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Ripe for Politicking by Hannah Weinberger | Photos by Jessica Gaylord

With a close presidential race in North Carolina, and with many social issues hanging in the balance, campus political groups realize how much their work is worth. In order to achieve their goals, however, they need to recruit students and rally support. As students look back on the 2008 presidential election, when Barack Obama won North Carolina by just 13,692 votes, those involved in politics at UNC-Chapel Hill recognize that even a little bit of canvassing can have a large impact. With the current presidential race so close in the state, and determining the fate of social issues, the importance of students work is not lost on them.

POWER IN NUMBERS
Junior Lindsey Rietkerk sits on the floor outside the office of the UNC Young Democrats (YD), phone in hand. Sophomore Carol Abken watches intently as Rietkerk, speaking from a script, gauges whether residents of Lee County are interested in electing Rep. Deb McManus as she runs for an N.C. House seat in District 54. Its my first time (phone banking), Abken says, so Im not really sure what to say. Luckily for Abken, YD is big on trainingand it wants its recruits to feel empowered. I see it absolutely as an opportunity for students to have leadership skills develop, Rietkerk says of the thriceweekly campus phone banks. It gives students the opportunity to own part of the campaign and tell family and friends that theyre actually making a difference on campus.
Lindsay Rietkerk, a junior political sci- ence and peace, war, and defense double major, makes a phone call on behalf of Deb McManus.

Rietkerk is also the campus team leader of Tar Heels For Obama (THFO), a student branch of Organizing for America (nicknamed Obama for America), the presidents official campaign. For clubs like YD and THFO that devote themselves almost entirely to campaigning and voter registration efforts, empowering huge numbers of students to do grassroots work is key to their success. YD President Austin Gilmore says that while campaign structure is relatively strictbased on guidelines from the Democratic Partythe club allows for creativity in recruiting and retaining members. Thats really where a lot of the innovation happens within the club, Gilmore says. Its not just about Obama getting elected. Its also about building something for the future as an organization, so were very aware that we have to have a compelling reason for people to come back. Reaching students takes up a lot of the clubs time. THFO, YD and official representatives from Obama For America spend four to five hours every together recruiting in the Pit with listserv sign-up sheets held high. Once students decide to join, Rietkerk says, it can be hard to retain them. Its a unique environment here on campus, where school is your job, Rietkerk says.Youre not going to skip class to come out. Students really have to balance how to commit to volunteering and their school work. Tar Heels For Obama currently has about 40 committed members whereas it only had five last fall, Rietkerk says. The best thing YD and THFO can do is to make small requests. If you have an hour, come by in the Pit, Rietkerk says. Im there, and Ill do it with you. YD also holds events, like an ice cream social (which garnered the club more than 100 listserv members this year), a 1K called Race to The Polls on South Campus, and in-house explanations of democratic policy for Greek groups and other clubs, as well as all-inclusive functions like Proud to Be a Democrat Week. And we did pretty well (helping to bring President) Obama and Jimmy Fallon to campus last spring, Rietkerk says, smiling.

A REPUBLICAN REBOOT
Last election, President Obama did an astronomically better job at mobilizing volunteers to help his campaign, says sophomore Alex Keith, vice-chairman for South Campus of the UNC for Romney campaign. This time, we do not want to be caught sleeping, Keith, also an intern for Rep. Tom Murrys campaign for election in District 41, knows the recruitment struggle conservative students are up against. Finding manpower can be difficult. Many students are not interested in politics, for various reasons, Keith says. And, being completely honest, this campus is overwhelmingly liberal. The only dependable way he can find recruits is to search them out in groups with conservative bents, like UNC College Republicans (CR).

Carol Abken sits in a Union hallway making phone calls.

