This post was written by Hatchet Reporter Cort Carlson.
The Democratic Coalition Against Trump, the nation’s largest grassroots anti-Donald Trump Super PAC, announced the formation of a new Students Against Trump chapter at GW in a statement Wednesday.
The group’s formation follows a nationwide Student Against Trump campaign recently launched by the PAC after numerous polls showed lackluster enthusiasm for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and general apathy among young voters, according to the release.
“Poor turnout among young voters could cost the Democrats in November,” the release stated, noting the importance of the youth demographic to the outcome of the national election, especially in swing states like nearby Virginia.
The group intends to reach out to young voters through traditional grassroots outreach efforts, like door knocking, phone calls, flyers and events, according to the release.
Junior Gray Kinsella is serving as Students Against Trump’s GW Ambassador and leading the campus efforts.
“I saw this as an opportunity to get more involved in a historic election and make a difference through grassroots action,” Kinsella said in the release.
Kinsella said the new group welcomes anyone who wants to help influence the outcome of the election in November. Kinsella said he and other involved students will try to seek out help from other student groups.
“We are definitely trying to reach out and build a coalition that is as large as possible,” he said.
Kinsella said that he is not sure if the organization will continue to operate in other capacities once this election is over, but that he hopes it inspires a movement for informed political action in the future.
“I think a lot of voters tend to think that once election season comes around it is time to be involved in the political process,” Kinsella said.
Trump’s candidacy has caused other political groups on campus to also address their stance on the upcoming election.
The GW College Republicans executive board said they will maintain a neutral stance toward Trump in this election cycle, explaining that neutrality allows them to better reflect and support members as a whole without alienating portions of the group. And another group, Save Our Senate, started last month to campaign for Republican senatorial candidates.
