The ongoing Republican primaries and the upcoming presidential election have brought new leadership and new life to the Sinclair College Republicans.
“We had to basically resurrect [the club],” said Sarah Scott, the club’s president.
The new leadership has been with the club since early February. The group has about 20 students on its mailing list, and they hope to increase membership as the 2012 presidential election draws near.
“Essentially we seek to promote conservatism and the ideals of the Republican Party,” said Sam Bain, PR director and liaison to the state College Republicans. “Free market capitalism, economic freedom, individual liberty, life…these are the essential tenets of the Republican Party, and we seek to promote them by having open discussions about what they mean in current issues.”
Although the club is focusing on increasing membership, they have already tabled at club events and have done some volunteering for local candidates. In April, members will be attending a College Republicans convention at Kent State with 25 chapters and “hundreds of college republicans from around the Buckeye State” in attendance, said Bain.
Past leaders in the Sinclair College Republicans have gone on to become active in politics, and several of the club’s new leaders have their own political ambitions.
“I’d like to run for office locally myself, ten years down the road,” said Bain. “I’d say I’ve learned a lot, just from being involved with campaigns and being involved with the club, and discussing ideas with other students…bouncing ideas off one another.”
“I’ve worked on so many campaigns it’s ridiculous,” said Scott. “I love campaigns, and that’s what I want to do.”
Other students join the club to learn more about politics and to help local candidates.
“I don’t know too much about politics and I wanted to get to know more about it,” said Anna Shin, the vice president. “I wanted to see the Republican view, and a lot of times we’ll see a lot of different opposing views.”
The club cannot endorse individual candidates, although they can distribute campaign literature for a variety of candidates.
“We encourage members to go volunteer for their preferred candidate,” said Bain. Scott said that two local candidates have already approached them for campaign volunteers.
Kathleen and Jennifer Sooy, the club’s advisors and faculty members in Political Science, said that the club was formally established in 2004.
“We were the first political club on campus,” said Kathleen Sooy, “So there was a long process to get approval from all the appropriate parties.”
“We were very supportive of Sinclair having political organizations or clubs so students can learn about political parties and the campaign process,” said Jennifer Sooy. “Our point is to promote civic education and involvement in the community, and more importantly to help students learn who they are in terms of their political ideology.”
Political club membership at Sinclair tends to wax and wan, and membership is often highest in election years, according to Kathleen Sooy.
Although a Progressive Club was started in 2008, Jennifer Sooy said it “never really got off the ground” and fell apart after the election. The advisors have an open invitation to other potential political clubs to use their constitution to make it easier for them to get started. Scott said she would love to see a Democratic club on campus.
“You need to have a very energetic, mature, committed president to be able to continue participating…continue to recruit, continue to hold functions,” said Jennifer Sooy. “We have spirited, enthusiastic, interested officers. All of them have something to offer. We’re very pleased with the caliber of the [student leaders].”
“They’re very strong, very capable, and certainly very interested,” said Kathleen Sooy.
The advisors said that participation and leadership in a political club not only strengthens leadership skills, but also exposes students to the world of politics and to the complexity of the political system.
“Students [need to] appreciate the intricacy of our system and their role in it,” said Jennifer Sooy. “We have to engage
With new leadership, College Republicans prepare for upcoming election season
