Campus political groups gear up for elections
Published July 21, 2004
While many students are sitting on beaches getting a tan this summer, members of MU's political student organizations are working throughout the season to promote voting and their respective agendas.
Members of MU's College Republicans and College Democrats and the Associated Students of the University of Missouri said the organizations will work to help students register to vote for the November presidential election.
"College students just don't get out to vote like other age groups do," ASUM board of directors' member Ashley Warren said. "We think we don't have much at stake and have things on our mind other than taking 20 minutes to vote once in a while. ASUM's job is to make students realize that they do have very much at stake and they need to practice one of their most precious gifts."
Although ASUM does not endorse specific candidates, they do offer information about pertinent issues to students, such as tuition increases, Warren said.
"We are not endorsing any candidate because we are a group that represents the interests of a diverse student population," she said. "It would not be right to disregard some of those students' views and beliefs and support specific candidates."
College Democrats President Caleb Lewis said it is important for students to get involved in this election.
"If you aren't involved, you get overlooked," Lewis said. "This election is important, and we need everyone to go to the polls."
College Republicans President Brian Johnson said his organization might participate in several non-partisan voter registration drives, such as the "Rock the Vote" campaign.
Students also can register to vote at ASUM's office in A037 Brady Commons, Warren said.
Many members of both College Republicans and College Democrats also have spent the summer working on different political campaigns and will continue to do so into the fall.
"We are always trying to plug people into the various campaigns from Bush, Blunt and Bond, all the way down to some local state representative and state Senate races," Johnson said. "Out of those of us who are around for the summer, many have been active in campaigns already."
Lewis said members of the organization have been working on campaigns across the state and at least one member is working in Washington, D.C.
"The election will, of course, be our major focus, but not just the presidential election," he said. "We're going to work to maintain the governor's and lieutenant governor's offices. We're going to work to remove Kit Bond from the Senate and Kenny Hulshof from the House. We'll also be working on other state and local races."
Throughout the fall, both College Democrats and College Republicans will sponsor forums about candidates and issues, Lewis and Johnson said. They also will sponsor a few debates between the organizations. The two groups previously debated in April.
"I'd love to host a few debates for the candidates if we can get that worked out," Lewis said.