With the 2004 presidential election drawing closer, UB's political student clubs are preparing for a busy year. Debates, guest speakers and trips are just a few of the projects outlined to get the student population more involved in political events.
Though the UB chapter of the College Democrats and the College Republicans have opposing political views, both say they share a mutual goal: to accurately educate students about their respective ideas and beliefs.
"It's in our chapter constitution that one of our goals is to educate the student body," said Justin Martin, president of the College Democrats.
Although Martin is enthusiastic about leading the College Democrats, as the club's sole officer, he said he is undertaking a very difficult task.
"I have a very busy schedule," said Martin. "It's certainly not easy. I walk with a challenge."
The semester has gotten off to a rocky start for the College Republicans. According to Matthew Pelkey, the acting president of the College Republicans, a change in leadership is underway for the club since former president Andrew Royce is in the process of resigning.
Before withdrawing from his position as president of the College Republicans, Royce outlined the goals of the club.
"We also want to be one of the leaders within the area," said Royce. "Right now, a lot of our members are working for county legislatures. I want to make it known that the University at Buffalo does have friends within the Republican community, and that Republicans have friends here at UB."
Royce said he also hopes to raise awareness of what Republicans represent.
"Within UB, we want to help to dispel some stereotypes about Republicans, that it's all evil, and about us being racist and homophobic," said Royce. "It's part of our effort on campus to raise Republican awareness."
Like the Republicans, the College Democrats hope to extend their reach to those who share their political sentiments as well as to develop ties with democratic institutions outside UB.
The Democrats concentrate their fundraising efforts on various guest speakers and annual trips. Their first trip will be to the College Democratic Convention at New York University, taking place in November, according to Martin.
According to Royce, the Republicans are also planning a few trips this year - one to the State Convention in Albany, and one to a firing range to take part in another Fire Arms-Second Amendment trip.
The first formal debate between the College Democrats and the College Republicans is currently scheduled for mid-October. According Royce and Martin, the hot topics of the debate will be civil liberties, the war on terror and post-war Iraq.
"It's a great country, but nevertheless, I think that there are a lot of things that we need to resolve, in terms of our health care system, our education system, our foreign policy," said Martin. "There are a lot of things that need to be corrected."
According to Pelkey, one of the more interesting political events scheduled to take place this semester is a mock presidential debate that will include members of the Hip-Hop Student Association.
"We're going to have someone dressed up as a Democratic candidate, and someone dressed up as President Bush for the debate," said Pelkey. "After the candidates are finished, the Hip-Hop SA is going to offer a freestyle interpretation of the debate with two MC's, one representing each political party."
"I have to give Marquis (Woolford, president of Hip-Hop SA) props for this whole project. It is mostly him and myself brainstorming for the debate," Pelkey added.
Royce pointed out that though Democrats and Republicans have conflicting views, the goal of the debate is for both groups to express their ideas, while exposing new audiences to politics.
"Justin (Martin) and I have been working together to make sure both of our clubs are strong at the same time and continue to be strong so that we are not just debating ourselves all the time, which gets a little old," said Royce.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
