Student senate approves Libertarian student organization

Jake Bullington Digital Editor jacob.bullington@drake.edu @jakebullington

Student senate approved a total of six motions, including a motion approving Drake’s chapter of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) as a recognized student group. The Libertarian advocacy group was founded by the party’s champion, Ron Paul in 2008, and claims more than 800 chapters have been established at college campuses across the country, according to their website.

The proposal for organizational status reads that YAL “intends to spread Libertarianism in the greater Des Moines area and Drake campus.”

President of Drake’s YAL chapter, first-year Jake Dorsch said that they currently have eight active members, but hope to expand the group through bringing elected officials and candidates to speak to students.

“We had a state senator come by, a house candidate, a couple political activists, everything,” Dorsch said, citing some of the events Drake’s YAL chapter has put on thus far.

Senator Grace Rogers asked Dorsch what he looked to gain from having YAL become an official organization on campus.

“I think that I was kind of annoyed when I first came here, because there’s only Democrats and Republicans represented at Drake University and I believe we need to hear more voices,” Dorsch said.

Dorsch also stated that there are YAL chapters at Iowa State, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Coe College.

There was a consensus among senators about the desire to bring more political ideologies to campus.

Senator AJ Treiber also supported approving YAL for Drake’s campus.

“I think it’s a great idea to have more political discussion on campus,” Treiber said.

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