May 2, 2006
NEWSPolitical clubs encourage student involvement
For most students, college is a time where their opinions and ideologies begin to take hold in their lives. In the recent firestorm of political contention, many students are voicing their opinions more firmly than ever before.
Being a place of learning and open-mindedness, MCC allows students to express and debate their viewpoints among one another.
The MCC Republicans are a group of students with conservative ideologies that have organized the club to promote healthy debate, sponsor guest speakers on campus, and organize political activities and rallies for students to participate in. The president of the club, Mike Stone, encourages people from all parties to join in on the debates.
“We want to give any political viewpoint a shot,” Stone said. “It’s important for everyone. Being politically active early on allows you to investigate your future.”
The fact that Arizona, a red state, elected a democrat for governor (who held a 68 percent approval rating at the end of last year) shows that healthy debate from both sides can lead to healthy compromises.
Compromise and political tolerance isn’t something America has seen a lot of lately, according to Stone. The hostility and intolerance among politicians in Washington is something that he thinks needs to change.
“It’s harmful. Anybody who wants to get involved in politics sees that and is turned off,” Stone said.
The open door policy of the MCC Republicans is fortunate for the democrats on campus who wish for their voices to be heard because the MCC Democrats club is inactive at the moment, according to their faculty sponsor Brian Dille.
“Ever since Kerry lost the election the wind just blew out of their sails,” Dille said of the democratic students who were running the club. He is confident the club will reassemble prior to the 2008 elections. Dille is also hopeful that students will be interested in meeting again this fall for the midterm elections.
As for the MCC Republicans, the club is running in full force and meets once or twice a month. The meetings are open to all, and scheduling can be found at www.mccrepublicans.com.
Last October, they succeeded in bringing Senator John McCain to MCC to give a speech for the second time, as well as co-sponsoring with ASU to have conservative columnist and author David Horwitz speak. Stone said that more big name GOP speakers will be coming to talk about important issues later on in the year.