College Republicans had two prominent visitors Wednesday night.

Tom Cross (R-Oswego), house minority leader and chairman of Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani’s (R-N.Y.) presidential campaign, and former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger spoke to the College Republicans on Wednesday night in the Stevenson South Fishbowl Room.

Audience members voiced their opinions on the 2008 election, illegal immigration and public education.

“I learned a lot about education, which is really important,” said College Republicans president Meagan Szyblowski. “Obviously, they come to college campuses to talk about issues that face the students.”

When the next presidential election rolls around, Cross said Giuliani stands a chance against Hillary Clinton (D-NY), but may face a tough challenge in Illinois senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

“It’s tough to beat Barack in Illinois because of his rock-star status,” Cross said. “I think he could beat Hillary easily.”

Rauschenberger used statistics to show current public education situations in the state of Illinois. It takes the average college student five to six years to graduate, he said.

“The schools should be encouraging students to take 18 to 21 credit hours,” Rauschenberger said.

Universities are making it increasingly difficult to get a proper education, he said.

“The point of public universities is to make it affordable to get an education,” Rauschenberger said. “On campus, you should ask people what has happened to tuition money once the Democrats took over state. All of a sudden, parents have been put on a merry-go-round of spending.”

Both speakers said students hold the power to create reform in America.

“I think they really cared about what we thought,” said Grant Dungan, senior political science major. “They kept saying, ‘You guys matter and have the power to say things that need to be said.'”

It’s key the Republican party find its focus heading into the election season, Cross said.

“We have to figure out what is most important to us as a party, and start talking about it to get it on the national agenda,” Cross said.

Aaron Funfsinn, senior political science major and Student Association senator, found the discussion enlightening to Republicans.

“I think they were very clear about the direction the party needs to take,” Funfsinn said.

Having such prominent speakers on hand was a memorable experience, Dungan said.

“Tom Cross is a big deal for us to have out here,” he said. “He is very active in the political world and it was good to have a discussion with him.”