2008 Woodie Awards
Student gets a head start in politics
Sarah Lavery
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Features
A few years ago, senior history major Edward Phillips walked into the Republican Party Headquarters in Murfreesboro's square and asked for a job.
It wasn't an election year, and things at the office were a little slow. But Phillips was so determined to become involved, he wouldn't take no for an answer.
So he showed up every day. He vacuumed. He cleaned the windows. He took every opportunity he could to talk to his fellow party-mates. He refused to sit on the sidelines.
Phillips' janitorial work finally paid off.
At 22 years old, he became the campaign manager for Joe Carr, a position he will repeat in the upcoming local elections.
This past semester, he was elected president of the Raider Republicans.
And, now, he's campaigning to be a delegate at the Republican National Convention, among the youngest to do so.
Sitting in the office of the Republican Party Headquarters, Phillips looks every bit the part of an aspiring politician. At two o'clock in the afternoon on a school day, he's dressed in a carefully pressed business suit. His eyes are glued to the news playing on the office's TV.
But he wasn't always so politically active. His family, although dutiful voters, didn't really have ambitions to take their involvement any further.
Phillips remembers the turning point. He remembers when he went from blissfully unaware teenager to someone who felt a deep urge to do more.
It started in 2000, he says, with the showdown between George W. Bush and Al Gore. He started looking a little closer.
"During my senior year of high school, Sept. 11 happened, and it made me pay attention a lot more," he says.
It is difficult, Phillips points out, for a young generation to connect with people who are decades to nearly half-a-century older-the people who control the political arena. And, often, the assumed interests of college students are put on the backburner.
"A big part of it is the question of which came first, the chicken or egg?" he asks. "Do politicians not campaign to college students because they think we don't get involved, or do we not get involved because they don't campaign for us?"
It wasn't an election year, and things at the office were a little slow. But Phillips was so determined to become involved, he wouldn't take no for an answer.
So he showed up every day. He vacuumed. He cleaned the windows. He took every opportunity he could to talk to his fellow party-mates. He refused to sit on the sidelines.
Phillips' janitorial work finally paid off.
At 22 years old, he became the campaign manager for Joe Carr, a position he will repeat in the upcoming local elections.
This past semester, he was elected president of the Raider Republicans.
And, now, he's campaigning to be a delegate at the Republican National Convention, among the youngest to do so.
Sitting in the office of the Republican Party Headquarters, Phillips looks every bit the part of an aspiring politician. At two o'clock in the afternoon on a school day, he's dressed in a carefully pressed business suit. His eyes are glued to the news playing on the office's TV.
But he wasn't always so politically active. His family, although dutiful voters, didn't really have ambitions to take their involvement any further.
Phillips remembers the turning point. He remembers when he went from blissfully unaware teenager to someone who felt a deep urge to do more.
It started in 2000, he says, with the showdown between George W. Bush and Al Gore. He started looking a little closer.
"During my senior year of high school, Sept. 11 happened, and it made me pay attention a lot more," he says.
It is difficult, Phillips points out, for a young generation to connect with people who are decades to nearly half-a-century older-the people who control the political arena. And, often, the assumed interests of college students are put on the backburner.
"A big part of it is the question of which came first, the chicken or egg?" he asks. "Do politicians not campaign to college students because they think we don't get involved, or do we not get involved because they don't campaign for us?"
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Matthew Hurtt
posted 3/10/08 @ 5:19 AM CST
Edward is an asset to Republican politics locally. His hard work and dedication to conservative causes inspires others to get involved. He's certainly done an excellent job both on and off campus, and I enjoy working with him in advancing our ideology. (Continued…)
Steven Disser
posted 3/10/08 @ 3:22 PM CST
Edward is a passionate, dedicated, and humble leader. He deserves every bit of recognition given here and more. He never falters on his values and is a committed soldier in the battle for advancing the ideals of truth. (Continued…)
Post a Comment