Hoping to capitalize on recent College students' involvement in the 2000 Presidential campaigns, the Republican Youth Majority -- a nationwide, moderate Republican activism group -- was at Dartmouth this month seeking new members with the hopes of establishing a chapter on campus.
The group would not be an alternative to the long-standing College Republicans, formerly known as the Conservative Union at Dartmouth, but merely an additional option for Republican activism, regional organizer Rob Singer said.
He said he is seeking to expand the group's membership throughout the Northeast, which prompted his trip to the Dartmouth campus.
The Republican Youth Majority is built on a "fiscally conservative and socially moderate" platform, which includes a pro-choice plans, according to their fliers on campus -- an item that conflict with traditional Republican party ideology.
"People don't know this message exists within the Republican party. Our focus is to get young people's voice back in politics with this ideology," Singer said.
Singer said he saw "a lot of support" at Dartmouth for the Republican Youth Majority and sees a "tremendous future" for a chapter here, citing a recent chapter opening at Brown University.
But while College Republican members helped organize and advertise Singer's visit, they say they did not see any overwhelming support for this group at the College, citing a low attendance number for Singer's meeting.
"People are happy with how CR is doing things. We welcome conservatives and moderates into our organization. We very much have an open door policy, and we believe that's partly why we're so successful on campus" said former CR president Bob Gienko '01.
In addition to turning out in large numbers for more traditional Republican candidate George W. Bush, College students also backed maverick Senator John McCain's campaign.
Singer hoped another representative would be back on campus this fall. No Dartmouth student RYM leader has been designated at this time.
