The University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire College Republicans have grown in large numbers over the past few years. They have always had a small following of very committed members, but when Tom Burton became chairman as a second semester sophomore, he learned quickly how to recruit. Tom was chairman in Eau Claire for two and a half years and grew the club’s numbers exponentially not just by knowing how to recruit, but by knowing how to maintain a chapter, and be a great friend to all. That great leadership continued under Bobby Hamill the year after Tom graduated. The Eau Claire College Republicans have taken leadership roles in starting other conservative organizations on campuses, such as the Conservative Union, now headed by hard working conservative and dedicated Republican, Katie Geary. The Eau Claire College Republicans always have had a good presence on campus in other student organizations, and more importantly, in the UW- Eau Claire Student Senate. Jacob Kampen, and Junior this year at Eau Claire is a strong leader in Eau Claire’s Student Senate and was received a job heading an important directorship. Magie Brennan, a senior just designed the new logo for the Eau Claire Student Senate. It is clear by now, that students in the Eau Claire College Republicans have diverse talents and come from a wide range of social back rounds, but all manage to use their talents to better the campus community, improve student lives, and work for the conservative cause. Our state chairman, Lora Rae Anderson, attends UW- Eau Claire, something that a few years ago, Eau Claire students wouldn’t think possible when universities such as Madison and Marquette had so much participation. The College Republicans in Eau Claire have grown because of their openness to all kinds of students, they ability to work with people of any political persuasion in other organizations, and their understanding that College Republicans means something different for everyone but provides a crucial and supportive community for the small amount of us who are Republicans and students in such a liberal environment. 

Hailing from UWM - a public, doctoral-granting institution of 29,000 students in Wisconsin’s largest city and metropolitan area, the UWM College Republicans received record signups during the 2008 presidential election. Students from the UWM chapter have participated in activism on behalf of local and national causes, and many are deeply involved in its conservative student government. With its sister group, the Conservative Union, the College Republicans hosted former PLO Terrorist Walid Shoebat during the ‘07-’08 School Year. This event not only recieved national media attention, but was the most widely attended speech on UWM’s campus since Martin Luther King, Jr’s visit in the 1960s. During the 2007-2008 School Year, the College Republicans helped bring: Dinesh D’Souza, Walid Shoebat, Peter Schweizer, Bay Buchanan, David Horowitz, and others.