Most colleges and universities around the U.S. aren’t exactly bastions of free-market thought. There are a few very notable exceptions, but they are just that: exceptions. FreedomWorks’ Chairman Dick Armey was once an economics professor at several institutions of higher education and understands the value of educating young people in the principles of free markets and free people.

Following his example, FreedomWorks reaches out to like-minded college students providing them with the resources they need to effectively communicate these values to their fellow students. Often subjects like taxation, trade, and health care seem far removed from the everyday responsibilities of college students. But, when FreedomWorks can show how these issues relate to their lives and how the decisions in Washington will effect students in Texas, the issues take on a new urgency that leads to action.

FreedomWorks is a resource to students in two main ways: through internship and on-campus activism. FreedomWorks offers internships throughout the year in all facets of grassroots advocacy, training students throughout the semester and giving them the opportunity to read great books, networks, and see first hand the impact that grassroots can have on the public policy process. In return, we hope that those students will take their new knowledge back to campus and continue being active in the movement.

Second, FreedomWorks actively recruits and trains students on campus to do activism. FreedomWorks teaches students how public activism on an issue can not only be fun, but also can be used to recruit new members for their group, get earned media, and impact the public policy process. College offers a unique opportunity for doing fun events like protests, demonstrations, or even just inviting quality speakers to campus - events can be more creative, it’s easier to recruit manpower, and you have a captive audience.

Two people people in particular have taken this FreedomWorks model and used it with great success on their campuses. Last fall, Joe De La Cerda of Texas State decided to take a stand against the Wall Street bailout. He quickly formed a FreedomWorks chapter and launched a No Bailout petition. It wasn’t a big or fancy operation - it was just reaching out to fellow students and asking if they opposed using taxpayer funds to bailout banks that had made bad decisions. The group put up humorous posters and gathered over 146 signatures on their petition that they then delivered to the district office of Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-25th TX). Not only did the Congressman vote “No” on the bailout, but local news covered the students’ efforts.

More recently, students at the University of Geogia-Athens took a stand against the Economic Stimulus Plan. FreedomWorks staff sat down with Greg Wilson, president of the UGA College Republicans, and other students over pizza to explain how the group could impact the debate, educate students about a bill they would be paying for their whole lives, and how they could grow their organization by taking a stand.

That was a Saturday. By the next Tuesday, only three days later the group had made pretend “Bailout Bucks” to pass out and over 120 students signed their petition opposing the legislation. The group sent those signatures to their Senators and got some nice press coverage as well.

The article in a local paper that covered the event said that “Many students who passed by Tuesday said they had only a vague notion of the size of the stimulus package or what’s in it…” That really highlights the importance and potential of campus activism. Greg and his group of College Republicans were able to explain the waste and pork barrel spending in a deeply flawed bill to students who, despite the fact that they will be footing the bill, otherwise knew nothing about the legislation.

Giving campus entrepreneurs - people who understand how activism creates a cycle of education and influence - the resources they need to organize, educate their fellow students, and impact public policy presents a unique opportunity to change the lives of students when they are young, setting them up for a life of involvement just like our Chairman Dick Armey did years ago.