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Politically aware students form their own PAC on campus

By Kristina Boyer '05
April 18, 2005

This has been a busy year for PAC, the nonpartisan, student-run Political Awareness Committee. PAC's purpose is straightforward: To ensure that St. Olaf students have an opportunity to educate themselves about political and current world events. Educational opportunities include sponsoring lectures by nationally renowned speakers, dinners that stimulate political discussion and mobilizing student organizations, including the College Republicans, College Democrats, Greens and the Environmental Coalition. PAC aims to foster understanding, political activism and awareness among all St. Olaf students.

Formerly known as "The Committee for Political Action," PAC has held to its core mission since its beginnings in the 1950's. As one of the largest and most active branches of the St. Olaf Student Government Association, PAC is responsible for an annual budget of approximately $80,000, most of which is spent on political speakers and events. A primary objective of PAC is to bring a diverse but balanced series of political speakers to campus, and the committee goes to great lengths to ensure the quality of its speakers list.

"The amount of money we spend on political speakers speaks volumes to St. Olaf's true dedication to a global perspective," says Brandon Crase, a senior political science major who has strived to raise the political awareness climate on campus. "We don't just talk about being aware of the world around us, we fund a budget to ensure that goal is met."

Past PAC speakers have included Janet Reno, Bob Woodward, Newt Gingrich, Ben Stein, Ralph Nader, John Stossel, P.J. O'Rouke, Pat Buchanan, Maya Angelou, John Stossel, Al Gore, MTV's Rock the Vote tour, Ralph Nader and, most recently, Jesse Ventura and Ann Coulter.

Contact Carole Engblom at 507-646-3271 or leigh@stolaf.edu.