Almost 200,000 college students across the country align themselves with
either the Republicans or the Democrats. College students all over the
nation are letting their voice be heard by participating in politics.
Whether their views are conservative or liberal, the numbers of college
students in political parties have been growing since 1988, according to
data from national political organizations. The College Democrats of America
has over 800 chapters and more than 80,000 students as members. The College
Republican National Committee has 50 federations, over 1,000 campus chapters
and over 100,000 members.
The College Democrats of America was founded in 1932 to support Franklin
Roosevelt. In its beginnings and up until the 1960s, this was the largest
student political organization. However in the late 60s, funding was cut
and the organization failed. Not until the election of 1988 did the organization
begin to grow again. Since then, the organization has continued to flourish.
The College Republican National Committee was founded in the late 1800s
and is the oldest political youth organization.
Karen Cartee, a University of Alabama professor who specializes in political
campaigns, said that most politicians are trying to target young voters.
"Bob Dole lost because he campaigned on his distant past not the recent
past," she said.
This sense of national political support also carries out into the local
chapters.
At the University of Alabama, the College Republicans have 620 members,
which makes it one of the largest groups in the nation according to Buzz
Jacobs, chairman of the group.
Cartee said that Alabama is more conservative and Republican.
"Both Dole and Bush carried Alabama," she said.
She continued to say that older voters are turning out more than younger
ones.
"The young voters have a general apathy for voting," she said.
Today's college students are generally not thought to be as politically
active as students of the 60s.
ãWe no longer see many violent protests or activities that resemble
the 60s because many people are more conservative on campus. Most conservatives
resist the desire to protest or take an activism stance similar to the
leftists during the 60s,ä said Mark Fletcher, the College Republican
National Committee Vice-Chairman.
Dr. Jim Stovall, a professor of Journalism at the University, said that
the issues today do not provoke a lot of activism.
ãThe issues and situations are different,ä he said. ãThere
is not a war and the economy is stable.ä
Because there is not a lot of political activism, many college students
are considered conservatives.
Bill Hankins, student government vice-president of financial affairs at
the University of Alabama, said that they are becoming more conservative
because they have seen the excesses of the last 20 years.
ãA lot of liberal causes have put us in bad positions now,ä
he said.
However, he labels our generation as ãprogressive conservatives.ä
This label of conservative does not necessarily mean more students are
drawn to the republican political party.
ãA lot of people say that Republicans are attracting more young
people, but party identification doesnât mean what it used to mean,ä
Stovall said.
He said that in the past, political parties were inherited from parents
and passed from generation to generation. Now, he said, it seems as if
people donât adhere to party allegiance.
Fletcher, the College Republican National Committeeâs first vice-chairman,
agrees with Stovall.
ãWhile a significant amount of students on campus may not describe
themselves as Republicans, frequently the issues stances they take are
conservative, whether it be for a balanced budget or lower taxes,ä
he said.
Cartee disagreed with both. She said that parents' views and other surroundings
impact younger voters if they are in the same socioeconomic and education
classes.
"Generally children's beliefs are similar to their parents,"
she said.
Most people agree that college students should get involved in politics,
even if it is just going out to vote.
ãStudents are certainly citizens as everyone else and should take
on responsibilities of citizenship,ä Stovall said.
Hankins said that students should definitely try and participate in some
way.
ãDecisions made today are realities we are going to have to face
down the road,ä he said. ãVoting is the first way to jump into
it.ä