By: Spencer Brown
Young Americans for Freedom and Young America's Foundation
provide incredible resources for young conservatives on college
campuses across the United States. Young Americans for Freedom chapters are sometimes the only
safe havens for conservative students on exceedingly liberal
campuses.
Whether it be empowering members to share conservative
principles and recruit like-minded students, or providing tools for
outreach, YAF is a direct line from many liberal strongholds to the
lifeblood of conservatism. YAF chapters are full of young, bright,
and empowered students who use their chapters as a place to discuss
current affairs in an environment safe from liberal
persecution.
But on conservative campuses where classes are taught by
conservative professors and conservative discussions are allowed,
if not encouraged, is a YAF chapter viable? My answer is a
resounding yes. While the immediate need for a conservative group
may not seem obvious, the need is still great.
Conservative campuses, and the clubs within them, play a vital
role in the conservative movement. The role is different than might
be served on a liberal campus, but equally important.
My chapter, at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia (on
YAF's list of Top Conservative Colleges) has become an example of
what good can come from a YAF chapter on a strong conservative
campus. While increasing membership used to be difficult due to the
student body's lack of perceived need for a conservative group, we
have worked to change the mission of Regent's chapter.
Rather than challenging liberal leadership or working to inform
students of liberal injustices, we empower our already informed
students and strive to involve them in our community. In doing
this, we are making a name for conservatives, and as Regent's motto
states, we are "Christian Leaders to Change the World, even before
we graduate.
We work with University leadership, the student council, and
different departments to provide opportunities for our members. We
have matched students with internships in a variety of campaigns,
as well as recruited speakers such as Kate Obenshain to discuss
current affairs with students on a multitude of topics.
Our chapter continues to grow as more members of my generation
find their voices and their places in the conservative movement. We
have members serving on the student council, and working to build a
more conservative America. The fight is constant, and the
competition stiff, but as in the past, conservatism will save the
day.
In the spirit of President Reagan, it remains vital that we as
Young Americans for Freedom remain brave and hopeful, regardless of
our college's atmosphere, and continue to work on our campuses to
further conservative principles.
"We believe faith and freedom must be our guiding stars, for they
show us truth, they make us brave, give us hope, and
leave us wiser than we were."
- Ronald Reagan, State of the Union Address, 1985
Spencer Brown is a freshman at Regent University in Virginia
Beach, VA, and the President of Regent's YAF chapter. In the past
he interned for Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, worked on numerous
campaigns in his native Minnesota. Contact: spencer.brown@live.com, Facebook.com/GetSpenced, Twitter.com/ItsSpencerBrown
