The Ole Miss College Republicans hosted Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves at their meeting Wednesday night at Bryant Hall.
Reeves was invited to speak at the weekly College Republicans meeting to discuss how he got into politics, commemorate the attacks on 9/11, share his views on the current state of the national government and answer questions from students.
Reeves discussed his political history, from his membership in the College Republicans at Millsaps College in 1992 to his victory in the 2003 race for state treasurer. He encouraged students by stating that if he could win a state-wide election at 28 years of age, anybody can do it. He also talked about the struggles that come with political power.
“People take shots at me every day,” Reeves said. “I don’t care where they come from; I’m just concerned with dodging them.”
Reeves also contrasted the government’s actions immediately after the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers to now, when President Barack Obama wants military action against Syria. He said the difference is “night and day.”
He finished his speech by stating how much he enjoys being involved in Mississippi politics, despite the high stress.
“It’s rewarding and worth it, if you make a difference,” he said.
Before Reeves took the floor, the meeting opened with with a discussion of current events in Syria. Several students answered in a forum-style manner, presenting their opinions and ideas about what the president should do in this time of crisis.
Lawson Hahn played a major role in the success of the meeting. As the public relations manager for the College Republicans at Ole Miss, he is in charge of connecting students and faculty to the organization and managing the College Republicans’ Facebook and Twitter pages.
The Ole Miss College Republicans bring conservatives and Republicans together to discuss topics and issues in the country and foster an environment of political awareness.
“We want more involvement with the university itself,” Hahn said. “We want to promote an environment for conservatives, and we respect everyone’s opinion on a topic.”
