King’s students get greater share in student politics

King's students offer support for political groups

Conservative Senator Mike Duffy addressed Dal-King’s Conservatives in October. Photo: Josh Brown

The Dal-King's Young Liberals will appoint at least one person from the University of King's College to the group's executive this year in an effort to attract and retain more students from King's, says president Glen Krueger.

Dalhousie has 15,197 students and King's has just 1,100, but Krueger says people from liberal arts schools like King's are more likely to be Liberal supporters.

"King's students... are really untapped resources," says Krueger.

"There are only so many political science and law students at Dal who are Liberal and, eventually, you have to look elsewhere."

Recruiting students to youth politics is not easy.

In the 2000 federal election only 22 per cent of 18- to 20-year-olds turned out to vote compared with more than 80 per cent of those older than 58, says the most recent Elections Canada research on youth voter apathy.

"I'm busy with school and I guess really I just don't care that much," says Alex Elaschuk, a first-year student at Dalhousie.

Krueger says he is trying to "shake the dust off things" with the Young Liberals. The group has been inactive since 2007.

In September the Young Liberals hosted a barbeque for new members that featured Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil. About 30 people attended, including King's students, said Krueger.

Most student political activity outside the Dalhousie and King's student unions takes place through the universities' political groups.

The largest societies on campus represent the Liberal Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party and the Conservative Party of Canada.

Student leaders from these groups said they maintain mailing lists of more than 100 members but none claimed to have an active membership of more than about 20.

The groups work to attract new members, debate policy and have hosted prominent party members to speak on campus.

Conservative Senator Mike Duffy spoke to a room of Dal-King's Conservatives and guests at Dalhousie on Oct. 2 and was the third public figure hosted by the group since classes started in September.

Dal-King's Conservatives President Richard Norman is a graduate of King's and sits on an executive board with three other students, including Ginny Movat, a King's student and the group's executive vice president.

He says about 40 per cent of the group's core membership is enrolled at King's.

"Its not easy to get students excited about politics, people just don't have the time," said Norman.

"(But) a lot of people showed interest at our King's society fair, 10 to 12 people provided their info."

Chad Bowie, treasure of for the Dal-King's Conservatives says no additional public events are planned.

The Dal-King's Young Liberals have had no additional events other than the barbeque. The Dal-King's Young New Democrats. On the other hand, have not held an official meeting this year, says acting president Keith Stevens.

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