent semesters, we have meet with Mad Money host Jim Cramer, 12-term Colorado congresswoman Patricia Schroeder, ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero, UN Ambassador John Bolton, and the late William F. Buckley, Jr.

"Yale," George Pierson famously said, "is at once a tradition, a company of scholars, a society of friends." The Independent Party is much the same. Please join us at one of our debates this Fall and learn firsthand what this party is all about.


Find out about the IP in the words of its Chairmen! Check out sometime Chairman Geoff Shaw's letter to incoming Yale freshmen (PDF) and Organizational Speech (PDF) or read the Organizational Speeches of Fall 2007 Chairman Carmen Lee (PDF) and Spring 2008 Chairman Rachel Bayefsky (PDF).