• Republicans volunteer at headquarters, host election return watch
By HELENA PAYNE
News Writer
The Notre Dame College Republicans finished a season of campaigning aimed at mobilizing students and South Bend voters on Election Day.
"I'm proud that we helped to increase voter awareness on campus," said Trip Foley, College Republicans treasurer and campus representative for the Bush campaign.
Club members spent Election Night watching the returns in three different places. Some gathered in Sorin Hall and others went to the Holiday Inn downtown with volunteers from the Chris Chocola congressional campaign.
Others joined College Democrats and student government for an election watch in LaFortune Student Center. This was the last of the 2000 election season's many bipartisan voter awareness events.
While the bipartisan events were successful, some antagonism naturally remained during election season, according to Geoff Heiple.
"[Disagreement] is typical of both of our parties. You've got to put on a game face," he said.
Besides co-sponsoring events, the College Republicans promoted local Republican candidates by volunteering at their headquarters.
"A lot of people have been amazed just how grassroots it is," said John Sadowski, a campus coordinator for the Chocola campaign.
During the election, the club has grown and the new members have become involved in the 2000 campaigns, according to Heiple.
"We've had eager people who've been coming out to do whatever they can," he said.
Despite the campus-wide effort by the College Republicans along with others to increase student voter registration, they did face some lack of interest from students.
Foley said that even apathetic students should have exercised their right to vote.
"Students don't have to know what they think or what political party or candidates they support," he said. "But it is important that they educate themselves."
All News Stories for Wednesday, November 8, 2000
