College Republicans promote student involvement

Activism in local politics was the name of the game at Monday evening's College Republicans meeting. Second District City Councilman Jason Banach warned his politically curious young audience, "Don't think the entire city exists between Third and 17th Streets."\nBanach should know. During his senior year at IU in 1995 Banach focused his attention not on savoring every last college concert, athletic event or party, but on running a campaign for city office. In between classes and homework Banach went door-to-door to get out his name and his message of local politics, local control. \n"One thing you'll find out about the city council is they make a lot of decisions on things they have no control over," Banach said.\nAt age 22 Banach was the youngest city councilman in Indiana history. His district, which includes Briscoe, McNutt and Foster Quads, as well as the greek houses on North Jordan, re-elected him last year.\nThe meaning of his story, Banach said, was to encourage the 30 meeting attendees to step into the Bloomington political scene and to use that experience as a foundation for future public service.\nBanach also had his hosts to thank for his interest in politics and the success of his campaigns. \n"I could never have made it without the help of the College Republicans," Banach said.\nSenior Erin Botkin sat quietly and listened to Banach's speech. This was her first meeting of the year with College Republicans, although she walked in parades and handed out fliers with the group last year. Unlike Banach, Botkin has no plans for public office. But Botkin said she does support the ideals of the College Republicans, especially the strengthening of family values, and that belief led her to the meeting last night.\nMonday's meeting also highlighted opportunities for involvement in upcoming College Republicans events, including a protest of President Clinton's trip to Indianapolis Saturday in support of Julia Carson, and a meeting with Rep. John Hostettler Oct. 30.\nCollege Republicans President Anne Scuffham, a junior, said she's been impressed with the willingness of students to volunteer and the awareness in the community of local election races. Scuffham said, to her surprise, more students have wanted to go door-to-door than to march in local parades. She urged anyone curious about participating in College Republicans events to contact her or the College Republicans Web site at www.indiana.edu/~iugop/.\n"There's a whole gamut of places to be," said Scuffham. She added that College Republicans members have registered more than 600 students in recent weeks in the dorms and greek houses.\nWhen asked how she thinks Rep. John Hostettler's vote last week not to renew a series of federal laws, including the Violence Against Women Act (Hostettler was one of three to vote against renewal), will affect public reception of College Republicans' message, Scuffham said she hopes to clarify possible misconceptions about Hostettler by explaining the reasons for his vote.\n"I talked to him this weekend," Scuffham said, "because it's an issue to me, too. He said, 'You know, Anne, I vote to keep things back at the local level.'" \nScuffham said Hostettler told her he likely would have voted for the bill if it had been presented in the state government.\n"He voted consistently with his record (of supporting states' rights)," she said. "He's a very strict Constitutionalist."\nIn the next few weeks Scuffham said she is looking forward to continued classroom debates with members of the College Democrats, as well as the scheduled protest and parades.\n"We're just keeping everybody involved," she said, with a characteristic smile.