With the 2012 presidential election swiftly approaching, the majority of Jumbos over the age of 18 are likely preparing to cast their ballot for President Barack Obama come November. A small yet vocal group of students, however, is fighting to tip the scales.
Invigorated by the challenge of a liberal-leaning campus and the slate of Republican candidates, the Tufts Republicans are determined to grow under the leadership of their new president, Sinclair Stafford.
This may seem like an uphill battle.
"In the past few years the club has been pretty inactive when it comes to generating enthusiasm on campus for different Republican ideas," Stafford, a senior, said.
Stafford's goal is to increase campus involvement in all aspects of the Republican campaign as well as national issues, perhaps even procuring a noteworthy political speaker. In order to appeal to a broader range of students, the next meeting will feature a recent graduate to offer tips on internships and job-hunting after graduation.
The group aims to expose the largely liberal population at Tufts to right-wing ideology.
"We want to educate people a little more about what a Republican is… I think a lot of people just haven't been exposed to different points of view on lots of issues," Stafford said. There are far more similarities between Democrats and Republicans than people often want to admit and realize."
Stafford also aims to strengthen from within the relationships between club members. "We also plan to do a lot more social activities and sort of create social bonds with members so they want to come back to club meetings to see their friends," Stafford said, adding that the club plans to go to a shooting range together.
Club participation this year may be bolstered simply because of the impending election, but the group wants to ensure lasting membership.
"Last year I think it was kind of difficult because people didn't really care about being involved and being part of political campaigns," sophomore Brian Yi said. "This year, we're trying to make the club more social and... put more responsibility on members. A combination of those things will get the club growing for the future year."
While there is a difference in opinion within the club about which Republican candidate should go head-to-head with Obama, group members seem to be unanimous in agreeing that political action within the club is necessary.
To that end, the Tufts Republicans are going to campaign for Republican candidate Mitt Romney in New Hampshire and near his Boston office, according to Yi.
"I think it's difficult because not many of them have offices close by, but we're looking for ways to have students involved with their specific candidate," he said.
Yi has his own projections about the outcome of the primaries in 2012.
"Personally, I am looking at [Romney] right now," he speculated. "I've watched the presidential debates, I've learned what he endorses. He has the experience in both public and private sectors, and I think he has a strong record and that he will be able to work and compromise with Democrats and other political figures to accomplish what he wants to do," Yi said.
"The club does not support just one candidate," Yi said. "We have people who are very libertarian to very conservative to moderately conservative; the club is definitely not endorsing one candidate."
Stafford cited difficulties garnering interest on the Tufts campus for the club and the obstacles that they face as a minority on the Hill.
"At the Activities Fair when I was saying, ‘Tufts Republicans!' ‘Come check out our booth!' People visibly winced and cringed," she said. "I don't mean to say that people at Tufts won't talk to me — most of my friends are not Republicans — but just the first impression is very negative."
When the Tufts Republicans gathered together in the Mayer Campus Center to watch the Republican Primary Debate on Sept. 22, Stafford remembers a fruitless 45 minutes trying to stream Fox News on the televisions there. They ended up watching the debate in Sophia Gordon Hall, she said.
But Stafford welcomes the challenge, which she sees as an opportunity to expand people's horizons. "At the same time though, it's kind of cool because we have the opportunity to share new ideas with them and to open their eyes to points of view that they didn't really consider in depth before.
"Basically, my message is to give Republicans a chance, and take the time to listen more carefully to your classmates when they state their point of view and don't just write them off — take the time to think about it a little harder," Stafford said.
Reaching freshmen is especially difficult, according to freshman Zachary Frey, because they are largely only just now eligible to vote and may not have been politically aware before.
"We [Republicans] are outnumbered pretty harshly," Frey said. "I feel strongly about being a Republican, and I like teaching and talking to my friends about it. It is tough, though — people make me shake my head and it's almost frustrating. You can't win on an individual basis."
Yet Frey is optimistic about the club's future on campus.
"I think people here are educated and cultured and realize how important and pertinent politics are to our future," Frey said. "I'm glad that [Tufts Republicans] is here. I didn't expect there to be a [Republican club] on campus and I think that our president… is very active. I think we can do a lot of things with the upcoming election, and hopefully more people will be concerned with it as the election gets close," he said.
