Campus Activism

Student political groups speak out on the issues facing LSU, nation

[11 Comment(s)]

By George Monson

“Inform, inform, inform,” is the motto both Chuck Fontenot and Kevin Guillory are taking in this year’s upcoming presidential election. Armed with different opinions, both share the same common goal: to get students involved and taking sides on the important issues facing them today. Fontenot serves as the president of the College Republicans, and Guillory serves as the president of the College Democrats.

The “Grand Old Party” takes the stage

Fontenot wasted no time in getting into one of the most important issues facing America in the upcoming election: the war in Iraq.

“The stance we take is that a war cannot be won by a swift pull out,” explains Fontenot. “If we pull out of the war now, it will be like ripping a table cloth from the dinner table – everything will just fall apart.”

The Republicans’ view on the war in Iraq is to stay as long as needed to allow for the people of the Iraqi nation to slowly take control and rebuild their government.

Julie Glover, an LSU senior in human resources and leadership development, explained her views on the war. “I think that it is a situation we are in for the long haul because if we pull out from the war now, we will only be supporting the growth of terrorism throughout the world,” said Glover. “We are in this situation now because we pulled out too soon in the past. We need to stay the course until the job is complete.”

Gun control on campus was the next issue up for debate. The College Republicans support allowing students and faculty to be armed with guns on campus only by licensed owners, and that the rules surrounding the possession of guns on campus should be heavily regulated.

“People that do the shootings on campus are the ones who do not care about the laws surrounding the gun,” expresses Fontenot. “We support your right to protect yourself in time of danger; after all, it is our Second Amendment.”

Despite what people believe, not all Republicans are against gay marriage or civil unions. The Republican stance on the gay issue is that each state should be allowed to set their own laws facing gay marriage/gay civil unions.

“There are things everyone is entitled to, regardless of race, gender or orientation,” stated Thomas Lambert, a history and secondary education junior at LSU. “As long as people are not hurting other people it should be allowed.”

Independence from foreign oil is an issue both the Republicans and Democrats agree on; however, the time frame between the two is where the disagreement comes. The Republicans feel as though America should become independent on foreign oil and to utilize its natural resources in doing so. This will in turn help to better the economy.

“Firstly, if we drill in America in places such as Alaska and Louisiana, we will help lower our national debt greatly because we are not sending money to other countries – it is going straight into our pockets. America has nothing but natural gas; it will do nothing but good to tap into these,” described Fontenot. “Secondly, no one is against the environment; so, becoming independent of foreign oil will only build a bridge for new technology into producing more fuel efficient cars and fuel alternatives in the upcoming future. We just have to take it one step at a time.”

Blue for the win

According to Kevin Guillory, the Democrats are, for the most part, against the war in Iraq.

“There is no benefit for our country by staying in Iraq,” elaborates Guillory. “All that this war is doing is costing us money, and affecting people our own age. It’s about time to bring our troops home.”

“This war had its point, but now it’s almost pointless,” says Tre Gibson, LSU mass communication freshman. “I believe that we should decrease the number of troops in Iraq until we can reach a level in which we can pull out.”

The Democrats believe that the campus is an education environment, and completely unnecessary to allow students and faculty to bring guns to campus.

LSU sophomore Sarah Karlow expressed her views on gun control on campus right to the point. “No one should be allowed to have a gun on campus except for the police,” said Karlow. “If nobody has a gun, then no one will use a gun. It’s that simple.”

In another stance, Democrats believe in gay rights.

Isabel Blum, president of Spectrum, and Bruce Parker, president of LGBTQ, are teaming up to provide awareness to the public on gay rights.

“We inform the public of what it is like to be lesbian, gay, bi, transgender or queer in question,” explained Blum. “It’s a social group for people who need support and help in dealing with their sexual orientation. Our symbol is a rainbow because silence speaks louder than words.”

Parker tells that the focus of LGBTQ is to educate the faculty and staff about being aware on how to handle LGBTQ situations.

“We are working to bring the gay community of Baton Rouge together,” says Parker. “LGBTQ’s goal is to organize the gay community through education, hosting events and awareness groups and show the world that we are just as equal as anyone else.”

One difference between the Republicans and the Democrats when it comes to dealing with independence from foreign oil is time. The Democrats believe that it is time to become independent of foreign oil now, and support greater research in better fuel alternatives, so that most of America’s oil reserves remain preserved.

Jordan Bantuelle, co-president of LSU’s Environmental Conservation Organization, explains, “Global Warming is not a joke. America is one of the top countries that impacts climate change. If we start the research now into a better fuel alternative, we can only help the economy and environment because this will create more jobs, produce a cleaner nation, and allow for cheaper gas prices.”

Bantuelle concludes, “The goal of the environmental conservation organization is to get the point of environmental issues out to students on campus. More and more people are catching on and we are only moving forward.”

A toss up between two possible leaders

In the upcoming election voters will choose between Republican John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama as the next leader of the United States.

“McCain is not my choice because he is a Republican, but because of his views on the issues,” says Glover. “I believe that with his background he proves to me that I have the right to vote for him.”

McCain has a great record of leadership and experience that embodies his unwavering lifetime commitment to service. First elected to the House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982, McCain has fought to reform American politics.

Kandace Tyler, area director of LSU’s RHA, shared her opinion about Democratic front man Barack Obama. “I am not voting for Obama because he is black; I am voting for what he stands for. Any color or race, Obama proves to be a strong leader.”

It has been the rich and varied experiences of Obama’s life – growing up in different places with people who had differing ideas – that have animated his political journey. Amid the partisanship and bickering of today’s public debate, Obama believes in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose.

In just over a month, LSU students and other voters around the country will be making their choice between the two.

Originally Published: Issue 707 - October 1, 2008

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