Illustration by Cody Angell

Many at the UA have embraced a Bueller-esque attitude as of late. After watching movies like "Animal House," I'm thinking maybe it's always been this way.

You know what I mean.

You are sitting in some godforsaken class such as Philosophy for the Inquisitive Soul and the teacher asks, "Does anyone know the answer?" They are lethargically greeted by bored stares and "subtle" glances at the clock. (Not so subtle, people.)

Or the president of the We Love to Help Club asks for volunteers for an upcoming blood drive or social activity without a single hand being raised.

This apathetic activity is absent, however, from the meetings of the UA College Republicans.

Three minutes after 6 p.m. on Tuesday CRUA President Scott Weller called the meeting to order with a forceful bang of his presidential gavel and drew an audience of 22 excited Republicans to attention. The first order of business: the upcoming elections.

With 21 days left , the CRs are very eager to put in a full effort to get their fellow Republicans elected to office.

"The College Republicans at the UA are the GOP arm into the grassroots politics," Weller said.

During the election season, their fundamental purpose is to help Arizona's Republican candidates win their seats and, as he put it, "help Republicans take over the world." Not so fast there, Scott.

However, the CRs are a pretty active bunch. This weekend, they have a major trip to Las Vegas to meet up with other CR groups and help the GOP candidates in Nevada. Also this wekend, the CRs are helping out with voter registration at the TCC. Don't get excited ÷ it's too late to register to vote this time, but there is always the next time a GOP candidate is running.

By the way, Moses is coming to town. Yes, folks, Charlton Heston is coming Oct. 30 for an National Rifle Association event, which the CRs are taking part in. The room was abuzz when Heston's visit was announced and, since his having Alzheimer's illness was recently revealed, this really is a special event. Other special projects that the CRs are involved with include passing out fliers to further the Republican cause and chanting, "Republicans are the coolest," at your local street corner in what was curiously called a "Burma shave."

As the meeting was winding down, President Weller urged more CRs to get involved with the election process and maybe take part in the GOP taskforce, who, for 72 hours before elections, dedicate their sole existence to the Republican candidates. Quite an active club ,indeed.

Of course, we at the Arizona Daily Wildcat are also fond of the members frequently writing in, which is very welcome, but makes me wonder: Just how well are the College Republicans being represented? After reading some of these comments, I get a nauseating taste in my mouth (kinda like bad eggs), but when I spoke with Weller, the taste ascended to a nice IHOP chicken fajita omelette. Not as yummy as what I make at home, but still good.

Getting back to business, Weller commented that being a partisan political organization, there is an underlying agenda, but most of the members are slightly to moderately conservative in their ideologies. The club is made up of a diverse population and, it just so happens, as in any group, that the most passionate are also the hardliners. When they are out on the UA Mall, the CRs are mainly there to recruit, not to debate, he says.

At the meeting, I also got to converse with Charles Peterson. He said that during the first semester, the CRs are more focused on campaigning, but afterward have more discussions and teambuilding. I was kind of disappointed that they didn't debate about current issues during the meeting and to that concern, Peterson said that in the past, meeting debates have existed and he would like to see more of that. Perhaps structured debates with the Young Democrats, he suggested. This would not only make the campus more aware and maybe less apathetic, but would also ultimately get more voters, which is most important.

It seems the CRs are doing something "right" with all their conservative ideas. Students are becoming more aware of current issues and I've got to give them thumbs up for that. If you would like to attend their meetings, they are held in the Modern Languages building, Room 210, at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Thanks so much to the College Republicans for letting me attend their meeting. Keep the comments a-comin'!