Creighton students got a chance to jump into the political fray with a mock caucus held on campus.
More than 40 students gathered in the Skutt Student Center ballroom on the Thursday before spring break to flex their political muscles. The Gallagher Residence Hall Council organized the caucus.
The Residence Hall Council invited representatives from state Republican and Democratic parties to talk about the issues and the candidates, then caucus to pick a candidate.
“I was disappointed with the attendance, but overall I felt like the caucus was very educational to the people who attended,” said Rachel Knust, advisor for the Gallagher Residence Hall Council.
Having a caucus, as opposed to just voting, provides an educational environment, Knust said.
“We are given the opportunity to discuss who can best represent us without making people feel like they are out of their league,” she said.
Democratic representative Eric Van Horn told the students that America needs a change in Washington. Critical of the Bush Administration, Van Horn said the students could have an effect on government by voting.
Republican representative David Bywater said he wanted to distinguish the differences between the Democrats and Republicans. He noted that nowhere within the Constitution does it say women have the right to an abortion, whereas the right to bear arms is clearly presented in the Constitution.
After each representative gave his speech, students were asked to separate by party and go into rooms to discuss and vote on whom his or her party should send into the primary.
Within the Democrat room, students discussed the differences between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
The students within the room felt that Obama has taken more authentic positions including his decision from the beginning to not support the Iraq war.
In the Republican room, they discussed the liberal biases in the media, in addition to John McCain’s stance on America’s need to be in the Iraq war for as long as necessary.
Ultimately, the Democrats decided to vote for Obama and the Republicans voted for McCain.
Arts & Sciences freshman Divine Shelton said he’d like to see some changes the next time Creighton has a caucus.
“I think Democrats and Republicans should discuss their views together instead of being placed in separate rooms,” Shelton said.