WHIG PARTY SPEECH RULES CONTROVERSY: Were the Right Whigs in the Right?

Whigs divided. Photo by Mason Kuhuski.

On a field of grass typically meant for recreational time and patriotic flags, anything but peace was in the air. As the Whigs' party assembly commenced, it wasn’t immediately evident that there was controversy in the air. Students proceeded over, ready to meet their candidates and eventually Party Chair & Secretary, but what followed was something no one could predict: speech rules controversies arose. Following the initial victory of Alexa Rodriguez as Party Chair, various pupils were said to have reported an individual for leaving the podium during his initial speech, which violated the rules, before once again going up for Party Secretary and leaving the podium once again. 

Jason Dennis, a Whig in attendance, expressed: “I feel like the whole situation was just a mess.” The primary supporters of the individual were said to have revolved around his county, something that appeared seemingly predetermined, and despite initial failure, he took his stance once more in front of the podium, “which is against the rules” (Dennis). 

From here on, the entire county was called out for their “injust” behaviors, as Dennis explained, with the newly elected party chair leaving it up to a vote for the Whigs to be executed in a not particularly ideal way. Those who wanted the disqualification move left, those who don’t move right. This left the crowd in two distinct semi-circles, with a no man’s land in between. The individual was then disqualified, but despite the endeavor ending, it wasn’t quite over. 

“When we tried to remerge, their county was chanting to stay apart and that it was unjust. I hate to see my people like this and I hope we will wake up with this squabble behind us” (Dennis). 

This article was updated for clarity on June 25th, 2025. Find the retraction here.