Thursday, February 26, 2004
Apathy anathema to this college student
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
Greater Portland's Entertainment Weekly.
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For many years there have been reports on the youth of this country not being interested in politics. Oliver Wolf, a sophomore at Bates College who will be 21 in April, belies that theory.
He is a political science major with concentrations in U.S. political processes and international studies and he is vice chairperson of the Maine State College Republican Organization. He helped campaign for Sen. Susan Collins and for Congressional candidate Kevin Raye and is working on President Bush's re-election campaign.
As vice chair of the Maine College Republicans, Wolf has taken on a role in organizing the Youth Leadership School taking place at Bates College on Saturday and Sunday. The program is co-sponsored by Maine College Republicans and the Leadership Institute of Washington, D.C.
The Leadership Institute was founded by conservative activist Morton Blackwell in 1979, and it runs seminars around the country to train high school and college students in organizational and campaign techniques.
Q: What are your plans after graduating from college?
A: I don't think any sophomore in college has the actual answer to that question now. I do know for one thing that I will stay involved in the political scene. I have recurrently considered staying in Maine as well. There really aren't enough young people who stay in Maine after college. Also, there is a certain quality of rugged individualism I find in many Mainers, which I really admire.
Q: When did you get involved with the Maine State College Republican Organization and why did you?
A: I joined the Bates College Republicans in the fall of my freshman year, and shortly thereafter got elected vice president of our chapter. During that time I helped campaign for Sen. Collins and Kevin Raye, and helped bring conservative scholar and former Reagan advisor Dinesh D'Souza to speak at Bates. I was elected as vice chairman of the state organization this past summer . . . I believe in limited government, individual responsibility, free markets and free ideas, and a strong national defense and foreign policy. Growing up, I have found that these causes align me most with the Republican Party, and I relish immersing myself in the political process. It has been a true joy getting my peers in college involved as well and acquainting ourselves with Maine politics.
Q: Did you attend a Youth Leadership School when you were in high school or since going to college? What did you get out of it?
A: I attended a Youth Leadership School at the Leadership Institute's headquarters in Washington, D.C., this past July. The skills I learned and the connections I made with people there will be invaluable to me throughout my political journey. I learned youth canvass and organizational techniques, and tested what I learned in simulation exercises. It is a great opportunity to host a Youth Leadership School in Maine and I am excited for extending to others the chance to get involved in the conservative youth movement. . .
Q: Do you think it is important for young people to become involved in the political process? If so why? If no, why not?
A: Economist Milton Friedman once wrote, "What can I and my compatriots do through government to protect our freedom?" This is an issue I care most about for my generation. The right to vote is perhaps the most fundamental expression of human liberty. All Americans have the power to decide who will lead and govern. This is a right for which lives are sacrificed across the world. Also something I love about politics is that it cuts across so many sectors of society. Getting involved in the political process thus makes for a well-rounded individual, an important trait for any young person. Currently, the Maine College Republicans have a goal of registering thousands of Republican voters in a campus canvass effort through our 11 chapters. This is an effort being supported by many Mainers, our donors, national, state and local Republican candidates, and the College Republican National Committee.
Q: Are you going to be or are you now involved in the presidential election campaigning for the upcoming election?
A: It's hard being a full-time college student and being committed to President Bush's re-election campaign. I consider both a full-time duty. I and other officers of the state organization are in contact with the Maine Bush-Cheney '04 campaign chair and executive director on a regular basis. With Andrew Simon, the president of the Bates College Republicans and the campaign, I helped bring national Bush campaign chairman and former governor of Montana Marc Racicot to have dinner at Bates with 40 college Republicans in January. Gov. Racicot told us Bates is the only college he has had dinner at with students throughout this campaign. I am also committed to signing up hundreds of students as Bush campaign volunteers. I and other members went to New Hampshire on a Sunday morning before the primary in January to go door-to-door signing up Bush volunteers. We also have had two successful rallies for Bush, one at the University of Maine in Orono in the fall and another at Bates not long ago that gained national recognition by the campaign. I have also written letters to the editor and op-ed columns in support of the president and his agenda, and I plan to do much more in the months ahead.
Q: What is the buzz among young Republicans about President Bush's chances at a second term?
A: Polls show that 60 to 65 percent of young people in this country support President Bush and his agenda. The buzz among all young people, and not just Republicans, is that the president will get re-elected. We will make it happen. Students are galvanized by the president, and our efforts in Maine and across the country demonstrate this notion. Many of us have attended caucuses and Bush campaign training sessions in Maine to express our support. This past November, we turned out 130 cheering college Republicans for an appearance by first lady Laura Bush in Portland . . . I'll give you a counter-example: Former U.S. Sen. and potential vice presidential candidate Max Cleland of Georgia spoke at Bates in November in support of Sen. Kerry's campaign on a weekday afternoon after classes and barely 15 to 20 people attended.
Q: What is the buzz among young Republicans about gay marriage rights?
A: The importance of valuing the dignity and worth of all individuals, and specifically homosexuals, is something many young conservatives find common ground. Nevertheless, gay marriage is an unlikely idea to the majority of Republicans and Democrats as a public policy reality. While I cannot speak for all on this question, it is an issue, if anything, that should be decided by state legislatures and the people rather than courts in this country. Next week, renowned conservative journalist and gay rights activist Andrew Sullivan is going to be lecturing at Bates and Colby sponsored by both College Republican chapters there on these salient issues.
Q: What do young Republicans think is the biggest issue in the U.S. today?
A: Once again while I cannot speak for all, I believe national security is certainly the biggest issue in the U.S. today. This also includes securing our national identity and the American dream. It is crucial that young people have an understanding of, and attachment to, our democratic republic, our heritage and our civic principles. Only then will more come to recognize and hold dear these very values attacked by terrorists on September 11.
News Assistant Stephanie Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6455 or at: sbouchard@pressherald.com