Posted on 09/05/2003 9:44:58 AM PDT by CFW
Democrats take the plunge
By KATIE REETZ Published , September 05, 2003, 06:00:01 AM EDT
The College Republicans took a break from hard politics Thursday to pursue another passion -- dunking Democrats.
The student organization set up a dunk tank at the Tate Student Center and persuaded members to don masks of prominent Democratic politicians while passersby sent them plummeting into the water.
Democratic presidential candidates Joe Lieberman and John Kerry, both U.S. Senators, were among the dozen or so victims dunked in effigy as students aimed a red ball at a campaign bumper sticker adorning the target.
"We want to make sure that politics isn't just debates and speeches -- it's having fun," said College Republicans president Kelley Binion, a junior from LaGrange.
Fresh from the dunk tank herself, Binion stood back from the action and watched as a student disguised as former President Bill Clinton perched atop the tank.
Students reacted to the dunk tank with curious glances as they strolled through the Tate Center on their way to class or unwrapped their lunch on nearby benches.
"It's an interesting way of getting your point across," said Tamar Washington, a senior from Athens. "But maybe they could punch it up a little bit, because I don't think people know what's going on."
Watching the dunk tank as he stood in line at the Wachovia ATM to retrieve money for football tickets, Matt Howell, a freshman from Marietta, reacted favorably to the 'Dunk Liberalism' showcase.
"I like it because I'm a crazy imperialist Republican," he said. "We're gonna take over the world."
The University's Young Democrats were not upset by the show.
In fact, they joined in -- dunking fellow Democrats.
"I can appreciate the jab," said Billy Joyner, president of the Young Democrats. "But while they're doing dunk tanks, we'll be discussing policy and educating students."
Thursday's dunk tank is the first of many efforts the College Republicans will make this year to attract new members, Binion said.
"We're interested in politics, but we're also college students who like to have fun," she said.
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