Indiana University College Republicans phone-banking last year.
All last year, the Indiana University College Republicans worked. In the first few months of the year, the College Republicans raised money and recruited volunteers so they'd be ready for phone-banking (at right) and door-knocking ahead of November's general election. Though Mitt Romney lost, Indiana went red, and the Indiana University Republicans -- "the best party on campus" -- went back to work. On Monday, they welcomed state Treasurer Richard Mourdock for a talk about the state of the Republican Party.
Now the College Republicans have something new to work on: Stopping a Republican state lawmakers' bill that would block anyone paying out-of-state tuition from voting where they live for school. From the Indiana Daily Student:
"As a leader of a student group on campus, a resident of Monroe County and the president of College Republicans, I say this is not a partisan issue," said Daniel Cheesman, IU College Republicans chairman. "This is a student issue. A student rights issue."
The bill appears to be plainly unconstitutional; the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1979 that students may register and vote at their college.
As it happens, the College Republicans endorsed the bill's lead sponsor, freshman state Representative Peggy Mayfield, last year. Mayfield has promised to amend the bill before its second hearing tomorrow. Legislative aides tell us the changes will be significant, just as the consequences for sponsoring the bill could last awhile.
https://twitter.com/DefeatMayfield/status/301371385152954368
On the other side of the aisle, the past president of the Indiana University College Democrats has started a Defeat Mayfield campaign. Chris Babcock says he heard about the bill back in January and the group has been organizing against it ever since. "I wanted to make sure people don't forget about this a year from now when Rep. Mayfield is up for re-election." That would be November 2014, a date for which Babcock is already signing people up.
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This gives me hope for a future where both sides can recognize and reject a stupid idea, no matter which side proposes it.
If the College Republicans were more than the usual 10% of campus losers that they traditionally are on most campuses, and could "reliably" deliver the vote, there would be no need of this bill. But since Republicans can't win a fair-and-square fight, they have to look to their Southern leaders for guidance.
Does this only apply to public universities in Indiana? I attended a private college in Indiana from out of state, but private universities don't have in-state or out-of-state tuition rates. That's a pretty big loophole if they're trying to prevent all out of state students from voting.
LP
Yes this law applies to public universities in Indiana. As you said private universities don't have out of state tuition fees. Yes it is a loophole. I think there some really dumb people writing laws in the Indiana State House
@LP That was one of the main questions from the first hearing. The disparity between public and private colleges is part of what Representative Mayfield says she intends to address before tomorrow's hearing.
Frankly, I'm glad the college Republicans are moving on this; they have more chance of influencing Republican lawmakers in the state.
The state of the Republican Party?
I would suggest to Richard Mourdock that when the Republican Party finds itself discussing all those different kinds of rape, and even in that horrible situation of unpopularity... that is something that God intended to happen.
Oh what a tangled web "WE" weave when first "WE" practice to deceive! There goes that pesky "critical thinking in action again! Now let us see them deny to these young people that they are not up to what they ARE UP TO! Go get um and while you are about the business of teaching them about constitution issues here are some they need a refresher on - equal rights FOR ALL because well "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL"
Roe v. Wade is the Law (constitutionally) and although the States have rights they do not supersede Federal ones and that RAPE has no degree(s) of legitimacy & Corporations are not individuals!
VRA was passed for the very reasons you are attempting to undermine it, which would more than suggest IT IS STILL NECESSARY! You really can't make this STUFF UP;-)
And now that the "chickens have come home to roost" let's see if they like it any better since this now targets themselves....
Whenever you go after people's rights, you're on the wrong side of history.
Buerre says:
"When I was a student at Indiana University in Bloomington, there were heady days of raccoon coats, megaphones and a throaty "Sis-Boom-Bah" as we sipped Sasparilly-fizzies and wondered about the future of plastics. The kids these days are into the cell phones and what-not, but there's always time to vote. Although one might accuse the leader of the University Republicans of grandstanding a little bit, may I offer a sound word of advice? I would advise individuals who are attending the ol' "Crimson 'n' Cream" to ask for an absentee ballot from their home district from their home state, and simply mail-in their votes through the good Ol' United States Post Office. Additionally, instead of trying to forge a career on a non-issue, the Republicans, who did NOT throw the best parties on campus, should focus on trying to help other people before they graduate, eventually selling out for a corner office and an expense account to Ruth's Chris steak house in Indianapolis. Shouldn't it be spelled "Ruth Chris' Steak House?" OMG...they have the best steaks EVER!
I've got to say that this amuses me no end. These young Republicans worked to get their party in power, and are now being thrown in the trash. I don't know why they thought things would go any differently. It's like when Darth Vader heard Palpatine telling Luke to kill him. It wasn't really a surprise.
Idiots!
Instead of worrying about electing a bunch of mopes, they should get a bunch of mops for the big Mazola Party and Naked Twister Regatta that is scheduled for Saturday Night, across from the Main Library. There will be an impromptu lecture on hydraulic engineering as well, and certain unidentified students will make a "Power Bong" from a 5-gallon plastic bucket and a plastic milk jug. Snorkel and flippers are optional. Bring a dish!
This bill does not surprise me a bit. Bloomington, West Laffayette, and Indianapolis not only are homes to some of the larger public schools in Indiana; they are pretty much the most blue regions in this red state. It makes sense that they would like to prevent as many students from voting as possible. In fact, I would not be surprised if in the future they try to expand the law to state that you can only vote in the state legislative district that is listed as your "home district" (i.e., where your parents live). That way even more students won't vote.
Bloomington, Indiana (Home of IU) has a population of 80,000 plus an additional IU student population of about 42,000. If out of state tuition students = 45% of the student population, we have about 18,900 students - less international students - gives a little more than 14,000 potential voters. That's a lot of clout in city elections and with a county population of 138,000 - still a significant impact on county elections. This is an excellent strategy for the Republicans to significantly change election outcomes.
Shouldn't the Young Republicans of IU be willing to sacrifice their personal franchise for the good of the party?
Republicans are like everyone else; they don't like it when you strip them of any of their rights.
I saw a map of Florida after the election and how the votes went down. Gainesville, Tallahassee and South Florida districts were overwhelmingly Democrat and the rest of the state was all red. This is directly related to the colleges in those areas and the number of students voting. Well they voted blue and the Republicans who stopped early voting in many areas, having voters in such areas wait up to 7 hours to vote, now are trying a different tactic since stopping the vote seems to be the only way they can win, they are sticking with that plan.