The Young Americans for Freedom, Memphis Chapter, had its first meeting Monday night in the University Center.
Established by student Jake Kolar in February, the YAF serves as a voice for conservative students on campus and is the leading activist group for high school and college-aged youth across the country.
The group focuses on conservative principles such as lower taxes, less regulation and dignity of human life, according to Kolar.
“For a university that is so committed to diversity, inclusion and acceptance of all different types of viewpoints and affiliations, it was interesting to me how there was really only one wing of the political spectrum being represented on campus: the left,” Kolar said.
Other members include Vice Chair Miller Coleman, Treasurer Alex Scott and Secretary Sonal Purohit, as well as advisor Ryan Van Dusen.
“YAF is not a hate group,” Kolar said. “We do not preach intolerance and denial of constitutional rights like the left regularly does. Conservatism is just common sense.”
This will be the only meeting held this semester, but former retired Lieutenant Colonel and former United States Rep. Allen West (R–Fla.) will be giving a public lecture in the Psychology Auditorium on March 27at 7:30 p.m.
“Today the left views common sense and facts as hateful, bigoted, misogynist, racist and whatever label you want to use, but we are here to prove that is not so,” Kolar said.
