Elephant, Donkey or Neither? - College Political Groups Get Active

by Julie McCollum | illustration by Rebekah Gilmore

In the room where the College Republicans gather weekly, the Rolling Stones can be heard playing in the background, people are dressed casually and there is a healthy male to female ratio. The College Republicans are gearing up for their high profile speaker-Rick Santorum, an Islamo-facism speaker featured on FOX News. There are predictable jokes made about the New York Times, a few well-placed digs at the Young Democrats and, of course, a healthy dose of Hillary Clinton bashing.

The club president, Laura Stone comes across as laid back and friendly, with an interest in politics lacking condescension. Stone laughs when asked if she would ever vote for a Democratic candidate. "I grew up in a very Republican family but the thing is... I'm going to vote for the best person for the job. I look for someone with a strong character."

The College Republicans seems to be an ideal avenue for someone who supports the party and wants to be more personally involved.

As for why so many students seem politically lethargic, Stone hesitates before answering. "Politics and the political arena are sometimes intimidating. Whenever you encounter people who aren't involved it's not that they don't care, they just don't have the knowledge. I would try to inform them...[I would encourage] people to seek out information for themselves and find something they are passionate about."

Later in the week, the Young Democrats gather for their weekly meeting, this one in particular featuring prominent female politicians. At a glance it seems these clean, scholarly sons and daughters of the Vietnam protesters have fallen slightly farther from the tree, leaving their flowers and peace signs behind. However, the video posted on the Young Democrat's web site titled "The Daily Show exposes the murderous capacity of cupcakes" gives the impression that they don't take themselves too seriously.

Compared to other places in Georgia, the Classic City appears to be a good place to identify as a liberal. According to their web site, the Young Democrats of UGA/ACC is the largest chapter of Young Democrats in the state, with a newsletter circulation of over 1,200 and almost 75-100 active members.

If partisan politics isn't your style, UGA offers a slightly overwhelming plethora of alternatives. One of the organizations that work towards their goals without dealing directly with campaigns or politicians is the UGA Progressives. Some of the groups blanketed under the "progressive" label include the Campus Greens, the Pagan Student Association, and the Students for Peace. Zaid Jilani, a junior International Affairs member from Kennesaw, says a progressive is "anyone who sees some kind of social injustice or issue that something can be done about."

Currently the UGA Progressives are focused on the issue of getting Athens workers a living wage. The living wage is what an employee can live on by working one job and supporting a family above the poverty line.

Xavier Kim, former president of UGA Progressives and UGA alumnus, organized a Living Wage rally, as well as two anti-war rallies on campus. He says, "[Our generation] has become so frustrated...It seems as if they don't have a voice. The people are supposed to be in control of our destiny, and it seems as if the corporations are taking that away. Let's put integrity and social consciousness back into the government."

UGA also has a chapter of Amnesty International, a group that promotes human rights. They raise funds and awareness concerning issues such as the genocide in Darfur, infringements on free speech in Turkey and the closure of detention centers in Guantanamo Bay.

Zach Fox, a senior International Affairs major and president of UGA's Chapter of Amnesty International, says, "What drew me to Amnesty was the ability to take tangible steps towards addressing issues most of us read about in newspapers or online." They regularly write letters, host guest speakers, and have other events like film screenings to raise education on human rights issues. Fox, aware that some people criticize letter-writing as old-fashioned, defends their means of activism, saying, "The truth is, it has worked in the past and it will work in the future." He continues, "Amnesty is a really great way to spend a few hours of your time each week doing something real, however small it may be, and getting to meet some of the truly nicest people on campus at the same time."

Whether you're looking to make a difference within our government, outside of it, or beyond it, UGA offers plenty of avenues to be a part of the youth culture of activism. You can almost hear Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" echoing in the background. There is something happening here. Perhaps circumstances are aligning once more: an unpopular war, a visible desire for change, the new vogue of environmental activism...Is the tide turning for a new wave of political youth?