College Republicans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The College Republicans is an organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States.
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[edit] Student Organizations
Members of College Republican student organizations are represented nationally by the College Republican National Committee, a 527 group. College Republican organizations represent a wide ideological spectrum, from centrists and moderates to libertarians, right conservatives, and Christian activists.
Notable College Republicans have included Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove, prominent Republican strategist Lee Atwater, Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, North Carolina Congressman Patrick McHenry, lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Canadian political consultant Joshua Workman. Hilary Clinton is frequently (though incorrectly) listed as being the President of the College Republicans. She was actually the President of the Young Republicans [1]
Today, there are over 200,000 college republicans on over 1,775 campuses nationwide.
[edit] Activities
College Republican chapters operate in a variety of political and social forums. Members seeks to promote Republican party values on campus, in the community and throughout the state. Chapter activities include holding political rallies, hosting guest speakers and fundraisers, registering voters, and serving as invaluable volunteers to local and statewide campaigns.
During the 2004 election cycle, College Republicans provided more than 120,000 volunteers to the reelection campaign of President George W. Bush.
[edit] History
The College Republicans were founded on May 17, 1892 at the University of Michigan by James Francis Burke. The organization was christened by Ohio Governor William McKinley with students from institutions as far away as Stanford University and Harvard University present.
[edit] Controversies
The CRNC was criticized for its relationship with Response Dynamics, a Virginia-based direct mail company. The relationship became an issue during the 2005 election for National Chairman, which was won by former CRNC Treasurer, Paul Gourley, whose signature was on the questionable fundraising letters. [2].
Morgan Wilkins, a former CRNC field representative for election 2006 was fired and banned from the University of Michigan by College Republicans after sponsoring "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day" and "Fun with Guns Day," where students were to shoot cardboard cutouts of prominent Democrats. [3]
