The student arms of the Democratic and Republican parties at UVM have struggled to remain active on campus in recent years. The College Democrats have been largely inactive for the past couple of years due to a lack of recruitment and enduring leadership issues. Club president, Merrick Modun, and his friends are trying to reactivate the organization, capitalizing on the energy of the upcoming general election.
On the other hand, UVM’s chapter of College Republicans has also been inactive since spring 2022, with none of the listed officers currently being students. Former members of the organization declined to provide comment, citing the campus’s left-leaning political atmosphere as a reason for their discomfort.
The political landscape at UVM is largely left-leaning, according to students involved with the Young Democratic Socialists of America. Republican groups like Turning Point USA have struggled to gain traction on campus due to differing political views. A survey found that 58% of adults in the U.S. believe a third party is needed, a sentiment echoed by political science lecturer, Johnathan “Doc” Bradley, who highlights the strength of the Progressive party in Vermont.
Despite disillusionment with the two-party system, UVM’s YDSA chapter successfully ran a campaign that elected a Progressive party member to the Burlington City Council. The struggle for political representation on campus reflects a nationwide trend of seeking alternative political options.
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