A PARTY TO CELEBRATE By Lexi Ferguson College Republicans was a student organization dedicated to discussing political issues and participating in discussions and activities regarding the Republican Party. In fall 2016, the participation level in the organization was very high due to the presidential election that took place on NO\·. 8. Junior Cameron Ross joined College Republicans during his freshman year and was president of the organization during the time of the election. He said he wanted to focus on discussion-based meetings in an effort to make sure everyone had the opportunity to ha\'e their voice heard. He said that some of their di cussions regarded topics such as abortion and medical marijuana. "I've made it a point to have discussions and make sure everybody can speak if they want to," Ross said. "It seems like, this year especially, there is a large group of people that are not being heard." Professor for the College ofBusiness Administration and chair of the marketing department Rich Brown was the sponsor of College Republicans starting in 2009. He said he saw a spike in attendance in fall 2016 since it was an election year. "People are more intere tee! now, but even within our group we haYe some people that say, ''Ve're the College Republicans so we have to support Trump,' and then we have people who say, 'No, I can never support Trump,"' Brown aid. "There's conflict even within the group." Junior Luke Helms was a member of College Republicans and explained how the 2016 election was very different from previous elections. ·'It stinks that we have to have a candidate like [Trump], but it's also a blessing in that it's really making people think," Helms said. "If this was just another clean cut, cookie-cutter nominee we would be voting for the republican [with] no questions asked. This time, people are really having to ask questions and get involved to really know if they want to vote for him or not." Though the election caused a lot of contrO\·ersy, according to Ross, the members made a big effort in getting to know each other and forming lasting relationships amongst the political stress. "Before, we'd meet for a few minutes at the meeting, then we wouldn't talk to each other until our next meeting," Ross said. "This year, we are having debate-watching parties, we're having pizza at some of our meetings and talking to each other aside from our policy discussions. The relationships are growing the most this year." Helms said he would love to see College Republicans have roundtable discussions with the RooseYelt Institute and the currently non-acti\'e College Democrats in the future. "I think keeping people engaged and offering different perspectives [is] really what keeps people around," Helms said. "Even if it's something that people disagree with, it's still making them think and wonder about where they stand on the issues." Freshman Ian Maham, junior Cameron Ross and senior Miyka Whiting share information about College Republicans at the organizational fair on the front lawn on Sept. 15. College R epublicans encouraged students to be informed and to participate in supporting the R epublican Party on campus and in their communities. I Photo courtesy of Cameron Ross IIISTOllY \ \ I) POLITIC \ L SCl l'. \ 0'. <111( }.II
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