Students on the Nicholls campus who are interested in promoting their political party and meeting other students who share their political views have organizations on campus that allow them to do just that.Though not busy this semester due to it being a non-election season, there are two groups on campus, one for each political party, College Republicans and Young Democrats.
According to the Young Democrats of America, their group has been the official youth arm of the Democratic Party since 1932. Advisers for the Nicholls chapter of the YDA are Joshua Stockley and Joseph Thysell, both associate professors of history and social sciences.
The YDA works to elect democratic candidates, encourage youth involvement in the Democratic Party, support the ideals of the Democratic Party at all levels of government, instill young people with the values for which the Democratic Party stands and provide young people with the skills and experiences they will need to lead the nation.
In past semesters during election season, the YDA met often to work on campaigns for the democratic candidates of the election that was taking place.
“Right now there’s no involvement and no activity because it is very difficult to get students involved politically when there is no active referendum issue, campaign and so on going on,” Stockley said. “We will see more of an interest in the fall because of the Third Congressional District Race.”
According to Stockley, the YDA will probably help with Congressman Charlie Melancon’s re-election campaign.
A group called the College Democrats also exists on campus and participated in 2004 election events with the Young Democrats, but no one could be located for an interview.
On the other side of the political spectrum is the College Republicans of Nicholls State University. Led by adviser Glenn Antizzo, associate professor of history and social sciences, CRNSU also has not had a meeting yet this semester but will be sending announcements when a set time and date is established.
According to Antizzo, most of the meetings held by CRNSU are spent talking about Republican politics, membership issues and activities. Some of the activities are political where the organization goes out and supports a candidate as well as social activities where the group participates in community service.
“Unfortunately in groups that deal with politics, membership gets bigger when we are close to an election then sort of drops off in a non-election year,” Antizzo said.
According to Antizzo, Nicholls is not a very partisan campus. The Democrats and Republicans have worked together on projects. “I don’t think there’s any animosity between the two sides,” Antizzo said.
Both organizations hope to gain members and are hoping for an active season in 2007 for the governor and legislature race.
Any student interested in joining either one of these groups can do so by meeting with the organization’s adviser or by attending one of the meetings.
