The Party of the Left
    is a community devoted to political discourse. Our means
    are spirited discussion and formal debate of the politics,
    policies and philosophies that divide our community. We         value intellectual integrity, the willingness to examine
    one's innermost beliefs in a matter that is both honest and           rigorous. Together, we strive to advance the Party, the
    Yale Political Union, and the Left.

The Party of the Left is one of the seven parties of the Yale Political Union and a member of the Coalition of the Left of the Yale Political Union. Founded in 2006 by individuals who sought to create rigorous dialogue and debate on the left, the Party of the Left has flourished in the last two years as the Yale's newest political organization.

The Party of the Left comes together each week to debate issues that divide the Left. Through thoughtful speeches and tough questions, Party members challenge and push each other intellectually. Always, the PoL asks its members to wrestle with the questions "What is the Left? And why am I on it?" Past debate resolutions include: "Resolved: Fund Food Stamps, not NASA," "Resolved: The American Left is Unpatriotic," and "Resolved: Atheism is Progress." For a list of all the Party's past resolutions, please see below. All are welcome to come and participate in Party debates. 

The Party of the Left does not only seek to help its members develop their own personal philosophies. Always in mind is the goal of working to reinvigorate and reinvent the Left as a serious political and intellectual movement in America and in the world. The PoL looks to rebuild the Left to challenge ideological opponents both in the Yale Political Union and beyond. The Party of the Left is also unique in having an Activism Coordinator, who encourages Party members to engage with other progressive groups on and off campus.

The Party of the Left is also a strong community of friends. Every Monday, PoLsters and friends can be found watching the Daily Show together in the Branford TV Room. Weekly Party dinners help foster informal discussions and frequent fun social events like Mory's Toasting and Games and Playaz' Night serve to cement lasting friendships. In addition, the Party travels to Manhattan annually to meet with prominent figures in politics, the media, and the activism community. Previous contacts have included Matthew Bishop, Chief Business Writer for The Economist, Dorothy Ehrlich, Executive Director of the ACLU, and Mark Green, the former NYC Public Advocate. Every Spring, the PoL also unwinds over a long weekend by the ocean at the Beach Party of the Left. 

Together, the Party of the Left seeks to fulfill its mission “to develop our Members as people and leaders and to develop a new vision of the American Left.” 

To find out more about who we are, you can read our constitution by clicking here.

---

Current Officers:

Chair: Alexander Martone (JE '10)
Vice: Christian Chisholm (DC '10)
Chief of Staff: Logan Mohs (BK '11)
Secretary: Ashley Baldwin-Hunter (CC '11)
Activism Coordinator: Benjamin Gallagher (PC '11)
Chair of Resolutions Drafting Committee: Adam Stempel (CC '11)
Toastmaster: Sanjeev Tewani (BK '11)
Treasurer: Daniel Williams (SM '11).

Past Chairs:

Holly Ovington (JE '10) - Spring 2008
David Manners-Webber (CC '10) - Fall 2007
Rachel Homer (TD '09) - Spring 2007
Paul Selker (DC '08) - Fall 2007
Silas Kulkarni (SM '06) - Spring 2006, Founding Chair

---

History:

On Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 7:30pm, in an oak-paneled room with three unlit wax candles, it began. Roughly a half-dozen people decided to go forward with an idea that had been circulating for some months: a party of the Yale Political Union that would further the Left in that forum, on campus, and – we hoped – ultimately, through our alumni, on a national level. Cerin Lindgrensavage was asked to be the Chief Whip, Dara Lind to be the mini-whip, Paul Selker to be the Minister of Truth, Rachel Homer to be the Vice, and Silas Kulkarni, whose enthusiasm and conviction had brought us all together, accepted the title of Founding Chair.

Three days later, we held a meeting to explain to all who were curious or interested what we were all about. Our sign-up lists swelled, and we planned our first debate for March 30 on the topic, Resolved: Women should be eligible for the draft. Numerous informal dinners followed, as well as a Whiskey Rebellion and marathon sessions of Constitution-writing.  Nearly a month later, on April 28, the Party of the Left met in caucus. The Constitution was read and vigorously debated—indeed, substantial changes resulted from additions proposed on the floor. All individuals present then signed the Constitution, ratifying it. We proceeded directly into the election of officers. In its second semester, the Fall 2006, the Party held nine debates under the leadership of Chair Paul Selker. After narrowly deciding that Torture can be justified, the caucus rejected contentions that Government handouts can’t work and that Free love is wrong. While we wanted Out of Iraq, we couldn’t agree to go Into Sudan. And while support for Ned Lamont’s antiwar Senate bid was carried, we declined to endorse the proposition that The Left needs Lamont. This stood us in good stead when Lamont was beaten and we were suddenly without him. 

