Despite surveys that show conservative thought is on the riseacross U.S. campuses, The University of Memphis Tiger Democratshave witnessed a rapid growth in what some call an exception to therule.
"A lot of the success of the Tiger Democrats may be attributedto an untapped market," said Jason Hillner, president of the TigerDemocrats. "The Bush Administration's policy is doing most of ourrecruiting for us."
A substantial percentage of students at the University ofMemphis are on financial aid, creating a greater awareness ofBush's decisions to pay for his plans, according to Hillner.
"Students are thinking, 'all my tax dollars are going to Iraqwhile my tuition goes up,'" Hillner said.
The four-week old organization has already recruited 49 members,according to Hillner.
"This morning a student who had been a Republican his whole lifee-mailed me and asked to join," Hillner said. "He said that theturn of events in our nation has made him realize that change isneeded."
Many students share the same belief. Markus Washington, aDemocrat and
senior journalism major at the University of Memphis, said he isnot shocked at the actions of the Bush Administration.
"I've seen four presidents in my lifetime," he said. "Thereseems to be a trend with the Republican Party: the economy goesbad, the poor people feel it the most, and we go to war."
The war in Iraq has been detrimental to our nation, according toHillner. "There has been no progress in Iraq at all," he said. "Andmoney that should be going to our homeland security; which iscurrently under-funded, is going to Iraq."
Hillner spoke of Bush's speech to the UN given yesterday tore-argue his reasons for entering Iraq.
"Bush said that Saddam Hussain invested all of Iraq's resourcesinto expanding his military while his nation's infrastructurecrumbled," Hillner said. "I couldn't help but think that soundsjust like us right now."
The Tiger Democrats argue that issues within the United Statessuch as feminism are also very pertinent. Affirmative action andthe feminist movement are pressing issues, according toHillner.
"Feminists do not believe that all men are evil, they simplywant the same opportunities as men," he said. "And yes, it is stillan issue today, just like affirmative action, which is necessary inour society."
The Democratic Party is growing at the U of M because manystudents who need government aid are coming to realize that theRepublican Party caters to those who are primarily self-interested,according to Hillner.
"If you're affluent and have got enough -- and you don't careabout people who don't have enough -- the Republican party is foryou he said.
