"Republicans 'come out' to celebrate, shake up campus"

Sitting out in the sun with the Center for the Arts behind them, Sean Weppner and Tom Gueli were ready for some serious heckling.

After all, that was partly the point of having a Bake Sale for Arms in the heart of liberal-art-student country. Weppner said his bake sale, along with a Bake Sale for Social Security to kick off Conservative Week on Monday, were intended to get students to pay attention.

"The reason for the bake sales is to make people think about the issues that are pertinent to our society, such as Social Security," said Weppner, a sophomore biology major.

Gueli, an event co-organizer with Weppner, said the bake sales set the tone for the rest of Conservative Week.

"This is (Conservative Week's) first event on campus," said Gueli, a sophomore chemical engineering major. "We wanted to start shaking things up a bit."

The College Republicans 'came out' for Conservative Week this Monday with two bake sales, one to raise money for Social Security and another to raise money for arms, then took over the Flag Room on Tuesday for Conservative Coming Out Day.

A vibrant red table was set up in the Student Union for the Social Security Bake Sale with Duncan Stanley, treasurer of the College Republicans, hoping to get students sweet on Social Security.

Stanley said the bake sale won't save Social Security, but it will raise the profile of a problem Republicans say has reached critical mass.

"This was put on to raise awareness that something needs to be done now, for people our age, before there isn't a plan at all for when we need it," Stanley said.

Nate Allen, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, said he thought the bake sale was a good way for College Republicans to raise their voices on campus.

"I think the bake sale is a good way to raise money," Allen said. "The cookies really get you to come over to the table."

The Bake Sale for Arms was set up at the same time in front of the main doors of the Center for the Arts.

Conservative Coming Out Day, which was greeted with protests last year, was held Tuesday in the Student Union Flag Room inside the Student Union. Not a single protestor came the club members' way this time around.

"Conservative Coming Out Day was designed to let UB students express their political views on campus," said Mike Scholes, vice president of the College Republicans. "It is important for students to take part in politics and for them to realize how their involvement can make a difference on and off campus."

Daniel Hatem, sophomore political science major, said the event was surprisingly peaceful.

"Another positive thing was that there were no protesters that showed up at this year's event," said Hatem, secretary of the College Republicans. "We had a couple people argue with us for a few moments here and there and then they would leave."

For the "Coming Out" event, the club decorated the room with political signs and quotes from President Bush and other past Republican presidents. Club members also gave out political brochures that touched on Republican and conservative ideology.

"We didn't want any student to walk away from this event empty-handed," Hatem said. "It was important for us to give students information about Republicans and what the Republican party stands for, in order for students to read more about 'us' on their own time."

Conservative Week also helps increase club membership, according to Hatem.

"More UB students than ever before are starting to take part in our club," said Hatem. "Our UB Republican club is much bigger than last year."

According to Scholes, a senior psychology major, Conservative Week is designed to get UB students to look at politics in a positive light and realize how much it matters.

"We never intended to offend any of the students," Scholes said. "After last year's protesters we knew that there were going to be many students that would rather not have this event take place again, but we feel very strongly about politics and the U.S. government."

Scholes said the group wants people to join the political debate on either side.

"Our intentions are to help assist people realize what political party they can associate with most and then take active part in that political party," he said.