The Grand Old Party has a much newer face with Ryan Gach.

Though the senior has been chairman of College Republicans since August, he has been involved in the organization since his freshman year.

“A friend of a friend recommended it to me,” Gach said. “I had no intention of getting involved.”

That intention changed when Gach volunteered for Jim Talent’s campaign. Talent is a former Republican Senator from Missouri who ran for reelection in 2006, but lost to Democrat Claire McCaskill.

But despite his political experience with the Republican Party, Gach does not consider himself a Republican.

“I’m more conservative,” Gach said. “I’m very patriotic and wish to preserve what the Founding Fathers wanted.”

Gach isn’t studying political science; it used to be his minor, but he dropped it in order to study abroad in China last year. Nonetheless, Gach has always enjoyed politics, from reading the newspaper to arguing with friends.

“Political science fascinates me, even in the smallest form,” Gach said. “All politics is local.”

At Saint Louis University, Gach said that, back in 2006, attendance levels at the College Republican meetings were lower compared to the attendance levels today.

“People are more interested in politics,” he said. “[They’re] working to become more aware.”

As for some of the events in which students can become more aware, College Republicans most recently hosted Missouri State Auditor candidate Tom Schweich to speak on Feb. 2. Schweich is former ambassador and coordinator for counternarcotics and justice reform of Afghanistan. He’s also a professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

Gach described Schweich as “overqualified for the job.”

Gach also said that the group plans to have an “America First Week,” perhaps with a patriotic movie or stakes in the Quad. The week would serve to remind students of the “quality of life” we enjoy in the United States.

The group is also trying to push on more of the big issues facing the country today. One of these issues is healthcare, and College Republicans hope to host former representative Tom Tancredo to speak.

Tancredo is a former Republican member of the U.S House of Representatives from Colorado. He served as a representative for 10 years before choosing not to stand for reelection in 2006. Tancredo gained prominence for his opposition of illegal immigration.

Gach said that in the group, it’s “friends first, College Republicans second.” For those interested, the group meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Senate chambers.