Students put politics aside to benefit Iraqi children

On Wednesday afternoon, IU College Democrats and IU College Republicans put their differences aside and came together to show support for U.S. troops and Iraqi children affected by the Iraq war.\nDomino’s pizza and an assortment of soft drinks were available to passers-by with the request they make $2 donations to pay for care packages to soldiers and school supplies for Iraqi children.\nStudents from both political parties were at the booth in Dunn Meadow to show support and get the word out. Among those in attendance were Dave White, chairman of College Republicans; Andrew Hahn, the political vice president of College Democrats; J.T. Mackey, the events director of College Republicans; and Amanda Jenkins, president of College Democrats.\n“We’re just putting aside our partisan differences,” said Hahn, who was passing out handbills at the bus stop on Seventh Street, near the groups’ booth. \n“The priority for the event is that the two groups are coming together to support our troops regardless of our different views about the war,” Mackey said.\nThe traffic at the booth was slow but steady. Senior Emma Cullen, former president of IU College Democrats, brought two bags of notebooks, pencils, folders and other supplies for the children in Iraq. \n“Anything where both parties can cooperate, I support,” she said.\nBringing supplies and donating money were not the only ways to help. Students had the option of writing letters or signing IU postcards to be mailed to soldiers.\nThat’s what freshman Christopher Frisz chose to do. “Thank you so much for serving our country,” he wrote on his card.\n“I’m into the democratic grass roots in Bloomington, so I’m very interested in this,” he said.\nBoth parties publicized the event for more than a week. After printing 200 fliers and 1,500 handbills, they were hopeful the event would be successful. \nThe two groups are working with Operation Iraqi Children, a national organization dedicated to helping soldiers and children.\nSgt. William Peterson, an Army recruiter at IU, stopped by the booth because of the event. “I think this is just great,” he said.\nJenkins said the event helped collect between $50 and $70, with more expected to come.\n“It was nice because people would come donate money and not even expect pizza or anything in return,” she said, “and in total we received 12 full grocery sacks full of school and care-package supplies.”\nThis is the third annual event supporting U.S. troops that the groups have organized together. Members from both groups said they hope for the tradition to continue until the war stops.