COLLEGE REPUBLICANS

Awareness of issues key to GOP

JASON SAVARESE
DM Staff Writer

With more than 400 members, the Ole Miss chapter of the College Republicans is the largest politically-oriented group on campus. The group is active year-round, promoting the Republican philosophy by hosting speakers, sending representatives to conventions, and getting involved with campaigns supporting local and national Republican candidates.

College Republican President Howie Morgan said there is a lot to gain from being an active member of the group.

"When you get involved with the College Republicans, you get four things -- you get leadership training, campaign experience, a chance to learn the issues and the ability to get out to vote," Morgan said.

Through meetings and debate, the College Republicans try to make college students aware of the issues that they feel are important, such as an increase in the amount of Pell Grants, (which Gov. Bush is proposing) and the Social Security system that working students are currently putting their money into with little hope of seeing any return.

"We are the party's youth affiliate on campus, and we educate and train college students, and get them registered to vote," Morgan said.

In addition, every summer, many members travel to Washington, D.C. to work as interns, with a full 36 having done this in 2000. They have structured committees to specifically work on one campaign at a time, such as the campaigns of George Bush for President, Trent Lott for U.S. Senate, Roger Wicker, Chip Pickering, and Dunn Lampton, all for U.S. House of Representatives.

They also do their part for charity and will be hosting a golf tournament on Oct. 29 to help the disabled.

The College Republicans will be hosting a voter registration drive all next week in the Union lobby. They will have a table set up Monday through Friday from 9a.m.-3p.m. each day, encouraging and instructing students on how to register.

"More and more politicians reach into our pockets to pay for their ideas. If you don't get out there and vote, you'll never get a chance to slap their hand away from you money, " Morgan said.

The Ole Miss College Republicans will sponsor speaker Reginald Jones on Oct 25. Jones is supposed to discuss how he feels the Civil Rights Movement has sold out the American people. You can check out their web site at www.angelfire.com/ms/omcr or you can reach them by phone at (662) 816 - 4184.