Tuesday, September 16, 2008
It’s not the easiest gig at a university considered one of the most liberal in the Midwest. Still, last Thursday, members of Young Conservatives of KU stood a hundred yards east of Wescoe Beach, trying to interest passers-by in joining their ranks. Young men handed out American flag lapel ribbons and urged people to remember the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
Jack Hutsey, Wichita junior, officially founded the Young Conservatives of the University of Kansas on Sept. 4, a week before the group’s first public outreach effort.
Jack Hutsey, Wichita junior, is a founding member and president of the Young Conservatives of the University of Kansas, a student political club that seeks to attract participants with its ideology, instead of party affiliation. The group is modeled after the charter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, which has chapters at more than seven universities throughout the state of Texas.
“Right now, the conservative voice is just a whisper on campus,” Hutsey said. “We just want the liberals to know that we’re going to raise our voice. They can have demonstrations and rallies, and so can we. It’ll take time, obviously, but we’ll have small successes and just build on those.”
Hutsey said the Young Conservatives differed from groups like the College Republicans because party affiliation mattered less than shared ideals.
“I think a lot of people feel intimidated by political parties,” Hutsey said. “We’re trying to reach out to everyone. There are sleeper cells of conservatives on campus. They’re out there — you just don’t know where they are.”
Jesse Vaughn, president of KU College Republicans, said he welcomed another conservative outlet at the University, even if it didn’t necessarily share an allegiance with the Republican Party.
“It’s not a bad thing for us,” Vaughn said. “I don’t think you have to choose between one group or the other. It’s definitely a good thing.”
Hutsey said that the charter of the Young Conservatives at KU was based on the Young Conservatives of Texas, which has chapters at seven universities in Texas. Hutsey’s “statement of principles” that were handed out Thursday is identical to that of the YCT and includes points common to many conservative declarations, including the importance of individual, economic and political freedoms, and the maintenance of a strong military.
David White, state chairman of the YCT, said that while he was unaware of Hutsey’s actions to emulate his organization, he was delighted to see like-minded individuals establishing a foothold at the University.
“We’re humbled and think it’s wonderful that other groups are following our model,” White said.
White said that college students at campuses as far away as New Zealand had sought the YCT’s help to establish conservative groups.
Conservatives aren’t necessarily the only ones happy to see more political involvement by students on campus. Colleen VanBuskirk, co-president of KU Delta Force, a progressive political coalition, said she looked forward to the Young Conservatives making themselves heard.
“As far as I’m concerned, everyone’s welcome,” VanBuskirk said. “We’d love to work with them if there’s something we can agree on, which I’m sure there is.”
— — Edited by Lauren Keith
Campus political groups aim to increase voter ...
As the deadline approaches to register to vote, both Democrats and Republicans ...
KU students talk voter registration at Harvard
Leaders of political groups from the University of Kansas met with students ...
Campus groups prepare for November election
Republicans and Democrats alike are looking ahead to the upcoming Kansas governor ...
Professor to give lecture on campaign ads
The lecture will cover Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s campaign advertisements and ...
Red and blue don't always mix
While U.S. politics are heating up headlines, politically mixed relationships are feeling ...
Professor urges scientific communication
Scurto encourages science students to work with student media to present information
New funding plan proposed
University of Kansas officials expect to receive $25 million from the deferred ...
Kansas Republicans assemble for first presidential caucus ...
Republicans who registered by Jan. 25 can caucus on Saturday, Feb. 9, ...
Cross country tour celebrates bio-diversity
First of its kind 'green certified' bus stops in Lawrence on national ...
Did you find everything alright?
The Watson Signage Working Group is surveying student about the effectiveness of ...
Campus to get $25M for deferred maintenance
The University of Kansas gets first payment of $9.9 million in 2008, ...
Ryan: Political labels prevent understanding
Political identities are more complex than one-worded labels. Affiliations do not always ...
Student out to prove gay and Republican ...
Salina sophomore wants to run for GOP office despite homosexuality.
How fair and balanced is the news?
The presidents of KU College Republicans and KU College Democrats will reach ...
KU Young Democrats to attend Obama visit
Campus Democrat’s new president hopes to gain members and become active in ...
Campus groups to hold 9/11 memorial service
Six years later, and the University of Kansas will still recognize those ...
