CRs boycott convention: Hillsdale chapter sends no delegates to state gathering

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CRs boycott convention: Hillsdale chapter sends no delegates to state gathering

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Hillsdale College Republicans did not send any of its 58 delegates to the Michigan College Republican State Convention April 3.
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Hillsdale’s College Republicans boycotted the Michigan College Republicans State Convention April 3, withholding its 58 delegates — more than one third of the total delegates — from the event.

After the chapter’s leadership interviewed both candidates running for chair of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans, Hillsdale’s executive board decided not to send its delegates because neither candidate represented the chapter’s “values, beliefs, or principles” of government’s purpose, according to a Hillsdale College Republicans press release.

“We felt they didn’t share the values and beliefs that we look for in candidates for high offices,” Hillsdale College Republicans Trustee senior Sam Holdeman said. “They both very openly said the purpose of government is to redistribute things and make sure everybody has a fair amount of stuff.”

Two Hillsdale students, who are members of the club, did attend the convention but did not represent the chapter, Holdeman said.

Holdeman said Hillsdale boycotted the event because it was too expensive to send 58 students to Lansing, Michigan, to not vote for the most important position on the MFCR executive board, even though Hillsdale students were running for MFCR co-chair and second vice-chair.

“Looking at the numbers going in, it wouldn’t have made a difference, even with our 58 delegates,” Holdeman

aid.

The chapter’s leadership interviewed then-MFCR Co-Chair Charlie Kolean from Michigan State University and Central Michigan University’s Greg Pernicano on March 14. The convention elected Kolean as MFCR chair April 3.

In the interviews, sophomore Michael Lucchese asked each about his opinion of government’s purpose.

“I think the purpose of government is to allocate resources most efficiently,” Kolean said in the recorded interview. “Looking at it from an economic standpoint, I believe government typically doesn’t do a good job at managing things. I think it does a poor job because of low accountability.”

Pernicano dropped from the chair race shortly before the convention, but he also advocated for the reallocation of resources.

“The main purposes of government, one, is to facilitate the equal distribution of resources or, at least, make sure that everybody has a fair chance at acquiring those resources,” Pernicano said in the interview. “Second is to ensure that basic needs are met like food, water, and shelter. They have a moral responsibility to keep people from severe poverty and afford them opportunities for those things. Thirdly, to maintain order.”

Holdeman said Hillsdale’s College Republicans board did not support these ideas.

“As Republicans and Hillsdale CRs, none of us on the board feel that way at all,” Holdeman said. “I’d be surprised if any of us here at the college in general do.”

Two other chapters did not attend the convention, including the University of Michigan’s, said Luke Strobe, treasurer for Aquinas College’s chapters.

Although Kolean did not respond to media inquiries, College Republicans Chair James Dell at Calvin College, a friend of Kolean’s, vouched for his leadership abilities.

“He loves serving in this capacity,” Dell said. “Everyone at MFCR goes out of their way to make sure everyone has a voice, whether it’s Hillsdale College or Calvin College.”

Holdeman said looking forward, he hopes the future leadership of Hillsdale’s chapter will work with those in the federation.

“I’m sure they will work to reach out and make sure that there are a bridge and bonds there,” Holdeman said.