The University group College Republicans is evolving to become the voice of all conservatives on campus.
With new leadership and a changing party, the University’s College Republicans chapter is shifting to accommodate all conservatives on campus, according to new president Arielle Sutton, agricultural business junior.
Sutton said this semester, the group is engaging in political campaigns, helping local candidates with their upcoming elections and planning a baseball tailgate.
She said the social event will be open to anyone on campus wanting to learn about the Republican Party.
Agricultural business sophomore and ambassador and Greek affairs chair Destin Sensky said he is looking forward to having public service leaders speak to the group now that election season is over.
Sutton said as the party faces reform and changes after election losses in the fall, the college group is looking to change what people typically think about Republicans.
“Between Bobby Jindal and Marco Rubio, who are not your typical Caucasian male, they are changing the face of the party,” Sutton said.
“We want to engage a lot of people who are at the college level and are looking to establish themselves and look toward the future,” Sutton said. “We are not there to throw ourselves at people – just to make ourselves known, establish our presence and let people come if they’d like to.”
Sensky said the group is in a transition phase and wants to recruit and involve more members, hence a focus on the Greek community.
“The Greeks represent a place on campus where people are widely conservative. If you are recruiting, you want to hit areas with the largest collections of people you are looking for,” Sensky said.
Just like the political party, the group has a variety of conservatives, but ultimately follows the official GOP platform and the promotions of the national organization, Sutton said.
Mass communication sophomore and treasurer David Holley said the party has several different types of conservatives, but ultimately it tries to focus on ideas every member can agree on.
Holley said social issues are important, but not the focus of the group — the economy is.
Sensky said Republicans should increase their engagement in social media.
“Our generation specifically, we are the powerhouse of these social media outlets and that is something we should definitely tap into. We are currently working on developing a Facebook page and a Twitter,” Sensky said.
Sensky said the group aims to bring a sense of community to its organization in order to bring in more members.
“We want the community to be as invested in our organization as they are in their own campaigns,” Sensky said. “The campus should be looking forward to what College Republicans has to offer them in the upcoming semester.”
“We want to engage a lot of people who are at the college level and are looking to establish themselves and look toward the future.”
