Amber Kornreich '12 has been president of Brandeis Democrats since the beginning of Spring semester. When Kornreich. an Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies major, is not coordinating or participating in political activism, she volunteers for the Waltham Group, where she is a coordinator and co-founder of Brandeis Buddies, or writing for the Brandeis Law Journal, where she is chief features editor. Kornreich spoke to the Justice in an e-mail about her political views.JustFeatures: When did you first get involved in politics, and when did you first identify as a Democrat? Why?

Amber Kornreich: When I was a little girl I traveled with my mom as she campaigned for a judge, and since then I've been interested in and fascinated by politics. I worked on a political campaign in Miami the summer after my senior year of high school. Once I felt how electrifying campaign work could be, I was addicted. When I arrived at Brandeis, I was warmly welcomed into the community of political activists here, and they really showed me the ropes. I've really cemented my attachment to the Democratic Party in college.

JF: What do you think is the most important issue that Obama should focus on while he is in office and why?

AK: Jobs. With the unemployment rate at 9.7 percent, many American families are hurting. It is absolutely essential that emergency unemployment benefits be extended to these Americans. The cost of inaction is undoubtedly greater than the effect of any short-term increase to the deficit. The problem of unemployment is too large, and the impact on American lives is too real.

JF: What do you hope to accomplish from Brandeis students as president of the Democrats?

AK: I hope that Brandeis Dems meetings and events can continue to be an open forum for students to discuss issues of global, national, state and campus politics and [we] keep on the tradition of being heavily involved in the campus world outside of politics ... I know we will keep gaining new members, and, no matter the size of the club, we'll keep engaging in activism.

JF: How do you feel about the political atmosphere at Brandeis?

AK: I think the political atmosphere at Brandeis is invigorating. ... I'm always delighted at how available a quick political chat with students or professors around campus is, and virtually everyone, whether they choose to be involved in activism or not, has really considered their opinions about the state of the world. I love to hear a variety of perspectives.

JF: Who would you say were the top five best presidents?

AK: Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Teddy Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Bill Clinton.

JF: Oftentimes, as people get older their political views begin to shift. Do you predict that this will happen to you? Why or why not?

AK: I do not want to rule out evolving emotionally, intellectually and therefore politically in the future.
I know that my values will remain constant and I want to work to ensure the party continues to represent those values.

JF: What do you view as the current strengths and weaknesses of the Democratic party?

AK: I think the strengths of the Democratic Party are, and will always be, its dedication to the pursuit of values of equality for all Americans, insistence on protecting civil liberties, and its flexibility to adapt its views to changing times.

-Condensed and edited by Arielle Schwartz.

Nipun Marwaha '12 has been president of Brandeis Republicans since last spring semester. Marwaha, an Economics major and Legal Studies minor, is also a member of the Mock Trial team and a former senator of the Student Union. Marwaha discussed his reasons for becoming a Republican through a phone interview with the Justice.

JustFeatures: When did you first get involved in politics, and when did you first identify as a Republican? Why?

Nipun Marwaha: I first got involved in politics halfway through freshman year. I lived next to a hardcore Republican. My roommate was an Obama maniac, so it evened out. I believe that personal responsibility is the most important thing that people need to have and that the government should not be responsible for people's actions or inactions. I went to the election meeting for Brandeis Republicans last year, and I originally ran for vice president. Then the president resigned and I became the new president.

JF: What do you think is the most important issue that Obama should focus on while he is in office and why?

NM:?The unemployment issue is the most important issue that Obama should focus on. The government should start cutting taxes so people can start their own businesses and reinvigorate the national economy.

JF: What do you hope to accomplish from Brandeis students as president of the Republicans?

NM: I hope to start dispelling the image of [all Republicans being from] the Yosemite family. ... Not all Republicans are evangelical social conservatives. The Republican Party is actually about political conservatism. In other words, the government should be limited and the individuals should have more rights.

JF: How do you feel about the political atmosphere at Brandeis?

NM: Brandeis influenced my political beliefs the most. I found that at Brandeis, people often did not think about the practical outcome of their political beliefs. People need to do something in order for it to be done right. If the government keeps helping us, it is like giving a mouse a cookie. People become lazy and won't want to do anything if the government keeps helping us so much.

JF: Who would you say were the top five best presidents?

NM: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.

JF: Oftentimes, as people get older their political views begin to shift. Do you predict that this will happen to you? Why or why not?

NM: I don't think so. Usually people shift from liberal to conservative over time. Since I'm already a conservative, I firmly believe in personal responsibility and freedom to choose one's own path.

JF: What do you view as the current strengths and weaknesses of the Democratic Party?

NM: A current strength of the Democratic Party is the grassroots Astroturf that people are fighting against government so that the government will not control their rights. A current weakness of the Republican party is that the evangelicals are trying to control people's actions, which is dissuading people from the party.

-Condensed and edited by Arielle Schwartz.