Jackson Free Press

Read about young, hip Republicans on college campuses in the New York Times magazine—and the groups that are funding them: "As with college conservative movements in the past, the recent wave has been fueled and often financed by an array of conservative interest groups, of which there are, today, almost too many to keep straight: Young Americans for Freedom; Young America's Foundation; the Leadership Institute; the Collegiate Network; the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. These groups spend money in various ways to push a right-wing agenda on campuses: some make direct cash 'grants' to student groups to start and run conservative campus newspapers; others provide free training in 'conservative leadership,' often providing heavily subsidized travel to their 'publishing programs'; others provide help with the hefty speaking fees for celebrity right-wing speakers. Through these coordinated activities, these groups have embarked in the last three years on a concerted campus recruitment drive to turn temperamentally conservative youngsters into organized right-wing activists."

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I read the article last week. The students are smart & very effective at what they do and they've gotten the respect not only of elder Republicans, but also of faculty members at Bucknell who admire the fact that they have political beliefs. One professor said in page 9 of the article that faculty members have been known to say: "At least they believe in something. At least they've got convictions." One additional thought: the NYT magazine article is very germane to the JFP youth voting issue cover story of a few weeks ago. It's certainly a prime example of young voters being active in the political arena.

Ex Libris

Jun 9 2003

Oh, I agree with you completely, Ex. I liked the story because it shows young people organizing, coming together and working with older people. There are definitely lessons in there, whether or not you agree with their politics. I'll take conviction any day over apathy.

ladd

Jun 9 2003