By KATIE EWER
Generation X has a voice, and it needs to be heard.
This is the principle upon which the Foundation for Individual Responsibility and Social Trust was founded.
The local chapter of FIRST met Saturday morning to deliberate issues concerning democratic self-government, and BYU students and other local young adults are taking this principle very seriously.
Brandan Hadlock, one of the coordinators of the regional conference, said part of enjoying freedom in America is playing a role in the government. He said working with FIRST is one way to get involved and be heard.
“FIRST’s goal is two-fold,” Hadlock said. “One, to engage our generation in the democratic process through nonpartisan discussion. Two, to provide an organized voice that will be heard.”
Misti Schmidt, regional representative for FIRST in Utah, said FIRST wants to have a regional conference in every state. She said the regional conferences are part of a nationwide series. The opinions and information gathered at each regional conference will be summarized and published, Schmidt said.
“In the year 2000, we will publish everything we found in a book and present it to the presidential and congressional candidates,” Schmidt said. “That way they will know that Generation X has a voice.”
At the regional conference, participants discussed issues focusing on the political process and citizens’ participation in that process.
The participants had different reasons for participating in the FIRST regional conference. Many were already deeply involved in politics. Some had never even voted.
Sharon Belnap, a UVSC student, said she wanted to become involved with FIRST to help inform people in the community.
“I don’t think people are educated enough about what’s good for the country,” she said.
FIRST was founded in 1995 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. According to the FIRST Web site, at http://www.libertynet.org/first, FIRST is dedicated to inspiring young adults born between 1961 and 1981 to address the major issues facing the country and to take a leadership role in finding solutions.
For more information or to become involved with FIRST, call 373-8377.
