The College Republicans, a student led organization, hosted Sen. Elbert Lee Guillory Sept. 19 in the library.

He talked about Republican President Dwight Eisenhower and the advances he made for children in Louisiana to receive an equal education in 1957.

“Always remember that from the very beginning, we were there. And we have consistently throughout history stood for the principles of freedom and equality,” Guillory said.

Guillory defends his party as being the right choice.

“For me, being a Republican is very much about values. We stand for family. We believe that the family is the basic biblical and social unit upon which society is based,” Guillory said.

Guillory is a native of Opelousas and represents the 24th district.  He is the first African-American politician for the party since reconstruction.

Hilary Solet, president of the College Republicans and a junior political science major, was especially eager for Guillory to visit the campus.

“It’s not often we meet people in law or politics who are Christ-centered and honest. In Sen. Guillory, we can see the stand of what a true Republican is like. We can’t wait to have him here again,” Solet said.

“I have a lot of respect for Sen. Guillory. It took a lot of courage for him to come out like that and stand for what he believes in. We support the same ideals that he espoused tonight about the conservative ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” said Jonathan Cobb, vice president of the College Republicans and a senior political science major.

The College Republicans began in April. Cobb said that ULM hasn’t had an active College Republicans for about three years.