College Republicans Look Ahead, Past The Inauguration

Millions of Americans may consider Tuesday the harbinger of a hopeful future, yet Columbia University College Republicans member Ory Rinat, GS/JTS ’09, deems it a typical day.

“It’s a regular school day like any other,” Rinat said. “I’ll be dealing with the first day of school, getting my classes in order.”
Rinat’s own plans mirror the College Republicans’ agenda for the day. As a group, they do not have any specific inauguration or pre-inauguration plans.
“It’s very difficult to book space for the first day of classes,” explained Lauren Salz, BC ’11 and executive director of the College Republicans. “Even if we had wanted to do something, we wouldn’t have been able to. It’s a common complaint among student groups,” Salz said. She will be personally traveling to Washington D.C. to watch the event.
“It was a tough night for Republicans nationwide,” Salz said, citing the numerous losses for the Republican Party on election night. “We had tons of months to get used to the fact that McCain was going to lose.”
All losses put aside, the College Republicans have been entertaining new goals to enhance the group’s agenda.
“One thing I’m trying to do is going to groups’ events and personally meeting board members,” Salz said. “I think that the more people know each other, the less personal the political attacks will be. And that’s something so important at this University—to have good relationships with others even if you disagree ideologically.”
The College Republicans maintain an equally positive outlook with regards to the Republican Party as a whole.
“I think that we are going to win back the hearts and minds of the people,” Salz said. “I think that small government is a really compelling message, and unfortunately the Republican Party hasn’t really gotten that across. If we go back to our roots as a party, I think we’re going to get that back.”