When Vice President Anastasiya Spytsya left the College Republicans office Friday, Sept. 13, everything was in order. When she returned Saturday afternoon, all the door decorations were gone.

“We had our meeting information, famous Republican quotes and McCain-Palin stickers,” she said. “It was all gone and on the board there was a note that said ‘F— McCain people.'”

The presidential election has caused more than just heated conversations on campus. Students are taking action to express their opinions and defend their beliefs against political groups on campus.

Spytsya said she has no idea who would do something like this but thinks the people

responsible are immature.

“Why can’t we represent our views without being mistreated or disrespected?” she asked. “I respect their (Obama volunteers’) opinion even though I don’t agree with it.”

After the first presidential debate, College Democrats President Jared M. Matthews saw several negative messages about John McCain and Sarah Palin in chalk throughout campus.

Matthews said the College Democrats did not partake in the chalking, and he does not approve of the inappropriate messages.

“I feel that individuals are extremely passionate about this campaign, which leads people to have certain opinions about the opposing candidate,” he said. “I think there’s a certain point where expressing yourself goes beyond what is tolerable and accepting.

“One does not need to wish harm upon another candidate.”

Senior English major Cody Pinnick said he thinks the chalking did “more harm than good for anybody that was undecided.”

“The signs were very pro-Obama, so anyone who saw it may have thought this is what Obama supporters are like,” he said.

Still, Spytsya said she and other College Republicans are not discouraged by what happened.

“Those people who did it think that they can stop us or change our views are wrong,” she said. “It makes us even stronger and makes us want to fight for conservative ideas even more.”

Contact student politics reporter Nicole Stempak at [email protected].