Republicans absent on campus
By Michelle Morrow,
News Writing Student
OCCC’s College Republican Club has waned this semester.
Sponsor Ralph deCardenas, coordinator of Student Accounts, said student participation is nonexistent.
“Although one or two students have expressed an interest, it will require a dedicated few to get everything in the club up and running,” deCardenas said.
Sarah Anderson, student, said she had not noticed the lack of Republican voices on campus.
At the same time, she expressed how little interest she has in politics.
Student Dora Rojas said she also did not really stop to consider the College Republicans were absent on campus.
Whether students have a lack of interest, are too busy, or too tied up in extracurricular activities, something prevents them from participating, deCardenas said.
Their counterparts, the College Democrats, have had a busy semester.
As the College Democrats put on bake sales and brought in speakers, the College Republicans were looking for a few good men and women to take up the mantle of leadership.
David Wiggins, physics professor, said he would recommend both the College Republicans and the College Democrats to students, saying it would be damaging to hear only one side of political viewpoints all the time.
“We would forget where others are coming from,” Wiggins said.
“Neither club expresses opinions on issues well, but I’ve seen the Democrats be more visible,” he said.
Student Tim Way expressed a desire to see the Independent Party represented on campus equally with the Republicans and Democrats.
He said then, he’d participate.
With the ending of the fall semester and the spring semester coming soon, deCardenas said he would like to give students another opportunity to participate.
“I would like to see [College Republicans] get together with the College Democrats, hold debates and bring representatives from both parties to campus for a meet-and-greet,” deCardenas said.
For more information, contact deCardenas at rdecardenas@occc.edu or (405) 682-7862.