University won't release names to recording industry
Spokesman says KU will not be third party in legal cases
Nephew of Michele Bachmann offers insights
Tyler Amble, nephew of GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, spoke about his ...
University student sets sights on Kansas House ...
William Stewart-Starks, Whittier, Calif., senior will run as a Libertarian in the ...
Gingrich to speak on campus today
Former Speaker of the House sharing knowledge about politics in two separate ...
CITIZEN DOLPH: A rare look at the ...
You may not recognize his name, but Dolph Simons Jr., chairman of ...
University enacts new downloading policy
Access in libraries will still be available to students who have their ...
Making sure student athletes make class
The Athletics Department employs class checkers to make sure athletes are attending ...
Students show indifference in health care
Young adults have yet to play active role in rallies, heated discussions.
Campus given "all clear" after Friday morning ...
Police were searching for "white suspect with a long gun" on campus. ...
Student town hall forum on the presidential ...
The Dole Institute of Politics plays host to the morning crew of ...
Ecohawks hope to ride the wind
KU group wants to power experimental car with wind turbine
Queers and Allies celebrates 40 years on ...
Group will recognize the anniversary with a celebration at the Kansan Union ...
A guide to the proposed health care ...
A look at the health care bills that are being passed around ...
Former Speaker of House causes stir at ...
Newt Gingrich speaks at Dole Institute and relives his teaching days by ...
Political affiliation not always accurate
Politicians and professors in Lawrence divide city commission candidates into two groups: ...
Past, present, future presidents discussed
The four-part series, presented by journalists and speakers from across the country, ...
Supporters cheer after Obama is named President
Students and Lawrence residents celebrate at watch party, relishing in the historic ...
Emergency alert system still under development
University continues work on system to warn students of campus emergencies via ...
KU will not forward letters from RIAA
The University is modifying its three-strikes policy for illegal download activity on ...
Anti-Obama Facebook status messages abound
Former University of Texas backup lineman Buck Burnette was among those who ...
Dole Institute study groups coordinate with classes
The initiative encourages student participation with the option for professors to include ...
There’s a group at the University for ...
Ducks Unlimited, Prison Ball Club and the Art of Living club are ...
Professors’ ‘liberal influence’ on students a myth
Political beliefs are already ingrained in students long before they step foot ...
Swingers
Cyndi walks in the front door of a very familiar home. Her ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
New conservative group forms on campus
Nah, they're too busy trying to hype intelligent design while trying to fire the librarian for not censoring books that they personally think are offensive...
Oh wait, that's Sarah Palin.
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/ "I can see Russia from my house!"
New conservative group forms on campus
Linguo, I thought you only flamed on columnists. Now you're flaming on homophobes and senators. When are you going to address an article's subject matter?
New conservative group forms on campus
linguo and shorty: i'm sure hutsey and co. are so persuaded by your viewpoints that they're ashamed to be conservative. your last guy got a BJ in the oval office from a young intern. you think it's bad some people have moral values? I think Towelie from South Park argues it best: YOU'RE A TOWEL!
New conservative group forms on campus
I just love how people who hated Clinton always bring up the BJ and yet they never point out that W went to war with Iraq for no legitimate reason other than to search for POSSIBLE WMD's. Or that he was on vacation and stayed on vacation (for another couple of days) when Katrina hit. Haliburton. And the $600 stimulus check? What a joke.
Let's not also forget Reaganomics, or Watergate. Clinton wasn't perfect, neither was JFK or Roosevelt but the same can be said for Nixon, Reagan, and W. "The kettle calling the pot 'black'..."
I'm not here to persuade anybody's point of view, I'm just stating my discontent in our current time of politics and people now voting for "the lesser of 2 evils..."
New conservative group forms on campus
When is there going to be a Libertarian group on campus? they make more sense than the gay bashing conservatives, or the communist liberals. What about a group for common sense viewpoints? A group where people can talk about how evolution is a great scientific theory, and also about how great our free market economy is?
New conservative group forms on campus
Brandon_Minster - commenting on the conservative movement here is commenting on the article's subject matter.
New conservative group forms on campus
There really aren't enough conservatives in Kansas, I can understand how they might feel like a minority.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID