Last semester, a group of students looking for an open forum of political thought started a
University of Dayton chapter of Young Americans for Liberty.
According to the chapter’s Facebook page, Young Americans for Liberty is a “non-partisan
educational student group dedicated to spreading the message of limited government, personal
responsibility and liberty.”
When arriving at UD, the chapter’s president, Jimmy Gang, a sophomore political science
major, discovered that there were no groups on campus that focused on thoughts and ideas rather
than partisan issues.
Gang thought Young Americans for Liberty was an organization that allowed for the
discussion he was looking for and decided to start a chapter at UD along with other students
looking for this kind of group.
“We are an idea-based organization and we really encourage discussion,” Gang said. “We
campaign for ideas. We are pretty much a 24/7 idea factory.”
According to the Young Americans for Liberty national website, the organization is
the “largest, most active and fastest growing pro-liberty organization on America’s college
campuses.”
The website also says that there are more than 300 active chapters at colleges across the
country with 26,000 student activists. The organization looks to “recruit, train, educate and
mobilize students on the ideals of liberty and the Constitution.”
Eric Petro, vice president of the UD chapter and a junior political science major, said that
meetings consist of discussion of different policies and ideas and issues that members think
need to be addressed. They also talk about the pros and cons of different aspects of government
decision and possible solutions for different issues.
“We wanted to give students a good outlet for their ideas,” Petro said.
Petro also emphasized that students with any sort of ideas and political thoughts are welcome
to join in the discussion.
“We are a non-partisan political activism group,” Petro said. “We take ideas from any political
groups. We are an avenue for political discussion and debates. We are just an alternative venue
for political thought.”
Gang said he hopes more students join the group to voice their political ideas and learn from
other people’s thoughts.
“We want to talk about what is going on with the government and politics and get people to
research and learn more about all of it,” Gang said. “Students should consider joining us if they
are really passionate about freedom and being a peaceful member of society.”
The group is currently made up of about 15 members who meet Fridays at 4 p.m. in Kennedy
Union room 312. The group is currently looking for an events coordinator.
Gang also said the Young Americans for Liberty will be coordinating a Constitution Week
starting next week, Monday, Sept. 17, and lasting through Sept. 24. Gang said the event will
have many activities for people to get involved with.
For more information on the UD Young Americans for Liberty, visit their Facebook page at
facebook.com/udaytonyal.
