Campus, community GOP groups sponsor third annual Conservative Challenge Week

The Skidmore Young Republican Assembly (SYRA) and Saratoga County Young Republican Club (SCYRC) are hosting the third annual Conservative Challenge Week through Friday, April 20, on campus. The itinerary for the week includes the following:

- Tuesday, April 17: Conservative Awareness Day – There will be a large information table on the second floor fo Case Center, open all day, where an assortment of conservative/GOP gear will be distributed, including calendars, posters, and other items. This evening, New York Times best-selling author Robert Spencer will speaking at 8 p.m. in Davis Auditorium on the topic "The Dangers of Jihad Ideology and Political Correctness in America." Spencer also is the author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam: The Truth About Muhammad, and Islam Unveiled," and is the director of the anti-terrorist organization Jihad Watch. This event will be co-sponsored by the Young America's Foundation.

- Wednesday 4/18: Conservative Celebration Day - The table will still be open as long as supplies last. Flags of Our Fathers will be shown at 6 p.m. in Murray-Aikins Dining Hall.

– Thursday 4/19: Conservative Day of Silence – Organizers call it a day for "one of the most silenced minority in academia today." All young Republicans at Skidmore are invited to wear small flags on their shirts/jackets as a sign of solidarity.

-Friday 4/20: Skidmore's first-ever All-American Barbecue, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Case green. All sorts of great food and drinks will be available, as well as any GOP products that may be leftover. Also, Candidate for Supervisor Matt Veitch is scheduled to appear and greet both the conservative and liberal students of the college.

"As Skidmore's conservative voice on campus, SYRA takes its role very seriously as not only a resource for other conservatives but also as an educator for the school's liberal and Democratic students," said Tom Qualtere '08, president of SYRA and chairman of SCYRC. "Every event we host always evokes remarkable dialogue throughout our student body and gives often-ignored conservative students a chance to make their voices and presence known," he added.

This is the first year that the SCYRC is co-hosting the annual event. Other co-sponsors for the week include the Skidmore Speakers Bureau and Adirondack Community College Republicans.