CR focuses on letting people know that conservatives exist on campus, that their causes are worth the time and that party lines arent the determining factor in the presidential election. I think McCains ground game, at least in North Carolina, got caught up in established young Republican groups, says senior Greg Steele, chairman of the 20-school North Carolina Federation of College Republicans and former UNC CR chairman. Its clear that we have to reach out more. I think people are so frustrated with parties and politics in general right now, says Steele, discussing both recruitment and canvassing. If we get rid of politics and just get back to people, thats where youre going to

see a lot more excitement and enthusiasm, and a willingness to support a certain person in their race. Because clubs like CR and YD could not endorse candidates until their parties did, they relied on groups like UNC for Romney and THFO to promote candidates up for election. It really does make people look at a person, look at their ideas, Steele says, and do that without the biases of a political party. When recruiting on campuses, Steele thinks the poor economy is a game-changing topic of discussion. It doesnt matter how you voted before, he says. This economy is becoming a very real thing for me and many other people my age. I think thats why were seeing so many people getting involved. It doesnt matter how you feel. You cant ignore not having a job. CR has also been fortunate enough, Steele says, to receive financial support from conservative organizations like Young Americas Foundation to help bring big names to campus. In the last year, the CRs have brought Herman Cain as well as, with the help of UNC Young Americans for Liberty, John Stossel and Howard Dean. To date, UNC College Republicans has 1,200 names on its listserv and approximately 200 members who pay dues, Chairman Garrett Jacobs says. With this being an election year, Jacobs says, students are seeking out us on their own, so it is easier for us to find them. The club held its first freshmen interest meeting to connect with new students who werent able to sign up due to Fall Fests cancellation. It has also connected with upperclassmen through bar nights and other social events. Additionally, a big draw for new members is the assortment of networking options that come with political involvement on campus. By working for the College Republicans, Steele says, by getting involved with these campaigns, there are a whole lot of incentives for students to make some great contacts and have great internships. Many CRs have already been staff members of both local campaigns and those in other states. Above all, Steele stresses the human aspect of the organization to potential group members. Were just trying to show people that, hey, were an active group of people just looking to get involved.

MAKING A SCENE
The members of UNC Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) try to recruit during the election season just as much as its conservative and liberal counterparts, but its methods are more idea-centric than candidate-centric. Elections are great, and its great to get everyone involved, says senior David Deerson, president of the libertarian student group. But our goal right now is to change peoples ideas about politics rather than simply changing who youre going to vote for. Standing outside a taping of Fox Business News John Stossel Show, hosted by YAL in September, Deerson feels better. In his eyes, hosting big-name thinkers might get YAL more recognition on campus, attract new members or fortify existing members belief in the club. Students can meet the speakers and feel that there are other people in this fight with them, he says. Hopefully, well be able to capitalize on this and make

Chris Signmann, a sophomore political science and public policy double major, participates in a phone bank. He says, I enjoy (phone banking). Theres not a lot of success sometimes, but its enjoyable when you do actually get to speak to someone.

sure students stay involved, stay active and continue to think about these ideas. Sophomore Alex Johnson, wearing her YAL volunteer shirt, says that while shed signed up for the group her freshman year, she felt encouraged to become active after hearing about the big events over the listserv. (YAL members) are really friendly, says Johnson. Its not like a roll call. Were really there to discuss issues, which pulls a lot of people in if you care about it. Whether theyre covering their mouths with duct tape and handing out the Constitution to fight for freedom of speech, or planning protests with grassroots social justice organization UNC-CH Students for a Democratic Society, YAL members make noise to catch peoples attention. And, of course, they always have a listserv sign-up on hand. YAL recently offered short quizzes that highlight alternative political ideologies in the Pit called operation politically homeless kits. Provided by libertarian organizations, it aims to get students thinking critically about the two-party system. Activities include taking short quizzes that highlight alternative political ideologies, Deerson says. The whole idea is to let students know that if youre just as disillusioned with this whole election process as we are, and no one is representing your views, Deerson says, were in the same boat as you and we would like to help you find your political home. Whatever the reason, he has seen increased participation. A few weeks of recruiting in the Pit earned the club more than 200 listserv sign-ups. Its really not so hard, Deerson says of recruitment and getting students involved. People love liberty. As the presidential election creeps closer, however, YAL and other partisan groups are reevaluating their goals. From the beginning of the semester, recruitment was our number one effort, Deerson says. Were shifting now from recruitment efforts to events planning. But (recruitment) will remain a priority for us non-stop. And while groups certainly hope students get involved as members, their biggest hope is that students simply involve themselves in politics, Gilmore says, even if that just means voting. We want our legislatures and elected officials to take us seriously, Gilmore says. Students could make the difference on Nov. 6.

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