College Republicans are college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States.[1] Many members belong to the organization College Republican National Committee (CRNC), College Republicans United (CRU), or various independent statewide organizations and campus clubs. The College Republicans are known as an active recruiting tool for the party and have produced many prominent Republican and conservative activists and introduced more party members to the Republican party than any other organizations in the nation.[2]
Notable Organizations
As of 2021, notable national College Republican organizations include:
College Republicans United (CRU) is a national organization and oversight body for 4 state federations and 40 chapters across the United States.[10] CRU is run by a Board of Directors, of which each state federation chairman elects to represent them at the committee.
State federations
There are 52 College Republican state federations, each either affiliated with the CRNC, CRU, or independent. Each federation administers the College Republican activities at the state level, and in the District of Columbia. The state federations of New York,[11] Texas,[12] Mississippi,[13] and North Dakota,[14] as well as the federation for U.S. territory of Puerto Rico,[15] are independent from the CRNC and CRU. The state federation leadership team, which includes a state chairperson and other officers, serve as the primary link between local university chapters and the national College Republican National Committee.[8] The state chairman serves as the representative for College Republicans when dealing with the state Republican Party, local media, and governmental entities. State federations are responsible for organizing and assisting local chapters with securing proper credentials, recruitment efforts, and campus voter canvasses.[8] It is a state federation's responsibility to organize and implement activities for statewide campaigns.[8] Like the national organization, state federations operate as non-profit associations that are not legally affiliated with the Republican Party.[8]
Campus chapters
The college and university-based chapters of College Republicans operate in a dual capacity as student clubs associated with a particular campus and as members of their state federation and, if applicable, the CRNC or CRU.[8] Like the state federations and national committees, the campus chapters are affiliated with their local Republican Party, but are not official arms of that organization.[8] The chapter chairperson and leadership team are responsible for maintaining the campus club's credentials and constitution, and representing the College Republicans when dealing with university administration, other student groups, and in the surrounding community.[8] The campus chapter leadership team might include many members, with administrative responsibilities delegated to dormitory and Greek chapter chairpersons.
During election season, campus chapters are responsible for organizing and implementing the campus canvas, running mock elections, managing the local get-out-the-vote efforts. At other times, the campus chapters will organize issue advocacy and lobbying efforts, welcome conservative guest speakers to campus, and organize social events and other recruitment activities.
Generally, the hired field representative or chapter chair begins the school year with membership tables on campus for recruitment. Members use door-to-door canvassing and word of mouth to identify and register as many Republican voters among the student body as possible.[2] These individuals are encouraged to vote through an absentee ballot and assist the candidates with election day Get Out The Vote efforts. Chapters occasionally run student mock elections and other special events as a means to gain positive earned media attention for a candidate.[2]
