Students Create New College Republicans Chapter

For the first time in over a decade, Concord University has a College Republican Chapter beginning this fall semester. 

President of the CU Republican Chapter, Jack Garwood comments, “With West Virginia being the reddest state in the country, President Trump winning the mock election at Concord, and a high amount of conservative students on campus not currently being represented, I thought it was about time we united and forged a voice for ourselves on a liberal arts campus.” 

    During the summer break, Garwood initiated the process with his academic advisor and this chapter’s advisor, Dr. James White, Professor of Political Science. Though Garwood was in the United Kingdom for the break, the two kept in touch regularly through email as Dr. White provided insightful advice on how to set up the organization on campus. 

    Garwood says, “During the summer, I approached potential members and fellow Republicans on campus, and they were all very receptive to the idea.” He spoke with WVGOP leaders, the state’s executive political director, the state chairman, and a U.S. senate campaign manager, all of which offered guidance and support.  

    “I set up the Chapter, liaised with the West Virginia Federation of College Republicans (WVFCR), and the National College Republicans,” Garwood says. As president, he is responsible for organizing meetings, proposing the projects and fundraisers they aim to facilitate, reaching out to new members, and finally running the social media accounts. 

    With goals and aspirations for the chapter, Garwood hopes to expand the chapter to represent the “silent Republican majority on campus,” he states. 

    “There is a reluctance for conservatives to openly admit to being republican. Radical leftists have violently suppressed and silenced republican voices all over the country, and Republicans have been persecuted on college campuses from Connecticut to California, Middlebury, UC Berkeley, DePaul, and many others,” Garwood says. “We want to advance to a stage where we have an equal voice, equal opportunities, and where Republicans aren’t afraid to be open with their beliefs on campus without fearing the consequences from more vocal opposition, or suffering lower grades.” 

    Garwood explains, “As a legal immigrant that was afforded opportunities, in the ‘land of opportunity’... it makes me sad that hanging up American flags on my car parked on campus led to one being snapped in half and the other being ripped.” From his experience Garwood wishes to “get to a point where people are not offended by the idea that other people think differently from them.” 

    With hopes to go on aforementioned trips in 2018, such as attending the March for Life in Washington D.C., and the CPAC in Maryland, the chapter is in the works of preparing fundraisers. The money may also be contributed to campaigns to help Republican candidates in the primary. “We will similarly aim to support the Republican candidate for the WV’s third congressional district. Fundraising will also go towards expanding our chapter; traveling to meetings with other WV College Republican chapters, advertising on social media and around campus, and spreading our message: life, liberty, capitalism, personal accountability, fiscal responsibility, and other conservative ideas,” he says. 

Sophomore, Peyton Brown is a newly initiated member of the CU Republican chapter. 

    “Though it is early in the game, to be a part of this club for me is to have a conservative family to run to when I personally see my views shot down in today’s society that seems so ‘not-so-conservative’,” she says. 

    Eager to push forward in the chapter, Brown hopes to personally contribute with her creativity and enthusiasm. “There is strength in numbers, so I hope to just generally help out with recruitment by trying to get my other Republican friends and peers involved,” she says. “It’s a great thing to be involved in and there are lots of opportunities and potential associated with being a member!” 

    Brown states her number one piece of advice for people who are considering joining is “to do it!” Admission this semester is free, and currently there are no dues, “So you literally have nothing to lose!” she exclaims. 

Garwood’s last piece of advice he offers is “you don’t have to be afraid anymore. You can openly be a Republican on campus. We will stick together, protect you, and we will be much stronger by having a greater collective voice than if we were simply individuals.” 

    For more information, contact the chapter by email at CRofCU@outlook.com, or through the following social media accounts: Twitter at CURepublicans17, Facebook at College Republicans of Concord University, and Instagram at collegerepublicansofcu.