Republican students promote political activity
By ANNE MARIE MATTINGLY
News Editor
WASHINGTON
Members of the College Republicans at the University of Maryland-College Park felt it was important to show their support for Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush Tuesday, though they correctly believed that Democratic candidate Al Gore would carry the state.
Gore won the state's 10 electoral votes by a 17-point margin, 57-40.
"I think it's important that we have a presence on campus," said Jessica Ryan, a 19-year old sophomore. "I think some people are Republicans but they feel shy or they feel like it's hopeless, and even though it probably won't amount to a whole lot in the state of Maryland because we are majority Democrats, I think just letting people know we're here and that there are people on the other side [is important]."
To that end, the university's College Republicans passed out signs, bumper stickers and literature outside their Stamp Student Union. Government and politics major Ken Shepherd said he believes that although the state has traditionally voted for Democrats, the students' presence could cause others to reconsider their political affiliations.
"On this campus, it's like, Democrat turf. But that's going to change. That's going to end, because we're starting to fight back," he said. "We're starting to say, `We're going to get the people of this campus to see that there's a viable alternative to the Democrats. We're going to get them to see how the Democratic policies hurt them and how the Republican policies help them.
"We're sick and tired for being told that we're always going to be in the minority in this state, that Gore is going to win, that Clinton and Gore have reshaped the whole process," Shepherd continued. "Even though we might not sway this campus to vote for Bush … people will see that we're out here, that we're fighting for their vote, and that they should pay attention to us to see what we have to say."
Despite expert opinion that last minute campaigning has little or no influence on the outcome of an election, 18-year-old Lindsey Garver felt that her efforts this afternoon were important. Garver explained that the purpose of her presence at the College Republicans table this afternoon was less about influencing voters' choices and more about encouraging participation in the political process.
"It's last minute and maybe it won't make a difference in this election, but always it's just getting the message out. Even if somebody just reads a bumper sticker, it makes an impact. It can discourage the opposition and it can encourage people who maybe wouldn't have voted," she said. "It's not so much as changing people's minds, but it's more like enforcing it, and people that were maybe a little shaky, maybe didn't have the propulsion to go out and to vote, maybe if they keep seeing it over and over again, they will."
Maryland's student Republicans ultimately concurred that more youth interest in campaigns and elections are needed. Junior George Waranonwitz said that turning out to vote in large numbers is the only way in which youth can solicit the attention of major candidates in future elections.
"I think it's very important, especially among this age group, because this is the age group that has always been the least active in voting. There's just a lot of apathy there," he said. Waranonwitz noted Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader's efforts to target youth voters and said that this is a tactic the major party candidates should adopt.
Ryan emphasized that voting is a privilege which citizens must exercise proudly.
"I think a lot of people take it for granted," she said. "So many people made sacrifices just so that we could have this opportunity."
All News Stories for Wednesday, November 8, 2000
