College Republicans support Christie, set up phone banks

The University College Republicans has two main goals this semester: supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie in the upcoming election and remaining politically and socially active on campus.
The College Republicans actively work to get Republican and conservative political candidates elected throughout New Jersey, said College Republicans Vice President Noah Glyn. For the campaign, members have been phone banking to build public support for Christie, making about 1000 phone calls per week.
Christie represents the Republican Party in the state well, said Glyn, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore.
“As far as personality goes, I think he’s the right person to lead the Republican Party in New Jersey out of the wilderness,” Glyn said.
While Christie has received a lot of criticism for not having any specific policies for certain issues, he said even the best policy would not be implemented if the State Assembly in Trenton does not agree with it.
“What’s most important is that he has certain framework he’s willing to move within,” Glyn said.
The group also works to bring conservative candidates and activist groups to speak at their weekly meetings, he said.
“We’re trying to have more conservative candidates and political figures come and speak with us,” Glyn said.
At their meetings, they typically have a 10 to 15 minute rant period, when anyone is allowed to express opinions or grievances they would otherwise feel uncomfortable about voicing, especially since the University is mostly liberal and non-conservative, he said.
On college campuses, conservative followers tend to be the minority because of a stereotype implying that Republicans are against equal rights and abortion and only want to maintain the status quo, Glyn said.
“People make ‘conservative’ a scary word when it really pertains to individual liberties, individual choice, economic freedom and a strong foreign policy,” he said.
Conservatism and liberalism are factions of the Republican and Democratic parties, but an individual who identifies as a Republican or Democrat doesn’t necessarily have to be either, said College Republican Chief of Staff Emmie Morse.
“It’s hard for young adults to identify with ‘conservative’ because they associate it with limited change and traditional institutions,” said Morse, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student. “It’s more ‘hip’ for college students to identify as liberal.”
When the group is not advocating their minority views on campus, they are working with other Republicans across the nation and in the government.
Every year the College Republicans attend the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., Glyn said.
“Pretty much anybody who’s anybody in the Republican conservative party attends,” he said.
Conservatives meet to discuss both the future of the country as well as the Conservative movement, Glyn said. Conservatives with various political ideals attend to focus on a variety of issues such as foreign policy, the definition of marriage, economic and educational policies.
“Some of my personal highlights from last year were meeting Fred Thompson, hearing William Bennett speak, Rush Limbaugh’s speech and meeting some really nice people from all over the country,” Glyn said.
The CPAC event is the best way for any student to meet political figures, College Republican member Stephanie Jablonsky said.
“People like Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Sean Hannity and Rudy Giuliani frequent CPAC, and students get to network and meet other college Republicans like themselves,” said Jablonsky, a Rutgers College senior.
Through their events, meetings and activities, the College Republicans try to get more students involved and keep them informed about upcoming events and meetings, said Morse, who coordinates phone banking, recruitment and events. The members also set up tables outside Brower Commons on the College Avenue campus at least once a week.
One upcoming event is their Halloween Mixer, coordinated with the Rutgers University Democrats, the Libertarians, NJPIRG, the Centurion and the Young Americans for Liberty, Jablonsky said.
The event on Oct. 30 in the Multipurpose Room of the Busch Student Center from 8 to 10:30 p.m. is open to everyone and there is a suggested $5 donation for the Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen in New Brunswick, she said.
“The event will be catered, and we’re even having a DJ and a costume competition,” Jablonsky said.
While several members graduated last year, a number of underclassmen have been getting involved and showing their support, Jablonsky said.
“In my first month at Rutgers, College Republicans has given me opportunities and responsibilities I didn’t think I could have until I was an upperclassman,” Morse said.
Glyn also became active in the group as a first-year student after the 2008 presidential campaign.
“My very first meeting was right after the election, so everyone was a little down but they still had a fighting spirit,” he said.
College Republicans has general meetings Wednesdays at 8 p.m. in the Atrium Room of the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus