“People think that Cornell students are apathetic. We’re not apathetic, we’re busy,” said Randy Lariar ’08, president of Cornell Democrats.

With this in mind, and with the presidential primaries approaching, the Cornell Democrats are trying to involve students in politics with voter registration drives, speakers and debates. The organization is also planning at least one trip to New Hampshire to campaign during the presidential primaries.

Abbye Goldberg ’10 is participating in the Cornell Democrats’ effort to register 1,000 students to vote. She would like to see more student involvement and voter participation.

“[Voting] is the only way we can control our country,” Goldberg said.

“We don’t believe in indoctrination,” said Chair­man of the Cornell College Republicans Ah­med Salem ’08 as he spoke about the liberal tendencies of Cornell professors and the challenges conservative students face on Cornell’s left-leaning campus.

In light of the upcoming presidential primaries, the organization’s focus is on raising awareness and political involvement on campus. Salem stressed the importance of intellectual and political diversity to his organization.

Salem is an example of how increased political awareness can precipitate change. He explained that he identified with the Democratic Party his first two years at Cornell until his studies in economics and greater political consciousness shifted his views.