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Liberty Students Get Involved inthe PresidentialElection

ys untilthe2004 Presidential Election were slowly counted down, theexcitement and tension among ding. The Student Government Association (SGA)and College Republicans sought to channel the excitement by encouraging students to complete voter registration during oneof theirthreevotingdrives

As thed. students wasbut

"Our main goal wastogetasmany students registered tovote as possible. We held three voting drives and Wendell Walker,theLynchburg Republican Party Chairman, wasa huge part ofhelping usorganize those,"said Matt Newman,First Vice Chair oftheCollege Republicans.

The SGA provided opportunitiesforstudentstostayinformed byshowingthe Presidentialdebatesin theVinesCenter andin Demoss Hall Themost popularevent, orchestrated bythepoliticalgroupsoncampus,wastheelectionnightcoverageparty inDemoss Hall,with over 800studentswatching theresultsof theelectionunfold.

"We were extremely pleased with theturnout for theelection night coverage party Ryan Bartholomew [SGAVicePresident] andJeremy Roberts [SGAPresident], alongwithvariousmembers oftheStudentSenate, putmany hoursofpreparationinto theevening,"said TravisSmith,Vice President ofGovernment AffairsfortheSGA.

While theSGA's goalwastoencourage votingandpatriotism among students on campus,theCollege Republicans headed offcampus tocampaign forGeorge W. Bush. Weekends were devoted to handing out literature around Central Virginia, but the highlight of the student advocates came during an all-expense paid trip tocampaign in J^ J^ ^ ^°ctio e n Ohio,courtesy oftheRepublican National Convention. n'ght Part y in DemossHall. Dr Falwell'sexperience

"The triptoOhio wasvery important forusbecause we reallywanted tobea part ofwhat inthe po ii tlCa i arena and was going on in a battleground state,and the 50 College Republican members who went were personalinvestmentmthe electionmade a significant thrilled with the chance to go door-to-door and campaign for Bush," said Matt Newman, a student impactonthestudents he ... xj.l /-< II r> LI- addressed.-PhotobyDeannaWall representative of theCollegeRepublicans.

Although individualshadmany differentreasons forheading tothepolls,thestudents who voted atLiberty University were undoubtedly ledby theirChristian faithand beliefs.

"There were some problems when I tried toregister tovote with my absentee ballot,butI refused togiveup Christian persuasion wasahuge factorinthiselectionandI wanted tovote soI could beapartofthat,"said Sophomore

David House

Most students went tobed inthelate hours ofthat deciding Tuesday inNovember without knowing the final outcome. Thenextday,Dr.Falwellmade atriumphantannouncement duringWednesday's Convocation thatJohn Kerry had conceded to George W. Bush at 11:01a.m. The thunderous applause made itclear that theLiberty family had "voted Christian"asDr. Falwellhadencouraged them todo. • BgJmL TIUW*M

With a Purpose

Student Government Association

"The SGA's main purpose istoaid in communication between the administration and the students When students have comments,suggestions or ideas,the Student Government Officers attempt tocommunicate them tothe administration." -purpose statement

College Repub icons

"The goalsofCR are to promote conservative Christian values (which tend to align with the Republican Party), promote Godly men and women that seek to uphold these values inpublic office,inform the student body of Liberty University on current political events and candidates,increase voter registration at LU, represent LU to the Republican Party ina positive manner that willbenefit LU's reputation and create goodwill inthe local area toward the Republican Party and LU." -purpose statement