As the 2010 election season nears, College Republicans around the state and the nation prepare to garner conservative support and win as many elected offices as possible.
“College Republicans exists to encourage Republican ideals on this campus and community,” said junior Bethany Whitfield, chair of College Republicans at Ouachita. “As college students, we have a unique opportunity to be the hands and feet of the party. That’s our goal, to help the state party.”
Whitfield said though the group has not done much work so far this year because of sponsor and leadership changes. She hopes to begin work this semester for the fall election season.
“Our goal for the rest of this semester is to get organized so that we can begin with a bang in August,” she said.
Senior Philip Williamson, former chair and current vice-chair of the group, said in the past, College Republicans at Ouachita have done phone banks and gone door to door campaigning for local candidates and hosted watch parties on election night.
“We also help with planning and strategizing in campaigns,” he said.
He said the group has worked closely with the Clark County Republican Party in the past, and has helped campaign for Asa Hutchinson in his race for governor of Arkansas and Mike Huckabee and John McCain in their race for president of the United States.
Whitfield said she hopes to partner with the Clark County Republican Party again this year.
College Republicans, a national organization, has chapters on more than 1,500 campuses nationwide and is the largest youth political group in the United States. Other chapters in Arkansas include organizations at Lyon College, the University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, Harding University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Campus chapters work closely with the state College Republicans federation to directly assist the state’s Republican party.
Whitfield encourages students who want to have a voice in government to participate.
“If you want to be active in your government, this is a way,” she said. “Also, I think this is a great way to reach beyond Ouachita. This affects and works with university students nationwide essentially.”
Williamson said College Republicans opened doors for him and allowed him to meet several candidates, including Huckabee. He said being active in the group is a way to get involved with Republican party leaders and begin networking.
“The best part about it is seeing a candidate win and knowing you had something to do with it,” he said.
Students interested in joining the group can contact Whitfield at whi43836@obu.edu or Williamson at wil42232@obu.edu for more information.
By Tanner Ward, Signal Writer
