The University of Ottawa Campus Conservatives held an online meme competition Jan. 27-Feb. 10 to recruit new members.
The campaign involved members posting memes to a Facebook event page, according to Kelden Formosa, president of the club.
Some of the images poke fun at left-wing political figures. In one, a “Scumbag Steve” meme uses the caption “Is Kathleen Wynne.”
Another shows the “science dog” meme. The photo’s caption states “Justin Trudeau if he ever wins an election: I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“The creators of the three best memes will receive a prize from the club, and the very best meme will be plastered all over campus as part of our next postering and recruitment campaign,” Formosa said.
He said memes appeal to the student audience, can be shared easily on Facebook or Twitter, and include audience participation within their production. They also allow people to communicate their values in an uncomplicated manner, Formosa said.
He said the club has not received any complaints about the meme campaign. He said a lot of left-wing students have even participated by joining the Facebook event and “liking” the memes.
University of Ottawa Young Liberals president Bismah Haq said she found a few of the memes distasteful but most were harmless.
“Some of the memes toe the line and can be considered to be offensive by the amount of labeling, name calling, and attacks on the appearance of individuals,” Haq said. “I do not think they sway people to be more conservative in the least. If anything, I think some people may be put off by the judgement being passed on our politicians by hiding behind a computer screen.”
Haq said there are more effective ways to engage students politically.
“A far better use of time would be to engage people of all political leanings in discussions about what our priorities are and come up with solutions,” Haq said. “And this is what the University of Ottawa Young Liberals will continue to do.”
