The AU College Republicans held their annual Republicalooza Thursday night at Chef Geoff's to encourage networking between AU's Republican community and potential employers.
"[The College Republicans] wanted an opportunity for fellow Republicans to get together in a formal environment to network and get to know campaign workers," said Christopher Malagisi, a 2003 graduate of the School of Public Affairs and volunteer for the Sen. George Allen campaign.
Malagisi was one of the founding members of Republicalooza, which began during the 2001-2002 school year.
Approximately 40 students attended the event with 15 organizations represented, with the purpose of recruiting students to work for campaigns and non-profits associated with elections, according to Katie LaPotin, a sophomore in SPA and the College Republicans' public affairs director.
Chris Palko, a sophomore in SPA and the public relations director for the College Republicans, said the point of the night was for members to "make good connections for their career and have a good time meeting fellow Republicans."
The event, which required students to wear formal attire, featured a live student jazz band and butlered appetizers.
The College Democrats also hold a networking event, said Jen Spiegel, a junior in SPA and College Democrats secretary.
"We do have an internship fair at the end of November," she said. "[It's] not such a social event, but [it] serves the same purpose."
One person recruiting at Republicalooza for internships was Emily Batman from the American Enterprise Institute. Batman said her group has 40 to 50 non-partisan interns a year, and this event helps her find them.
Joe Sciarrino, a senior in SPA and volunteer with Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich's campaign was also there to meet College Republicans interested in working for the campaign, he said
The event was well attended, especially considering the pouring rain outside, said John Zevitas, a junior in SPA and the president of the College Republicans.
"I think it's a great turnout - [it] shows the Republican Party is alive and well at American University," said Bernie Schulz, special assistant to the vice president of Campus Life.
Mary O'Connor, an employee of Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa., said in a speech during the event that it was "wonderful" to see so many Republicans in one room in D.C.
"That doesn't happen so often," she said.
O'Connor also gave advice to those in attendance searching for internships.
"It's not that hard to get an internship on the Hill," she said. "Just start knocking on doors."
The event also fit in with the recent designation by the Princeton Review of AU as the nation's top politically active school, Schulz said.
"[Tonight] verifies the national prominence we gained as the most politically active campus in the country," Schulz said.
