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National Post

The life of a conservative male on a Canadian campus: 'We are not the demons that you see us as'

Article content Chui's take is slightly different; 'I seldom encounter someone who has been corrupted by the 'manosphere',' he says with a grin, 'and when I do encounter them, it's more a fad than anything. After a few months, after a season, it's over; they're back to normal.' Article content As for the radical right coming for our sons, Chui acknowledges the growth in young men's affiliation with the conservative movement but sees this as pragmatic, rather than ideological. Young people who can't make ends meet, he says, 'are choosing to put their faith in a party that historically runs on economic integrity, runs on fiscal responsibility.' Article content It's all part of a cycle, he suggests; there was a spike in young men's support for conservatives in the Mulroney era, and again with the rise of the Reform Party. 'It is a cycle that keeps on happening over and over, and I don't believe social issues have any play within it. Amongst my friends, social issues are not at the forefront of our minds.' Article content At 6-foot-3, Chui towers over me, cutting an imposing figure in his wide leg jeans and suede jacket. His experience as a Christian street preacher may have shaped him into the most patient 20-year-old I've ever encountered. Article content 'Don't fret too much,' is Chui's primary message (as a mother worried about boys, I'm somewhat comforted); however, his experience door-knocking — most recently, in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency on behalf of United Conservative Party MLA Tara Sawyer — sends me reeling. Article content 'At the doors,' Chui shares, 'when I do encounter a conservative and the question comes up, 'would you like a lawn sign?', it is often, more times than not, a 'no.' And almost every single time, it is due to the fact they don't want their neighbours to know they are conservative because of the weight that carries.' Article content 'You're talking about rural Alberta?' I ask, incredulously. Article content 'You would expect to have almost every single house welcoming a lawn sign with open arms,' Chui answers, 'but that's far from the truth. Article content Article content 'A lot of the people you encounter at these doors are centrists, and they cast ballots with their pocketbooks,' he explains. 'They want fiscal responsibility and that takes precedence over social issues… things like trans rights, things like homosexual rights, social safety nets.' Article content They feel disenfranchised and are looking for change, he concludes, 'but when you take up that lawn sign, what does that say to your neighbour? That you're a 'racist'.' Article content Somewhat dumbstruck, I wade into the murky waters of DEI quotas and cancel culture. 'Would you like to see wokeness dialled back at your school?' I ask. Article content 'It's almost like the 'he who shall not be named', Voldemort question, among my circles at least,' Chui quips. 'It's not even spoken about. We almost pretend they (DEI quotas) don't exist and just carry on.' Article content With its rainbow flags, rainbow crosswalk and posters everywhere, 'DEI is very, very fundamentally rooted into the Mount Royal (University) culture,' Mitch answers. While it may be a great idea, at his school, he says it's unrealistic to think about shutting down the whole DEI ideology. 'What we need to do, to lean into that direction,' he offers, 'is foster a sense it's OK to have different opinions.'