What it really means to be a Mizzou College Republican

The first time walking around a college campus is a very eye-opening experience. A plethora of people can be seen: some walking confidently to their buildings, some overwhelmed and confused, some silently rushing to make it through the crowds, and some who are loudly attempting to recruit people to support their cause.

Openly recruiting people to an organization is a norm, as being involved on the Mizzou campus is a large part of the unique college life. During the fall semester, many fluorescent papers advertised different groups, one of which took a lot of heat with the developments of this past fall.

The Tab spoke with Jake Loft, a recent MU alumnus, who just handed over the reins for Presidency of the Mizzou College Republicans. As the #CS1950 movement began, there were many instances that called for the organization to rise to the occasion, teaching its members valuable lessons.

What are the College Republicans?

The CR is one of the largest and oldest student organizations in the country. Traditionally the national organization is around to give young people the opportunity to express their conservative beliefs. It definitely helps out in election years when they are trying to get a leg up in politics, and assists them in finding jobs in the field of politics. At a more local level, it’s certainly treated as those but we use it as an outlet to allow our voices to be heard by the more progressive students on campus.

What was it like being the president of the group?

It was a great learning opportunity, honestly. It was quite a lot to manage an organization of that size, but it brings an opportunity for you to grow in politics on your own. The personality of the president dictates how the club is going to be run because you have a lot of executive authority as to how each day goes. In my case, it was to get a group of friends together and we could get a lot done. I actually met a large group of my friends from CR, and they graduated before me. This year, I was the oldest member of the club, but I still helped build the close friendships that are so important to the club. This year’s president is doing the same thing: creating groups of friends who will encourage each other and watch each others backs and that is really helpful for people who don’t feel comfortable being a conservative on campus.

If there was a message that CR could convey on campus, what would it be?

We are the diverse party. We are made up of many different demographics, we are the party that welcomes everyone in and hears what they have to say, and we try to listen to people who have maybe a different way of thinking than we had had before. We are willing to learn and share our views with the people around us, and it’s not our job as an organization to decide what everyone should think.

Have there been any instances where you felt like you haven’t been able to speak your mind?

Yes, this fall would be a good example. Before the big protesting situation, we had the issue of “what are we going to do with this Thomas Jefferson statue?” At the time, we had a black president and a couple of our African American members were out on the side of Thomas Jefferson. Some of the protesters trying to remove the statue were saying racial slurs to them about how they had given in to the patriarchy or that our black members of CR were giving into the white members. It is astounding to me that it is not clear that we are a party of diversity: we have Middle Easterners, we have Asian students, African Americans, women, men, we welcome them all. The people on our campus refuse to acknowledge that. Even the Republican party in general, not just CR. We have the youngest average age in Congress out of the Democrats and Republicans, which reflects the kind of message that we try to promote: we are not just a bunch of old white men trying to be at odds with everyone on campus, but a welcoming gathering of people.

What do some of the students that graduate go on to do?

You don’t have to be an established Republican to be successful in the group, many of the successful politicians have previously been involved in groups like these and furthering their experience as a leader. It is a great stepping stone for getting involved in politics. [Some CR students have go on to be] political reporters for Fox News and ABC and campaign managers for the Senate and state government.

On a campus that is very focused on progression, how do you make your presence known to others in a way that allows them to see your more conservative viewpoints?

Our events focus on giving people the opportunity to be heard by a professional opinion that has not been shaped by the news media. When there comes a time for tougher topics, like equal pay, for example, we will bring in actual state legislators who are working on the bills rather than just listening to a panel of executives ranting about something seen on TV.