Feb. 14, 2002
News
Page 9
Libertarian urges students to think critically during Elon visit
Jessica Vitak
Managing Editor
Former New Hampshire state
legislator and 2000 Libertarian
Party ticket nominee Don Gorman
visited Elon Monday. During the
day, Gorman met with administra
tors, professors and students and
visited two philosophy and one po
litical science classes.
Gorman presents his seminar,
“Campaign School for Winners,”
around the country to encourage
young Libertarians to think more
critically and prepare for future po
litical races under a Libertarian
ticket. Last weekend, Gorman was
in Durham for a regional seminar
coordinated by the North Carolina
Libertarian Party (NCLP).
Gorman says he enjoys these
seminars because they allow him to
talk with young people and help
them think in terms of winning
strategies.
“It’s all hands-on,” he said. “I try
to trick people. I’m going to get you
to stick your foot in your mouth.
and then I’m going to assist you in
putting your other foot in your
mouth. I’m not going to be nice.”
Gorman says that many young
Libertarians need this guidance if
they want to actively compete with
the major party candidates at any
level of government.
“It’s all about manpower and
rnoney,” he said. “Democrats and
Republicans have a lot of volun
teers, so they have a lot more man
power. We have to be more frugal.”
In discussing his political party,
Gorman emphasized that Libertar
ians mean what they say and do not
change their agendas once they are
in office.
“We say less taxes, less govern
ment interference in your life, less
regulations,” he said. “We believe
you should be left alone, and the
individual has the right to do what
ever they want. If you want to be a
drunk lying in the gutter, that’s your
prerogative.”
Gorman says he is happy to see
that Libertarians are starting to be
heard and supported around the
country. Last fall, a record 41 Lib
ertarians were elected to local of
fices around the country. Gorman
says he believes this number will
continue to grow as more people
hear the party’s message.
“When I first went into the leg
islature in ’92, nobody knew what
a Libertarian was, what the party
stood for...zero,” he said. “Now,
almost every state I go to, there are
articles in the press. Libertarian
candidate coverage, in the news and
on TV. We’re beginning to snow
ball with the number of people
elected to office.”
Senior Cameron DeJong invited
(jorman to campus after being con
tacted by the NCLP about
Gorman’s visit to the state. DeJong
says it is important to get Libertar
ians on campus because their views
will not be heard otherwise.
“I think the need for speakers
like Gorman can be seen in the lack
of depth that students have in their
knowledge of government,” he
said. “The best thing about the Lib
ertarian philosophy is it reveals real
flaws in the government. While so
lutions may not always be agreed
t m W
Photo courtesy of Barbara Mowe
Don Gorman travels the country teaching young Libertarians po
litical strategies and giving them the keys to winning an election.
upon, the eye opener can be the
corruption in our government.”
DeJong has been instrumental in
bringing a diverse array of opinions
to campus, especially Libertarian
speakers. In September, the Liberal
Arts Forum (LAF) sponsored Jacob
Hornberger, a prominent Libertar
ian, in a discussion about the war
on drugs.
The LAF also sponsored Russell
Means, who last night presented the
.speech “Ainerica: Right or
Wrong?” Means is a member of the
Lakota Nation and is running for
governor of New Mexico this year.
CAREER
FOCUS
INROADS Presentation
for Minority Students
Tuesday, February 19 - 4:30 p.m.,
Elon Career Center (Duke 101)
RSVP to the Elon Career Center at 278-6538 or
burgeson@elon.edu.
The mission of INROADS is to develop and place
talented minority youth in business and industry
and prepare them for corporate and community
leadership. Paid summer internships are avail
able. For more information about INROADS, go
to wwv7.inroads.org.
Seniors-only 102 days til Graduation,
Are you ready?
On-Campus Recruiting is going on NOW!
Check the Career Center Website to see who is coming
Job and internship opportunities are available.
Mark Your Calendars!
Elon Career and Graduate School Fair
Thursday, March 7 - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Alumni Gym
Full-time, Part-time, Summer Jobs, Internships, Graduate Schools
Reminder: Career Center Resume Walk-in Hours
Now Available in February!
The Career Center now has walk-in hours available to help students with
resumes. Come to Duke 101 to get your resume reviewed and to put it on
the Elon Job Network. Walk-in hours are Tuesdays 3 - 5 p.m. and Wednes
days 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m during February.
www.elon.edu/careers