2008 Woodie Awards
Republicans at Brown, a vocal minority, turn their focus to local elections
Anna Abramson
Issue date: 10/13/04 Section: Campus news
In the months preceding the presidential election, campus political groups like the College Democrats and Run Against Bush have been working to get students canvassing, protesting and voting. But while students have been working throughout the region in favor of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, the College Republicans have been less vocal on the issue of the presidential election.
Instead, leaders of the group, including President Christopher McAuliffe '05, are choosing to focus on local elections. McAuliffe, a Herald opinions columnist, conceded that campaigning for Bush may be "hopeless" in this state.
Because Bush is not campaigning in Rhode Island, a state that traditionally goes to the Democratic candidate in national elections, the club is focusing on local races.
Leaders made this decision after what McAuliffe called the "most successful year ever" for the College Republicans. He credited the group's success last year with its ability to attract conservative speakers such as David Horowitz and Bobby Jindal '92.
This year, the club has 250 subscribers to its e-mail list and between 15-50 members who attend meetings regularly, McAuliffe said.
That's a relatively small number compared to the 1,000 people who are on the mailing list for the College Democrats. The Democrats have an active membership of about 200, according to Seth Magaziner '06, president of the Democrats.
Despite the contrast in numbers, McAuliffe is optimistic about the group's influence on the Brown community. He said that contrary to common perceptions, most Brown students "are kind of apathetic" or else are "Democrats by default."
There is a conservative presence on campus, he said, but students who do not look for it may spend their four years here oblivious to that perspective. "If you search them out, you can find the other side of the coin," McAuliffe said.
College Republicans Vice President Zack Drew '07 said being a conservative on campus is difficult at times. Drew cited class discussions as an example of "a situation where everybody would be against you" as a conservative. Most professors, he added, "tend to have a liberal spin" on economic and political issues discussed in class. But while Drew would like to see the Republicans receive more attention on campus, he said he thinks the group has been very successful, given its limited budget.
Instead, leaders of the group, including President Christopher McAuliffe '05, are choosing to focus on local elections. McAuliffe, a Herald opinions columnist, conceded that campaigning for Bush may be "hopeless" in this state.
Because Bush is not campaigning in Rhode Island, a state that traditionally goes to the Democratic candidate in national elections, the club is focusing on local races.
Leaders made this decision after what McAuliffe called the "most successful year ever" for the College Republicans. He credited the group's success last year with its ability to attract conservative speakers such as David Horowitz and Bobby Jindal '92.
This year, the club has 250 subscribers to its e-mail list and between 15-50 members who attend meetings regularly, McAuliffe said.
That's a relatively small number compared to the 1,000 people who are on the mailing list for the College Democrats. The Democrats have an active membership of about 200, according to Seth Magaziner '06, president of the Democrats.
Despite the contrast in numbers, McAuliffe is optimistic about the group's influence on the Brown community. He said that contrary to common perceptions, most Brown students "are kind of apathetic" or else are "Democrats by default."
There is a conservative presence on campus, he said, but students who do not look for it may spend their four years here oblivious to that perspective. "If you search them out, you can find the other side of the coin," McAuliffe said.
College Republicans Vice President Zack Drew '07 said being a conservative on campus is difficult at times. Drew cited class discussions as an example of "a situation where everybody would be against you" as a conservative. Most professors, he added, "tend to have a liberal spin" on economic and political issues discussed in class. But while Drew would like to see the Republicans receive more attention on campus, he said he thinks the group has been very successful, given its limited budget.