Winthrop has three political student organizations. The College Democrats, the Socialist Student Union and the College Republicans. However, the College Republican club is no longer active and some are left wondering when they will return.
Winthrop’s student political organizations page lists the College Republicans as an active group. But in an email to Winthrop student organizations, they said the group is no longer an active organization on campus.
“I think it was really surprising for me coming to college, finding out that there wasn’t a College Republicans [group]…part of being a Democrat is wanting to work with the other side too. We have a common goal, just different ways of accomplishing that,” Winthrop junior and South Carolina College Democrats President Erin Emiroglu said.
Members of the Winthrop College Democrats recall that a president of the Winthrop College Republicans was elected, but no further contact from the elected president was made and the group became inactive as a result. With most of the former members of the College Republicans having graduated as well, there was no one left to run the group. It would seem that the College Republicans disbanded because of a lack of leadership when their president graduated.
All student organizations have changes in leadership when students inevitably graduate or move on to other things. However, the College Republicans were unable to secure a new leader. Instead of finding more conservatives on campus, they
dissipated all together.
Could this be because there are not as many conservatives on campus anymore? With Winthrop being a liberal arts college, the majority of the student body is left-leaning and there are few right-leaning students equipped to orchestrate and participate in the Winthrop College Republicans organization.
“I get the feeling that every time I voice a conservative opinion, people will bite my head off… If I had the time I would [try to help restart the organization], but I feel like it would be social suicide. You are branded and given labels as a conservative. If I were to identify as a Republican, I would be very unpopular,” Daniel French, a junior business major and conservative student, said.
In order to promote a student body that is understanding of all sides and opinions, it is important to have every type of student represented in the on-campus political realm, but with the disbanding of the Winthrop College Republicans, there
are many conservative students who feel a lack of representation.
“People don’t want to hear different opinions these days. I believe progress can’t be made until both sides can come together,” French said. Despite their ideological differences, both Emiroglu and French would agree that an exchange of ideas is beneficial for Winthrop’s political atmosphere.
So, what is next for the College Republicans? Will outspoken conservative students step up to the plate and reorganize the group? Only time will tell for this defunct club.
