Yellow Dog University teaches the art of campaigning to Democrats
Taylor Muller
Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
With pre-election year buzz already in the air, the UNO College Democrats are running their second Yellow Dog University, a one-day campaign-training program.
The program is in conjunction with a regional meeting of the Young Democrats of America. Founded last year, the program aims to "make people more effective and efficient at running campaigns," said Cody Farrens, president of the College Democrats.
"We try to target it to young people, [so it's] not a day full of lectures," said Farrens.
Yellow Dog University runs on March 31 with workshops on how to fundraise, set up Web sites, coordinate volunteers and more. Farrens said the name was derived from the phrase, "yellow dog Democrats," which refers to Democrats who would rather vote for a yellow dog than a Republican.
This year's program will build off the success of last year, said Farrens. With the attendance estimated at more than 90, there are people lining up for a second go.
"If you're better trained, better equipped, you're better for campaigns," said Farrens. "We try to make young people a more powerful tool in politics. Young people can play a really important role in politics."
But the UNO College Republicans aren't sitting around twiddling their thumbs, either.
Interim President Ryan Maher said the group had recently sent seven members to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
"It's the worlds largest gathering of young conservatives," said Maher. Speakers at the conference included Dick Cheney, Bill O'Reilly, Tom DeLay and many more.
Maher said the conference was a great opportunity to meet lots of like-minded individuals.
The College Republicans haven't had a conservative version of Yellow Dog University, said Maher, but that interested Republicans are able to get campaign experience through the community.
"We also get together with the Young Republicans [and the] Douglas County Republican Party," said Maher. "Through them, I got an invitation to intern with Lee Terry."
Farrens and Maher agreed that Nebraska is conservative in general. "But UNO would be more liberal than the state in general," said Farrens.
But with slightly more than 10 percent of UNO's student body participating in the last student government elections, apathy towards politics may play a part.
"I think it's unfortunate that people don't pay more attention than they do," said Farrens. "There are a lot less apathetic people in the real world because they're more able to feel the consequences of who they vote for. The earlier you get politically savvy, the better prepared you are."
Yellow Dog University will be held in the Milo Bail Student Center and costs $20. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The program is in conjunction with a regional meeting of the Young Democrats of America. Founded last year, the program aims to "make people more effective and efficient at running campaigns," said Cody Farrens, president of the College Democrats.
"We try to target it to young people, [so it's] not a day full of lectures," said Farrens.
Yellow Dog University runs on March 31 with workshops on how to fundraise, set up Web sites, coordinate volunteers and more. Farrens said the name was derived from the phrase, "yellow dog Democrats," which refers to Democrats who would rather vote for a yellow dog than a Republican.
This year's program will build off the success of last year, said Farrens. With the attendance estimated at more than 90, there are people lining up for a second go.
"If you're better trained, better equipped, you're better for campaigns," said Farrens. "We try to make young people a more powerful tool in politics. Young people can play a really important role in politics."
But the UNO College Republicans aren't sitting around twiddling their thumbs, either.
Interim President Ryan Maher said the group had recently sent seven members to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
"It's the worlds largest gathering of young conservatives," said Maher. Speakers at the conference included Dick Cheney, Bill O'Reilly, Tom DeLay and many more.
Maher said the conference was a great opportunity to meet lots of like-minded individuals.
The College Republicans haven't had a conservative version of Yellow Dog University, said Maher, but that interested Republicans are able to get campaign experience through the community.
"We also get together with the Young Republicans [and the] Douglas County Republican Party," said Maher. "Through them, I got an invitation to intern with Lee Terry."
Farrens and Maher agreed that Nebraska is conservative in general. "But UNO would be more liberal than the state in general," said Farrens.
But with slightly more than 10 percent of UNO's student body participating in the last student government elections, apathy towards politics may play a part.
"I think it's unfortunate that people don't pay more attention than they do," said Farrens. "There are a lot less apathetic people in the real world because they're more able to feel the consequences of who they vote for. The earlier you get politically savvy, the better prepared you are."
Yellow Dog University will be held in the Milo Bail Student Center and costs $20. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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