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First copy free Volume 55 lssue 7 Constitution week brings political speakers | i : y,‘ r . ' ~\„ ‘.AiefiSafSßr Photo contributed by Melissa Marietta Mark McGraw, the Democratic candidate for the third U.S. Congressional district, speaks to students about the messge of his campaign. Political parties seek students By Tim Sowers Staff Writers tsowers 1 @ my. westga. edit As the fall elections come near students on campus might find themselves looking for opportunitiestoget involved in the political process. Two organizations on campus that are working to help these students become more active are the Young Democrats and the Young Republicans. Skyler Akins, the Young Democrats President, said the main goal for the group this year is “Turning the new South into the blue South.” The group plans to work towards the goal by acting locally to help democratic candidates. Forming during the 2000-2001 school year, the Democrats have been active on campus ever since. The organization has grown over the years with peak membership during the 2004 election. Currently, the group has ten to fifteen active members and around 200 members on their list serve. The Young Democrats can be frequently found outside of the UCC holding membership drives. The group also plans to have a voter registration drive to help students get registered to vote. The Young Democrats are also interested in holding (She Wmi (ieor^mn “The Student Yoiee at the l niversity of West Georgia since 1954 ” a debate with the Young Republicans. The Young Democrats meet every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in the Political Science Lounge the in Pafford building. The Young Republicans president Jessi Patterson says that the group hopes “to give students opportunities to meet with local conservative officials and get more students involved in politics on campus.” TheYoungßepublicans are beginning a process of rebuilding after being inactive spring semester. After being contacted by the facility advisor for the Young Republicans, Jessi Patterson and some other students began the process of reorganization. The group has had an impressive growth and has reached around 50 members. Jessi Patterson says that they hope to “have enough members and leadership [so] that our organization is strong every semester.” On September 21, the group held its first meeting with two local conservative speakers. The next Young Republicans meeting is on October 26 at 7:00 p.m. in Campus Center room 108.3. State Senator Bill Heathas is scheduled to speak at the second meeting. www.thewestgeorgian.com NAACP holds health week i : _— 7 ■ - Photo hy Tiffany Cross Nesie Abduiai, left, talks to Riean Norman about the importance of eating healthy. The UWG Chapter of the NAACP hosted a “Mind, Body and Soul” conference last week. The organization held numerous events that were geared towards the physical and spiritual health of students. Some of the events included a Health Fair in front of the UCC and a “Soul Explosion” concert. By Miranda Byrd Staff Writer m i rondojbyrd @ yahoo .com Sunday, September 17 marked Constitution and Citizenship Day, a national observance declared by President George W. Bush. It was also the beginning of Constitution Week, which lasted until September 23. Throughout the week, events were held that recognized some of the effects the United States Constitution has had on the lives of Americans since its creation in 1787. One focus of the week was to demonstrate to UWG students the importance of the midterm elections coming up on November 7. The Political Science Club and the Young Democrats, sponsors of Constitution Week at UWG, worked Wednesday, September 27, 2006 with faculty and other organizations on campus to bring guest speakers throughout the week. District 3 Democratic congressional candidate Mike McGraw visited American Government classes last Wednesday and addressed political issues he believes are important to the American people. McGraw, a UWG graduate, decided to get involved in politics because he became concerned about what being an American meant these days and began writing his congressmen but found that nothing was getting done. He recognized that concerns on tax reform and healthcare that were present six years ago are still around today, and he felt compelled to take action. McGraw plans to speak for the “forgotten middle class” and send the message to Washington that not everyone in his district is satisfied with the current state of affairs in the government. He supports raising the minimum wage, a topic that directly affects many college students. “I make less than minimum wage, but I get tips to even it out. I have to pay the rent, and it would be very helpful if they raised minimum wage,” said UWG student Sallie Gay. McGraw believes that many politicians are not looking at the long term but are looking to get re-elected, and that it blinds them to many important issues. He asks voters if they have “had enough" of insecure U.S. borders, of See POLITICAL, page 3