The Record

CPAC welcomes students to D.C.

By: Alivia Tison

As most students stayed in their dorms last weekend due to the cold, 17 Bennies and Johnnies traveled over 1,000 miles and bundled up inside of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. to take part in the

Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Led by students involved in Students Fostering Conservative Thought (SFCT), the group from CSB/SJU was among 10,000 other participants and several well-known conservative speakers.

“It allowed us to hear from a broad perspective on the conservative movement,” sophomore Katie Hansen said.

Participants were excited to be among political speakers ranging from Glenn Beck, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Liz Cheney and several others. CPAC even included a few delightful surprises.

“Liz Cheney brought her father, Dick Cheney, up in the middle of her speech, and Mitt Romney brought out Scott Brown,” senior Colman Silbernagel said.

Even with three long days of speakers, Silbernagel and Hansen said they had fun in the ballroom-sized room where the conference was held. Although Silbernagel said that participants were expected to take more of a passive view when listening, he said that he was not bored at all with the speakers.

“There was lots of energy in the room,” Silbernagel said.

Created in 1974 by the American Conservative Union, CPAC
offers discounts to students, which resulted in funding for about half of the conference for 18 to 24 year-olds.

“It was a great opportunity to go because it would have cost thousands of dollars to have one of the speakers from CPAC come here,” Hansen said.

Despite the early mornings and late nights, CSB/SJU students tried to attend as many speakers as possible. Speakers were not offering opinions from a Republican Party perspective, but from a conservative viewpoint. Hansen said many conservative Republicans stopped speaking up during the Bush administration. This conference stressed the importance of the conservative movement, which does not always have to agree with Republicans. A variety of participants were able to hear conservative views on issues like security, climate change and health care.

“There were people there from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and different countries, too,” w said. “You could be Republican, Democratic, independent or really anything and be there.”

“About half the people who were there were not Republican, and more moderate students definitely went, too,” Hansen said.

Together, the CSB/SJU students were given the opportunity to attend a reception with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

“He (Gov. Pawlenty) may be a candidate for 2012,” Hansen said.

When not attending speakers or receptions with possible presidential candidates, the group went sightseeing in D.C. They visited monuments, ate at authentic Indian and Italian restaurants and got to experience the nation’s capitol.

Students said they left feeling energized.

“CPAC charges students up to promote conservative values,” Hansen said.

Silbernagel, who has attended CPAC the last four years, left more than satisfied as well.

“What continues to surprise me is the variety of opinion within the conservative movement,” Silbernagel said. “It’s a good
reminder.”

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