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The College Republicans has had a long history at Willamette University. Oregon's long tenured senator Mark Hatfield served as President of the College Republicans in the 1940's when he attended the school. Over the years the Willamette College Republicans has seen its ups and downs in its activeness as a club. In the Spring of 2000 the club was reactivated from a dormant state by Aaron Lien just in time for the 2000 presidential election. However, with the passing of the election the club declined yet again into inactivity. In the Fall of 2002 then Freshman John Wickre and Matt Buehler discouraged by the lack of conservative activism on campus co-founded the Willamette Students for Freedom building a successful club of conservative activism and forums. By the late Spring of 2003 then Freshman John Wickre was unanimously elected to take over as President for the next school year. Over the summer of 2003 Wickre, Buehler, and incoming Freshman John Swanson collaborated to build the Willamette College Republicans from scratch into a level of activeness never before seen on the campus. Wasting no time the CRs quickly mobilized tabling to raise money for the Iraqi Children's fund and doubling efforts to recruit more members to actively help run operations. The Willamette College Republicans were helped in their efforts to recruit Freshman members by the anti-war World Views classes that all the Freshman were required to take. Soon the CRs were swelling with new members averaging 12 members a meeting with one meeting attended by 20 people. Further events throughout the year included a trip to Santa Barbara for a conference as well as a “Hug a Capitalist” event to counter the anti-capitalists activities for “Buy Nothing Day”. The officers of the CRs also took up the pen in their actives writing opinions columns in the Collegian each week. By the Fall of 2004 with Wickre and Buehler in DC studying abroad, Swanson led the CRs with a new group of dedicated officers and members to continue on and build an even bigger club for the 2004 presidential election. Soon meetings were drawing in up to 40 people a week and averaging over 20. Presidents of the Willamette College Republicans: Mark Hatfield (Early 1940's)
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