BLAIR LAZARUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Danielle Roberts, director of membership for the College Republicans, hangs out two days a week under the club's tent on the Mall. Her duties include recruiting new members and signing up voters.

Political science sophomore has loved politics since elementary school, agrees to disagree with different opinions

With more than 400 student clubs at the University of Arizona, all of which are guaranteed space on the UA Mall to promote their causes, it may not be surprising that tents spring up every day.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, political science sophomore Danielle Roberts can be found under the shade of one such tent. As the director of membership for the College Republicans, Roberts staffs the club's stand from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Her duties include signing up voters and distributing campaign literature.

Roberts and the College Republicans are also working on Republican Mayor Bob Walkup's re-election campaign. Roberts said this year's campaign will be especially interesting, and she anticipates it will be a close race between Walkup and Democratic candidate, and UA professor, Tom Volgy.

As the director of membership for the College Republicans, Roberts is in charge of managing membership lists as well as recruitment. The group currently has about 400 members, and is always looking to include more, she said.

For Roberts, the club has helped feed her interest in politics, which she said she's had since she was a child. Roberts said she remembers sitting with her family, talking about politics, when she was still in elementary school.

The craziest part of working for a political organization, especially out on the Mall, Roberts said, is the opposition from passersby she and other club members sometimes encounter. Still, Roberts said most of the people she has talked to have been congenial and really just wanted to talk about political issues. At the end of the day, she said, they've agreed to disagree.

A Chicago native, Roberts moved to a Phoenix suburb at an early age. She is still a huge fan of the White Sox and the Cubs though. Roberts said one of the reasons she chose to come to the UA was its proximity to her home and her family, with whom she is very close. Having gone to high school in Phoenix, Roberts said she also loved the fact that many of her friends would join her at the UA.

Although she said she likes Tucson and the UA, Roberts misses her dog and her mom's cooking the most.

In Phoenix, Roberts attended Xavier College Preparatory, a Catholic high school that she credits for teaching her more about her faith.

This year, Roberts is becoming more active at the Catholic Newman Center and sits on the hospitality committee. She said she enjoys the group because it is "really friendly, really open" and it promotes a sense of community. Roberts is also looking forward to serving as a Eucharistic minister.

Roberts said getting involved on campus is a part of what college is all about, in addition to balancing one's schoolwork with free time. Roberts is also a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a coed service fraternity, SOPHOS Sophomore Honorary, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Phi Eta Sigma, a national academic honorary.

Roberts said one of the great things about going to a large university like the UA is that everyone can find his or her niche. She is working on creating one more for herself this year.

Earlier this year, the national organization of the Independent Women's Forum contacted the College Republicans, looking for women who might be interested in starting a chapter at the UA. Roberts quickly stepped up to the plate and is now leading the group as it meets and tries to recruit new members.

"We are a group whose goal is to promote activism and create a friendly, safe, open environment to discuss women's issues," Roberts said.

The club is a conservative group that seeks to promote personal responsibility and self-worth, Roberts said. Eventually the group will have forums featuring conservative, moderate and liberal speakers.

As Roberts tries to make the most of her college experience through extracurricular activities, she's also trying to finish up her general education requirements. She only has one tier two NATS class left. Her favorite class so far has been "The Structure of Mind and Behavior," an INDV 101 class, which she liked because the professor was passionate about the subject.

If, like Roberts, you have a passion for politics and are interested in either the College Republicans or the Independent Women's Forum, look for Danielle Roberts under a blue tent somewhere on the Mall. This involved woman has a lot to tell you.