By Travis Taylor
Reporter
Baylor currently recognizes more than 270 student organizations, and the number could be growing.
Young Americans for Liberty, an organization that is intended to promote individual liberties on college campuses, is in the process of forming a chapter at Baylor.
Leaders of the proposed Baylor chapter of the group are working with Student Activities to be recognized as an official student organization.
Argyle freshman Matson Kane, who is serving as the public relations chair for the proposed group chapter, said the organization has completed the paperwork required by Student Activities and is now waiting for a response.
“You kind of have to think of everything,” Kane said about the recognition process, adding that the constitution for the organization has been written and submitted.
“I think we came in at sort of a weird time,” Kane said. “It’s hard to get started now as a political organization.”
Kane said a YAL chapter on Baylor’s campus would offer another place for students to get plugged into on-campus politics.
“I’d call it a nonpartisan organization that is putting an emphasis on liberty, the Constitution, and old American values that make this country great,” Kane said.
Young Americans for Liberty was founded by Jeff Frazee, the former director of the Students for Ron Paul division of Paul’s 2008 presidential campaign, and was officially endorsed by Paul in 2008.
According to YAL’s statement of principles, Young Americans for Liberty believe, among other things, “that government is the negation of liberty” and “that voluntary action is the only ethical behavior.”
Lexington sophomore Nole Oppermann, who is serving as vice president for the proposed Baylor chapter, said the goal of the organization is to build relationships with other political elections and promote individual liberty and the Constitution on campus.
“We are the revolution that will put an end to corruption and restore the Constitution,” Oppermann said.
“We’re definitely going to be active,” Oppermann added. “We won’t be sitting aside.”
There is a six-step process to becoming a recognized student organization. Potential organizations must meet with Student Activities, secure a faculty or staff member to serve as an adviser for the organization and submit a number of forms, including a roster and a constitution. Proposals are submitted to Student Activities for a final review.
Diego Estrada, a second-year graduate student from Lima, Peru, and president of the proposed organization, said all of the work will be worth it if the organization is approved. “The more effort you put into it, the more you get out of it,” Estrada said.
Estrada added that they would be willing to work with Student Activities if it required any changes to the constitution.
In an email to the Lariat, Craig Willie, associate director for Student Organizations said there are two submission dates per semester for a proposed organization to submit an application to Student Activities. Willie added that it usually takes no longer than eight weeks from the proposal to be processed by Student Activities.
Willie said that there are a number of advantages to receiving official recognition by the university. While Willie could not comment on the status of the group’s application, he did encourage students to find organizations that suit their interests.
