Conservative Student News

Mission Statement

The St. Thomas Standard is an independent journal of news and opinion published at the University of St. Thomas for the campus and local community. The St. Thomas Standard was founded August 20, 2003 by a group of students dedicated to providing the means through which conservative thought could be presented, discussed and debated by the student population. The St. Thomas Standard is a project of Conservative Student News, Inc, and is written and edited by a volunteer staff of St. Thomas students. We welcome a wide range of perspectives, recognizing that there is no single “conservative view.” In general, the editorial board of the St. Thomas Standard shares the following beliefs.

We believe that a spirit of volunteerism is necessary for free and open dialogue unhindered by ulterior motives.

We believe in promoting and creating a forum for respectful debate grounded in reason in the university community.

We believe that all students should have the opportunity to voice their political views on campus regardless of their affiliation, political or otherwise. Diversity of ideas is the weapon against intellectual totalitarianism.

We believe in the importance of exercising our constitutional rights and civic responsibilities by openly communicating with both our university and government leaders.

History

The St. Thomas Standard was founded in the fall of 2003 by a group of like-minded students who shared the common goal of providing a source of free and rational debate at the St. Thomas campus. The paper is published quarterly and has received much attention from students, professors and staff at St. Thomas.

Many have expressed their gratitude for the new venue of thought that the paper has created. The editorial staff addresses current events and politics at the university, local and national levels from a conservative perspective. From our Letters to the Editor alone, it is evident that the issues covered in the paper have hit home with many students as well as provoked passionate commentary and debate from others.

The paper is entirely staffed by volunteers. These students are dedicated to the conservative cause, and want to empower other like-minded students to freely express their views on campus. The staff has written letters to U.S. troops, organized rallies to support the life of the unborn, distributed pins and posters in remembrance of former President Reagan, created Christmas ornaments for Pearl Harbor Veterans, and hosted on-campus “Remember 9/11” events to name a few.

On Monday, April 18, 2005, we brought conservative pundit, Ann Coulter, to St. Thomas with the help of the Young America’s Foundation! She was well received by a standing-room-only crowd, and told us afterward that she really enjoyed speaking at our campus. We look forward to bringing more diverse speakers to campus in the future.

If you are interested in learning more about the St. Thomas Standard, please contact the Editor-in-Chief, Amie Kieffer, by sending an e-mail to: amiekieffer@stthomasstandard.org.

We believe in personal and institutional fiscal responsibility, free enterprise, economic growth and equal opportunity.

We believe that freedom, peace, justice, honesty, honor and rationality should be guiding principles for both individuals and institutions.

The Logo

Have you ever wondered about the symbolism behind the St. Thomas Standard’s logo? Well, here’s a brief rundown:

A gold sun in splendor with the eye on a black field is the coat of arms of St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of the University of St. Thomas. He is a doctor of the Catholic Church and a great theologian and philosopher who lived in the 13th century.

St. Thomas Aquinas attributed his greatest theological work, the Summa Theologica, to divine inspiration. Thus, the shining sun in splendor with the eye at its center refers to God the Father. The eye represents the all-seeing eye of God and the sun represents the intellectual light God grants to humans.

Board of Directors