College Republicans rally to re-elect Bush, Cheney

Attracting students with free food and presidential signs and stickers, the IU College Republicans spread the word about the upcoming election Wednesday afternoon in Dunn Meadow. Next to the hot dogs and ketchup bottles were voter registration forms, Bush/Cheney stickers and other literature about the Bush campaign. \nAngel Rivera, chairman of the IU CRs, coordinated the event with the Purdue University CRs, who held similar activities on their campus yesterday. \n"I hear they are going to stand by the road with signs trying to get people to honk for President Bush," Rivera said. "That's not my style."\nRivera preferred the informal atmosphere of a cookout, which gave the members of IU CR a chance to talk to students passing by between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday. \n"The campaigns for Bush and Kerry are trying to start off strong," said Chase Downham, political director of IU CR. "We're helping out Bush."\nRivera said the goal of the event was to spread information.\n"The president has a good agenda, and we want to share that with students," he said. \nBoth Downham and Rivera noted the need for student awareness about the election.\n"I'm surprised with how strong (the group) is," Downham said. "There are a lot of people that want to be involved, especially lately." \nRivera said IU CR has 60 to 70 active members, and a total membership of about 800 students. Any full-time or part-time IU student is eligible for membership. \nOne of these new members, Brian Mastenbrook, also came out to help after joining the group just before spring break. \n"This campus seems to have a left-leaning flavor, and I think it's important to find people who share my beliefs," Mastenbrook said. \nDespite the liberal atmosphere of Bloomington, Rivera said the College Republicans work well with the College Democrats.\n"We get along with them," Rivera said. "I hope they lose every election, but I don't hate them as people." \nDownham also added there is no animosity between the two groups on campus. \n"My main focus is voter registration," Downham said. \nIn the face of student apathy, Downham said he thinks it is important to get students registered, regardless of their political stance.\n"People think (the election) doesn't affect them, but it does," Rivera said. \nThe College Republicans hold similar rallies every couple of months, Rivera added. In addition to these rallies, the group meets at 9 p.m. every Monday in the Distinguished Alumni Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. \n-- Contact staff writer Greg Ingram at rgingram@indiana.edu.