With the Democratic National Convention playing out nearly 950 miles away, the College Republicans held their first meeting of the fall semester Wednesday night at Stevenson South.

“We’re so excited about 2008,” said College Republicans president Megan Szydlowski. “There’s so many different ways to get involved.”

Speaking to an eager group of about 25 was U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, of the sixth district of Illinois. Roskam tried to motivate the young republicans to get involved in campaigns and to support prospective republican presidential nominee John McCain.

“I think McCain is going to pull this thing off,” Roskam said. “We have nominated a good guy.”

With all eyes all on him, Roskam kept the conversation light as he talked about his time in Washington. He described the House of Representatives’ chamber as “strikingly beautiful,” and talked about House members having a “short attention span” and being all about “the latest thing,” which is currently energy policy, he said.

In a calm and relaxed tone, Roskam stressed free market economics as well as using any possible solution, including offshore drilling, to fix the energy crisis.

David Allard was one of those attending his first College Republicans meeting Wednesday night.

“I’ve been a Republican ever since I’ve been into politics,” he said. Allard was there to “meet people with similar interests.”

There was even a member of the College Democrats present. Ryan Beebe, vice president of the College Democrats, said he was in attendance as a sign of respect and to display cooperation between the two factions.

Also in attendance were State Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski, of the 35th district, and State Rep. Mike Fortner, of the 95th district, who is also an assistant professor of physics at NIU.

“I’ve been in government 18 years; been in legislature two years,” Fortner said. “It’s a great challenge. I really enjoy bringing scientific and technical expertise.”

Roskam expressed high hopes for republicans in the upcoming election, and Szydlowski talked about the need for interns for current Republican campaigns. More often than not, the conservation seemed to work its way back to the convention in Denver.

“The turmoil you’re seeing tonight…the democrats…they’ve got nothing but trouble,” Roskam said.