On December 6, 2006, the Party of the Left was admitted to the Yale Political Union with thirty-seven members, as the second largest party in a Union of seven parties. Currently in its second full year as a Union party, the PoL continues to strive towards the goals laid out in its founding mission, “both to develop our members as people and leaders, and to develop a new vision of the American Left.”

The Party of the Left is a project - as a community, we are dedicated to exploring the issues that divide the Left and our own individual reasons for identifying with it. In the words of one of our members, that means that a member is expected not only to be shaped by the Party, but to help shape it as well. The Party of the Left asks for a real commitment from its members, and it is the contributions of our members that has created the PoL that we are so proud of today. Membership in the Party of the Left is for life, not just for your time at Yale or for as long as you keep coming to debates. Once you’ve been in, you’re a member, and, barring anything highly unusual, you always will be.

With all that said, the membership process shouldn't be intimidating. While membership is elective (that is, the Party as a whole elects you to membership), it's not so that we can exclude at will. As mentioned above, we really believe the Party is a community, and that membership should be more than just a formality. That means that not everyone who drops by a debate automatically becomes a member. However, if you’ve come to some debates, gotten to know and like some members, and feel comfortable committing to contribute to the intellectual atmosphere of the Party, it may well be time to consider membership. The Chair and Chief of Staff will provide more information about the sponsorship and election process in advance of the Party’s Membership Caucuses. There will be two such caucuses in the Fall (late October and December) and at least one in the Spring.

Take your time, participate in Party events, and talk with current members. Be sure to join the full Yale Political Union for debates as well, and to visit the floors of the other six parties.

For more information on Membership and Party Events, contact the Chief of Staff at logan.mohs@yale.edu.

The Party of the Left Blog is a center of discussion for the party. There wil be debate summaries commentary from individuals at the debate, and much more.

No registration is needed. 

Click on the image to the right and start reading, writting, and enjoying

The Party of the Left since its inception in Spring 2006 has dedicated itself to debating topics that divide the left and get at the core principles that guide members. The following is a list of resolutions we've debated.

Spring 2008
Resolved: Let the Old People Die
Resolved: Fund Food Stamps, Not NASA
Resolved: Evil Exists
Resolved: Men and Women Cannot be Friends (Joint Debate with the Conservative Party)
Resolved: Use Racial Profiling in Airports
Resolved: Dodge the Draft
Resolved: The Left Should Condemn the Burqa
Resolved: What is the Left and Why are We on it? (Closed Party Caucus)
Resolved: Markets Cure Poverty
Resolved: Duty Before Happiness
Resolved: The Left Should Reject Religion

Fall 2007
Resolved: International Responsibility Trumps National Interest
Resolved: The Left Should Not Support Israel
Resolved: Racial Inequality Cannot Be Eliminated
Resolved: Columbia Should Not Have Invited Ahmadinejad
Resolved: Harbor Illegal Immigrants
Resolved: Self Harm is a Right
Resolved: Institute Mandatory Public Service
Resolved: You Shall Not Crucify Mankind Upon a Cross of Gold (Joke Debate)
Resolved: Politicians Should Vote Their Religious Convictions
Resolved: A Stay at Home Parent is a Waste of a Yale Education
Resolved: All Countries Should Embrace Democracy (Joint Debate with the Tory Party)

Spring 2007
Resolved: Democratic Participation Should Not Be Anonymous
Resolved: Yale Suites Should Be Coed
Resolved: China is Our Enemy
Resolved: One’s Legacy is More Important Than One’s Life
Resolved: Abolish Teacher’s Unions
Resolved: Chivalry Hurts Women (Joint Debate with the Tory Party)
Resolved: Atheism is Progress
Resolved: One World Government
Resolved: Conquer Canada/That These United Colonies Are and of Right Ought to be Free and Independent States/Korea is the Phallus that Will Impregnate the World/Strange Women Lying in Ponds Distributing Swords is No Basis for a System of Government (Joke Debate)
Resolved: What is the Left and Why are We on it? (Closed Party Caucus)
Resolved: Save Women, Censor Porn

Fall 2006
Resolved: Torture Can Be Justified
Resolved: The Left Needs Lamont
Resolved: Love Your Country Even When You Hate It
Resolved: Government Handouts Can’t Work
Resolved: The Irresponsible Forfeit Their Rights
Resolved: True Societal Change Requires Revolution
Resolved: Out of Iraq, into Sudan
Resolved: Candy is Dandy, but Liquor is Quicker (Joke Debate)
Resolved: Disenfranchise the Ignorant
Resolved: Free Love is Wrong

Spring 2006
Resolved: Women Should be Drafted
Resolved: The American Left is Unpatriotic
Resolved: Interest Group Politics Harms the Left

The member's only area of the PoL website includes minutes, working resolutions and party history that is only avaliable with your net id and password.

Enter the Member's Area here.
Net id and password are requried.