College Republicans

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College Republicans




National Chairman	Charlie Smith

Founded	1892
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.

Mother party	Republican Party

Website	www.crnc.org

The College Republicans is an organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States.

1 Student Organizations
2 Activities
3 History
4 Controversies
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Student Organizations

Members of College Republican student organizations are represented nationally by the College Republican National Committee, a 527 group. College Republican organizations represent a wide ideological spectrum, from centrists and moderates to libertarians, right conservatives, and Christian activists.

Notable College Republicans have included Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove, prominent Republican strategist Lee Atwater, Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, North Carolina Congressman Patrick McHenry, lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Canadian political consultant Joshua Workman. Former First Lady and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton was elected president of her College Republican chapter at Wellesley College in her freshman year.^[1]

Today, there are over 200,000 College Republicans on over 1,775 campuses nationwide.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Activities

College Republican chapters operate in a variety of political and social forums. Members seek to promote Republican party values on campus, in the community and throughout the state. Chapter activities include holding political rallies, hosting guest speakers and fundraisers, registering voters, and serving as invaluable volunteers to local and statewide campaigns.

During the 2004 election cycle, College Republicans provided more than 120,000 volunteers to the reelection campaign of President George W. Bush.

[edit] History

The College Republicans were founded on May 17, 1892 at the University of Michigan by James Francis Burke. The organization was christened by Ohio Governor William McKinley with students from institutions as far away as Stanford University and Harvard University present.

[edit] Controversies

In 1973, Karl Rove ran for chair of the College Republicans. He challenged the front-runner’s delegates, throwing the national convention into disarray, after which both he and his opponent, Robert Edgeworth, claimed victory. The dispute was resolved when Rove was selected through the direct order of the chairman of the Republican National Committee, who at the time was none other than George H W Bush.^[2]

The CRNC was criticized for its relationship with Response Dynamics, a Virginia-based direct mail company. The relationship became an issue during the 2005 election for National Chairman, which was won by former CRNC Treasurer, Paul Gourley, whose signature was on the questionable fundraising letters.^[3]

Morgan Wilkins, a former CRNC field representative for election 2006 was placed on probation after suggesting several controversial events might be held on the University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor Campus, to that school's student newspaper, the Michigan Daily. The events included, "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day" and "Fun with Guns Day," where students were to shoot cardboard cutouts of prominent Democrats.^[4]

This incident ultimately became a major news story after the Michigan Daily incorrectly identified Ms. Wilkins as an employee of the Republican National Committee, rather than the CRNC, eliciting an outcry from Democratic National Committee Chairman, Howard Dean.^[5] In return, GOP Chairman Ken Mehlman condemned Wilkins' activities, as well as Governor Dean.^[6] Keith Olbermann named Wilkins his "Worst Person in the World."^[7] She was ultimately fired by the CRNC for later creating a facebook.com group in which she promised to make out with individuals who signed up volunteers for get out the vote efforts.^[8]