By Judy Berthiaume, UW-Eau Claire Integrated Marketing and Communications Department
The 2016 presidential campaign — among the most divisive in U.S. history — has left two UW-Eau Claire students more determined than ever to make their careers in politics, even as many voters were turned off by this year’s political process.
Mitchel Orlovsky, a junior history major and political science minor, is the president of the College Republicans. Jake McGuire, a sophomore political science and organizational communication major, is head of UW-Eau Claire’s College Democrats.
Home page photo: Mitchel Orlovsky (left) is the president of the College Republicans, and Jake McGuire is head of UW-Eau Claire’s College Democrats. Both say they are eyeing careers in the political arena.
Orlovsky and McGuire, both of whom have been active in 2016 races at the local, state and national levels, said their experiences leading their respective student organizations and interacting with the political campaigns have given them a taste of what it might be like to pursue careers within the political arena.
Unlike many political activists this year, however, they have made connections across political party lines.
Orlovsky said that it is important to him to have developed relationships with people who don’t share his political beliefs, including members of the College Democrats.
“We have different ways of thinking and different ideas of what this country needs, but ultimately we all are just trying to do what is best for the country,” Orlovsky said in regard to building relationships with people with different beliefs. “Understanding this is key so that we can work together on the important issues.”
McGuire and Orlovsky said they are proud that members of the two student political organizations showed respect for one another’s views, and were able to work collaboratively to encourage their fellow Blugolds to vote.
Politics in Their Futures?
As for the possibility of politics in their futures, both like what they’ve seen so far.
“I’ve always been planning on a career in politics, so if anything, this experience has only enhanced that desire,” said McGuire, from Tomahawk. “I hope to work on campaigns in some capacity, but I’m not entirely sure yet. My end goal, as of right now, is to work at a political consulting firm.”
Orlovsky came to UW-EC with aspirations of someday being a politician, though he initially was eyeing a career in politics at the local level. He’d hoped someday to be the mayor of a city, a position where he could make an immediate and significant impact on a community.
Thanks to the experiences he’s had as a Blugold, Orlovsky has begun to think even bigger; he’s now considering someday running for a seat in the U.S. Congress.
“We will see what happens, but I definitely would love to work on a campaign for someone running for office or even run for a position myself,” Orlovsky said of his future. “Ultimately, I just want to be involved in politics.”
Political Interests Aren’t New
It was the 2008 presidential election, when Barack Obama defeated John McCain, that first sparked McGuire’s interest in politics.
“But I didn’t become active in it until after Scott Walker was elected as governor in 2010,” he said. “I have been active in each election by volunteering and campaigning for Democrats ever since.”
He joined the College Democrats the fall semester of his freshman year, and he was elected president of the student organization this fall.
A Racine native, Orlovsky said he’s been interested in politics since elementary school, where he remembers debating the 2004 George W. Bush versus John Kerry election with his friends.
His passion for politics stuck, so when he arrived on campus it didn’t take him long to connect with the College Republicans student organization. A member for three years, he’s held leadership positions the last two.
Both Organizations Active This Year
Members of both the College Democrats and College Republicans student organizations were highly engaged in 2016 campaigns, sharing their candidates’ messages and encouraging people on and off campus to vote.
“This year we have hosted debate watch parties, knocked on doors, made phone calls, tabled for a Get Out to Vote Rally, and we’ve helped register voters with Student Senate,” Orlovsky said of the organization’s campaign-related activities.
McGuire and members of the College Democrats also have been regularly volunteering for campaigns up and down the Democratic ticket.
They’ve also worked to help inform students about the candidates’ positions, and how this election will impact them, McGuire said.
As the campaigns wound down, Orlovsky said it was rewarding to see the races tightening, a sign that the work he and others in his organization have done to get their messages out was working.
“What we are doing is making a difference,” he said. “It’s not always easy to be a Republican on a college campus, but it all pays off in the end if we are able to get our message out.”
Campaign Challenging But Worthwhile
While this year’s presidential campaign was especially challenging, Orlovsky said it also taught him how to sort through the rhetoric, decide what issues matter most to him, and then to use that information to determine how he will vote.
“This is the hand that has been dealt us,” Orlovsky said,, noting that neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump are ideal candidates. ”It is now our decision to pick who we think will do the best job for the country. Only we can make that decision for ourselves. It is our job to be informed, so talking about the election is important.”
UW-EC students seemed engaged and interested in 2016 election, especially at the presidential level, according to both Orlovsky and McGuire.
”I know I am starting to get tired of the election personally,” Orlovsky said. “At the same time, seeing all of my peers engaged in the election has been pretty inspirational. I’d say that, generally, people are very informed.”
Political Activities Added Value
Both Blugolds said that being part of highly active student political organizations has added value to their college experience by giving them hands-on, real-world learning opportunities as well a chance to make connections — and friends — on campus and in the community.
“Just being able to meet and work with all of the super excited volunteers has been great,” McGuire said. “And interacting with the candidates and campaigns has also been a great experience.
“This org has definitely become a major part of my experience here at UWEC. I love it so much. It’s been such a great outlet, especially coming from a conservative area, for me to express my progressive ideas with others who share them,” he added.
Being part of the College Republicans has been a blessing, Orlovsky said.
“I’ve met so many politicians that I never would have met otherwise, and the people in the College Republicans are some of my closest friends,” Mitchel says. “I’ve also met many people in the Republican Party of Eau Claire County, which has been inspiring.”