Political club takes shape at MCC
Iliana Deanda
After a few attempts within the last year, the Young Democrats club has finally kicked off with success.The clubs first meeting was held on Wednesday, Sept. 3 in the Kiva room located in the Kirk Center.
This year the club members, as well as adviser Brian Dille have specific expectations for both clubs.
“What I would like to see from both the Young Democrats and Republicans is conversation where they hold discussions and debates as well as co-sponsor a lot of events,” said Brian Dille.
“I also would like for each club to do their own thing too. We need both clubs so that the two groups can come to understand the other club and see where they are coming from, so they don’t fall into the trap thinking that all good people think like I do and if you’re on the other side that you might be a bad person. “
The Young Democrats Club officially started in April of last year and founded by membership coordinator Benjamin Rundall and Vice President Patrick Kaye.
The two met at work and Rundall discovered the school didn’t even have a political club and decided to take action and do something about it.
“I was an anthropology major, but I was still involved in politics heavily and I noticed there were not political clubs here, whatsoever,” Rundall said.
“Before when I was at MCC, I really thought it was going to be too much time and that I wasn’t going to be able to manage it with everything going on. I guess I just finally decided to do because I was really disgusted that no one had stepped up so I stepped up and from there things just kept going.”
Kaye got involved with the club when he talked politics at work with Rundall.
“The club started around April of last semester. Ben and I were both working in the same building at Hollywood video and we always talked politics because we saw eye to eye on things and were both democrats,” Kaye said.
“He told me about what he was doing here MCC and really got me motivated. He had a lot of infl uence on me because I didn’t really know I could do something and get involved and being apart of this club was a way for me to do that.”
Not only are Young Democrats invited to join this club, but also students with an open mind are welcomed to be a part of the club, whether they have a political understanding or not.
“You have a chance to at least learn about what we are all about if you see eye to eye with us or if you feel that it’s what you want you’re always welcome to join. I guess it’s just aimed at all MCC students.”
Rundall would like students to take away an understanding of politics from each meeting the club sponsors.
“I think what students can gain from each meeting is that they will have a better understanding of not only national politics, but local politics,” said Rundall.
“As well as getting a better understanding, students will really know what’s going on, on the local level. Hopefully students will also become more solidified in who they are as democrats and to solidify the feeling that they are democrats, this is what we believe, and this is who we are.”
With the upcoming elections, getting students to register to vote and participate in voting is something that is really important to both the club members and advisor Dille.
“It’s essential that students register to vote before October 6th to meet the deadline,” Dille said.
“If you don’t vote, you don’t have any input in the outcome, but also with everything that goes around you. People who are elected have no reason to take your groups needs into account if you don’t vote.
“Both clubs will be having registration forms on their tables anytime they do a public event for students to sign up and register,” Dille added.
Getting students to vote is essential, according to Dille.
“Old people are the ones who vote and they are borrowing so much money right now for programs that help them. They are spending your money that you are going to have to pay twenty years from now when you have a good job and you’re at the height of your earning potential,” said Dille.
“The money you pay for taxes then is going to go pay for the stuff that they are paying for today and its not going to go to stuff you want ten years from now and that’s going to continue until young people start voting.”
On Sept. 10, the club held their first big event when they team up with Phi Theta Kappa to host a “Meet The Candidates” forum.
A total of nine candidates running for the State House, State Senate, and Maricopa County Supervisor spoke during a nearly two hour event that was held in the Navajo Room in the Kirk Center.
