YCT profiled by ABC News
Here is an article that appeared on ABC News website a few days ago. It’s about The Young Conservatives of Texas, and it quotes a few past and current leaders of the organization.
Founded in 1980, the group advocates for student conservative activism across campuses in Texas. The organization tries to educate students about conservative ideals while battling liberalism at Texas universities. All told, they’re represented at eight schools throughout the state.
“We stand for true conservative principles,” says Laura Elizabeth Morales, spokeswoman for the Young Conservatives of Texas. “Less government, more freedom and less taxes.”
Having to pull its members from a liberal student body, the group’s UT chapter has, at times, struggled to fill its ranks. There were seven members in 2000 but conservatism was due to make a comeback.
The article goes on to talk about our professor watch list, affirmative action bake sale and other events. Then it quotes yours truly on the importance of getting involved in YCT.
“The main thing was just to get involved,” says Brendan Steinhauser, a UT member from 2000 to 2004. “We went to the debates, student government meetings. The more active we got, the more people we brought in. Then we started to organize the group and raise money.”
By 2001, the UT chapter had grown to 115 students, and started getting a lot of attention for its activities. Today, it has 75 members.
The article concludes by noting that former YCT members continue to stay involved in the political process.
Still, the group is producing tomorrow’s conservative leaders. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, was a member of the Young Conservatives when he was at the university, graduating with a law degree in 1982.
Steinhauser, the former UT member who graduated four years ago, went on to work for a conservative non-profit based in Washington, D.C. He also wrote “The Conservative Revolution,” a book based on his success organizing conservative students at UT.
“I believe in these ideas,” Steinhauser said. “They go to school to learn new ideas and it’s important to open them up to that.”
This is actually one of the most favorable pieces I’ve seen by a major media outlet about YCT. The organization deserves a lot of credit for influencing thousands of students over the years, and it’s nice to get some recognition for the work we do.
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