Republican club aims for education
Campus Times
November 1, 1996
Filled with motivation, ambition and dedication, senior political science
major James Bryant Potter initiated the University of La Verne College Republicans
Club this semester and ran its first meeting Tuesday, Oct. 22.
During the meeting, Potter made it clear to the members that the club's
main goal between now and Nov. 5 is to get presidential candidate Bob Dole
elected, as well as to recruit more members.
The club's development came about after Potter went through certain process
procedures.
Potter first went to the California Republican Headquarters in Burbank,
to ask for information on how to start an organization, such as this one.
From there, he acquired the necessary manuals and membership forms. An official
also met with him to discuss the tasks of college republicans.
After this outside process, Potter filled out and submitted all of the paperwork
to Melissa Jaunal, coordinator of student programs. A few days later, he
set up a table outside of the Student Center to inform people about the
newly formed club.
Potter was motivated to begin a Republican club during the two years that
he has been here at ULV.
"The longer that I've been here, the more politically educated that
I have gotten, the more politically involved I have wanted to become,"
said Potter.
Senior political science major Leo Chan is pleased with the new club.
"I think it is a great idea," he said.
Another reason why he was inspired to begin the College Republicans Club
is because he wants to acquire an adequate amount of experience in the field
to achieve his ultimate goal to run for public office of
some type and become an elected official in the future.
"So between now and that time, I have a desire to be as politically
active as I possibly can," said Potter. "I also really want to
show as much loyalty and participation to the Republican Party as I possibly
can within the next few years, so that I can hopefully be selected to be
a delegate to go to the year 2000 Republican Convention."
Potter also discussed some of his plans for the club after the presidential
elections are over, including fundraising and sponsoring events.
Potter wants to hold fundraising events, such as car washes, pancake breakfasts,
or even dinners, where the club will host one of the incoming Congress Representatives
or Senators. These events can benefit the club and make it stronger by providing
it with economic resources.
Potter also mentioned that even though the club receives a certain amount
of money from the school, this money is still limited. For this reason,
the club needs more funds to be able to send some of its members to the
College Republican Convention which will take place in April 1997 in San
Francisco.
According to Potter, the club would also like to sponsor public
speaking events, where an elected official comes to ULV to speak to
students to educate them and make them more well informed of what people
are doing in Congress.
"I think that there's a very high level of apathy going on and too
many people are not fully aware of what their Congressmen, state legislature
or whoever are doing," said Potter.
"Too many people tend to think the government is corrupt. 'All politicians
are just corrupt people. They are in it for their own self interest, for
their own financial gain,' and that is not true," he said.
"That's really a distorted perception and I would like to do my part
to help clear some of that distorted perception.
"One of my goals, if nothing else, is to educate and make people well
informed, of the issues and where both candidates stand on, when they go
vote," said Potter. "Aside from anything else, this is my personal
position."
Chan sees this as possible to be accomplished by the club.
"It contributes new perspectives and ideas, and with more ideas, people
will be better informed," said Chan.
The club is currently recruiting more members to attend their weekly Tuesday
noon meetings in the Commuter Lounge, until further notice of a new location.
"We want somebody who is going to come and participate and who really
has their heart in it. People who are undecided, I think, are the most important
people. Hopefully, if they come in, at least they can understand what we
are all about, and if they can identify with us and agree to what we have
to say, or where we stand on the issues, then that's great. We welcome them,"
he said.
Potter continued explaining that, "At the same time, there's going
to be people who are undecided and don't think that way, and that's fine
too, but at least, if they don't want to identify with the Republican Party,
at least they know who they can identify with. I think that's the most important
thing of all."