Alito’s Nomination Approval Leads to Divide on Campus
By Hanna A. Gordola

Judge Samuel Alito is one step closer to becoming a U.S. Supreme Court justice. Political types on both sides of the aisle are watching with great interest. Since every Republican who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of Judge Alito's nomination and with no Democrats voting “yes”, experts said this only illustrates the time's extreme partisanship.

Each committee member voiced his opinion about Alito as he cast his vote. In the end, Alito received 10 votes for his nomination and eight votes against it. Samuel Alito’s next step is a Senate floor vote, but the heated debate doesn't stop in the Senate. It echoes here at Carolina.

“Alito and Roberts are battles that are basically over. The Court has shifted, or will shift, once Alito is confirmed," said Michael Gerhardt, judicial selection expert and UNC law professor. He spoke at a Young Democrats meeting on Monday. Gerhardt testified in the Alito hearings.

He says the combination of Alito's likely confirmation and the Democrat's choice not to filibuster is going to place the minority Democrats in a losing position. "The minority is effectively silenced in the Senate. And once that happens, for lack of a
way to put it, all hell breaks loose."

Planned Parenthood field coordinator Natlie Fixmery said abortion rights advocates fear Alito's confirmation will lead to the dismantling of Roe v. Wade.

"I think it's terrifying that we're going back to the day where abortion is not safe,
legal and accessible for women,” Fixmery said. “I think that what people don't understand is that their right to privacy also covers birth control."

College Republican Tripp Costas said there’s too much focus on one issue.

“The commentary of a pro-choice group just shows how perverted the process has become,” Costas said. “This is about nominating judges.”

Costas said he thinks Alito is more than qualified.

Students who watched the judicial nomination process said they’re less than pleased in how the two parties are so much at odds with each other. Many students saw the process as being politicized. Some say this might cause them to lose faith in the objectivity of the Supreme Court.

As the debate continues here and in Washington, Alito supporters hope to have the Senate debate wrapped up by the end of the week. Experts expect Alito to be confirmed by Monday or Tuesday.