A lone table of College Republicans got a little more than they expected from their self-proclaimed "Conservative Coming Out Day" in the Student Union Thursday as a dozen gay rights supporters showed up carrying flags and banners to offer their two cents.
Laden with informational fliers, George W. Bush decals and bumper stickers supporting military troops, the table was a part of Conservative Week, a series of events organized by the College Republicans to promote awareness and keep the club afloat with new members next year.
"Most people don't even know there's a conservative voice on campus," said Ashley Steinkirchner, a sophomore comparative politics and women's studies major and secretary of the College Republicans. "You'd be shocked at how many people see us in the union and are surprised we exist."
Yet when members of the newly formed Feminist Action Group and other gay rights supporters got wind of the College Republicans' "coming out" on Thursday, they stood front and center to challenge the nature of the hurdles conservatives face when they go public.
"I just don't understand why they couldn't come up with their own slogan," said Christina Mihalitsas, a sophomore psychology major and member of the countering group. "They're not hated like we are just because of who we are."
"I'm here in support of anti-conservative views - to stop war, stop homophobia, stop racism, capitalism," said Kim Kilpela, a senior sociology and women's studies major.
Dana Abbot, a senior psychology major, said the need to spread the message of acceptance led her to play a part in the small rally.
"Even if one person is impacted by this, that's one person," said Abbot.
But according to Steinkirchner, college-aged conservative Republicans aren't the norm, either.
"People are afraid to express their opinions in any direction," said Steinkirchner. "We're definitely a minority on campus. This wasn't meant to offend anyone."
"We're doing this to encourage activism. It's not really about preserving conservative ideas," she said. "It's about being able to express your opinions openly."
Eric Sharp, a sophomore history major and the assistant secretary of the College Republicans, said the amount of opposition Republicans face in college is disheartening.
"We breathe, and people protest. It's insane," said Sharp. "We could do nothing and sit here and people protest. It's really discouraging sometimes."
Members of the gay pride group sported a large rainbow flag, and one person made a poster reading, "Conservatives Are Not Oppressed."
Sarah Birnie, a senior marketing and international business major and member of the Feminist Action Group, asked members of the College Republicans how society in general reacts to their presence.
"I asked one of the people at the (Republican) table, 'well, how are your parents taking it?'" Birnie said. "He said, 'oh, they're conservative too.' Then I asked, 'is it OK for you to walk down the hall with another conservative?'"
College Republicans public relations director Michael Scholes said the purpose of the event was simply to spark an active interest in the political system.
"We wanted to make sure we encourage people to get involved," said Scholes.
Birnie, for her part, had a response to the Republicans who were able to come out Thursday to publicize their conservatism.
"Well you know what? You're so lucky you can do that," Birnie said. "You're so lucky we have an American society that will accept you for who you are."
