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"Successful OPH @ SUNY-New Paltz" 
Written by Joanna Reed, Edited by John Reed 
(Published in FreeNY, October 1998) 

SUNY-New Paltz is a good indicator of this movement. Amazingly, a total of 35.6%  of the students placed in the Libertarian quadrant which is a plurality.  If this is any indication of the younger generations political philosophy then there is hope for this country yet.  Any change comes slowly in a country and this change must begin with the youth.  These students which qualified as Libertarian were surprised to find that there is a party which reflects the ideals of their  
generation.   
  
Here are the results from Operation Politically Homeless at SUNY-New Paltz, 8/29/98:   
35.6%  Libertarian   
28.9%  Centrist   
19.5% Left-Liberal   
13.8% Authoritarian   
2.2% Right-Conservative   

On Saturday, August 29, 1998, Donald Silberger (candidate for Lieutenant Governor), Jason Gagnon (SUNY-New Paltz Student Libertarian Leader), and John and Joanna Reed (College Libertarian Advisors) set up an Operation Politically Homeless booth.  The event was there from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  The display was set up in front of the Cafeteria with a table, some signs, Libertarian literature and the big Nolan Chart.  225 students were polled.   

At the Libertarian Party of New York State web site it states, "The main purpose of the World's Smallest Political Quiz is to identify people who might like information about the Libertarian Party, but it also serves to show some respondents that although they may consider themselves to be liberals or conservatives, they are actually more libertarian than anything else. Many people hold libertarian opinions, generally finding themselves disagreeing with each major party about half the time, but simply don't know that the Libertarian Party exists."   

We gave a definition sheet for what Libertarian, Centrist, Liberal, Conservative, and Authoritarian means (from the Advocates Quiz/definitions site) and this flyer "TOWARD PEACE AND FREEDOM - The Libertarian Challenge Around theWorld" to everyone that came by the booth.  This helped everyone understand that Libertarians are real and that there is legitimacy in libertarianism.  For the students that scored Libertarian, we got their names and addresses to invite them to events this Fall and send them libertarian information.   

There will be seminars held monthly to educate them on Libertarian ideals and hopefully, they will become more active on their campus and beyond. At the first seminar, John Stossel's, "Sex, Drugs, and Consenting Adults" will be shown. This is a one-hour look at laws against vice and immoral behavior.  Stossel talks to Americans who say that people should only be jailed if they directly harm the person or property of others.  Stossel also interviews Libertarian Peter McWilliams, medical marijuana activist and author of "Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do."   

We hope to find all the Libertarian students that find themselves Politically Homeless due to their principled politcal views: a belief in personal liberty and economic freedom.    

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