The campus that some characterize as a bastion of liberal ideology actually houses a sizable population of devoted Republicans — at least 431 of them.
The local chapter of Students for Bush managed to register that many University students for the nationwide campaign, making this campus 12th in the country for registrants and No. 1 in the state, with Oregon State University trailing in second place with 147 registrants.
But University Students for Bush Chairman Jarrett White said he wasn’t surprised that the group was able to get that many registrants with only six or seven days of tabling.
“I think it just shows that, as President Nixon once said, there’s a silent majority,” said White, who is also chairman of the University College Republicans. “I’m not going to go as far as saying that Republicans are a majority on this campus, but I think there’s a huge amount of Republicans on this campus and a lot of people are just a little scared to come out and say it because every time you do there’s the fear that somebody is going to call you a fascist or equate you with the Nazis or draw a swastika on your forehead.”
Oregon Students for Bush Chairman Paul Perkins said he wasn’t surprised about the results, either.
“I knew they could do it,” Perkins said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they get 1,000 by the end of the term … there’s certainly more than 1,000 Bush supporters on the University of Oregon campus. I think 431 is just the beginning of how many they can get. They’ve shown that they’re willing to give their energy and hard work to help the president.”
Oregon Students for Bush co-Chairman Laura Jenkins, who insists on a co-chairman title instead of co-chairwoman, said she would like to see the University chapter make it into the top 10 schools in the nation for registering Republican students. The group will continue tabling for more registrants through election season, she said.
The local chapter is only 65 registrants away from 10th place in the nation and 74 registrants away from 8th place.
Jenkins said the drive is designed to allow the Republican Party to track support for President Bush on college campuses. Registrants receive e-mails updating them on the progress of Bush’s campaign.
In addition to supporting President Bush, tabling on campus is healthy for the University’s political climate, Jenkins said.
“I think us just being out there is a good thing because it lets students see that there is a conservative presence on campus and that it’s okay to support the president,” Jenkins said.
White agreed.
“We’re human, too, even though a lot of people don’t think Republicans are human,” White said. “And it feels good when somebody comes up and they’re like, ‘Oh, President Bush … I didn’t know you guys were around,’ or ‘I thought I was the only one.’”
Information about the Students for Bush campaign can be found at http://www.georgewbush.com/students/. Click on the “Tournament” link on the left side of the page for registration drive results.