Are partisan politics hurting America? Photo by Comstock Images

For students involved politics, spreading their point of view and interacting with the student body is more important than working out their differences with the opposing viewpoint.

Much like the federal government, Republicans and Democrats on college campuses around the country said the issues are more important than being friendly with those of different political ideologies.

But some believe this could dissuade students from becoming involved in politics at all.

“I think a lot of students are very hesitant to be involved in political associations because of the partisanship that has taken place at the national level,” said Nick D’Angelo, president of the Union College Republicans at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y..

D’Angelo, who became president of the group in May, said the Union College Republicans work to organize events, like issue debates and lectures.

“We try to get people involved in the community and with conservative principles for the most part, without putting a political twist into it,” he said.

Although some students may be hesitant to work with those of another political party, that difference does not bother D’Angelo — he’s dating the president of the Union College Democrats.

“That proves that Republicans and Democrats can work together and do what’s in the best interest of our community and also the country as a whole,” D’Angelo said.

Other college political leaders said they do not go out of their way to work with other campus groups.

“Here, we mostly focus on issue advocacy and grassroots mobilizations,” said Will Simpson, chairman of the University of Arkansas College Republicans.

While Simpson said his organization does not avoid the Democratic students on campus, Republican issues are of the most importance.

“There’s just not a lot of overlap in what we do,” Simpson said, adding, “We have some friendly competition.”

Democratic students said they also see a lack of attempts for bipartisanship on college campuses.

“On campus, I think that everything is still pretty divided,” said Briannon Gillis, a junior at New York University.

A member of the NYU student council and a campaign finance intern on a Democratic campaign, Gillis said there is a “very partisan” atmosphere on campus.

All of this partisanship is not surprising, especially in light of the national political climate, where Republican and Democratic legislators are pitting against each other.

“I think like-minded ideologies stick together,” said Gillis.

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