2008 Woodie Awards
Socialist presidential candidate visits UCF
Amanda Welch
Issue date: 7/10/08 Section: News
The socialist candidate for the U.S. presidency spoke at UCF Wednesday to discuss social, economic and political issues, socialism and what he believes is the imminent fall of capitalism in the U.S.
Brian Moore of Socialist Party USA was invited to speak by Jay Jurie, an assistant professor of public administration and the faculty adviser to Students for a Democratic Society at UCF. Jurie said he asked Moore to speak to expose UCF to a different point of view.
"Especially with voices who may not get heard very well out there in the mainstream media, the university offers kind of a platform where those lesser-heard voices can be brought out," Jurie said.
CodePink UCF, the campus chapter of the women-oriented, anti-war organization, co-sponsored the event with SDS. Amanda Mailey, a junior majoring in interdisciplinary studies, is a member of CodePink and welcomed Moore's anti-war perspective.
"I think that a lot of people here are against the war," Mailey said. "I just want them to know how the Socialists feel about the war."
Moore said he has been a peace activist since the Vietnam War, and formed the Nature Coast Coalition for Peace and Justice in west central Florida in 2002.
He found a home for his views regarding peace in Socialist Party USA, which advocates the eradication of nuclear programs and gross reductions to the military. Moore has been with the party for a year-and-a-half.
Moore campaigns for a classless society, with universal health care, housing and individual incomes of more than $35,000. He said in such a society, penalties would be set against those who violate either the sharing or labor aspects the socialist system.
But he doesn't believe such radical change is going to occur through his actions. Rather, he said during his speech, that such radical change would occur through revolution.
"We believe that we will not change the system electorally," Moore said. "We believe ultimately that there will be a confrontation between the workers and the owners."
Brian Moore of Socialist Party USA was invited to speak by Jay Jurie, an assistant professor of public administration and the faculty adviser to Students for a Democratic Society at UCF. Jurie said he asked Moore to speak to expose UCF to a different point of view.
"Especially with voices who may not get heard very well out there in the mainstream media, the university offers kind of a platform where those lesser-heard voices can be brought out," Jurie said.
CodePink UCF, the campus chapter of the women-oriented, anti-war organization, co-sponsored the event with SDS. Amanda Mailey, a junior majoring in interdisciplinary studies, is a member of CodePink and welcomed Moore's anti-war perspective.
"I think that a lot of people here are against the war," Mailey said. "I just want them to know how the Socialists feel about the war."
Moore said he has been a peace activist since the Vietnam War, and formed the Nature Coast Coalition for Peace and Justice in west central Florida in 2002.
He found a home for his views regarding peace in Socialist Party USA, which advocates the eradication of nuclear programs and gross reductions to the military. Moore has been with the party for a year-and-a-half.
Moore campaigns for a classless society, with universal health care, housing and individual incomes of more than $35,000. He said in such a society, penalties would be set against those who violate either the sharing or labor aspects the socialist system.
But he doesn't believe such radical change is going to occur through his actions. Rather, he said during his speech, that such radical change would occur through revolution.
"We believe that we will not change the system electorally," Moore said. "We believe ultimately that there will be a confrontation between the workers and the owners."