Gator Party
From SenatorAdams
The Gator Party was a fictional organization in Reunion at University Avenue. As a political party, the Gator Party served as the antithesis of The Circle, pushing to open up Student Government by ending the dominant influence of that secret society.
Contents |
Known members
An inevitable fate
Once upon a time, there was a group of prominent young people who were noticed by the state leadership in Florida as people to watch. They tapped this group with the best jobs, the best spouses, and the best lives, one could hope for. This group fulfilled their destiny by taking power in the state. They, in turn, drew into their circle the next generation of student leaders with the power to control Homecoming at the largest university in the state.
And every year, elections for student leadership were rigged by the student groups that dared to vote as a single block, amassing thousands of votes just by donning their brightly-colored shirts and smiling widely at unsuspecting students who would find that this circle had no opposition. And why would they? Every student leader wanted to be tapped for the glory the circle promised. Why risk the circle’s wrath by opposing the political “party” the old guard backed when it was just as easy to go along with it?
Finally, a small but growing group challenged the status quo. They lost every election as expected, but pressed on in the hope that the circle would widen itself to include a more representative selection of the student body. But the demographics of a college campus dictated that this rebellion would be short lived, unless they recruited a next generation of their own.
Unfortunately, only one of them recognized this fait accompli. An idealist, he would never give up the fight against elitism, even from within his quarters. His ideas gave the circle pause, as they were unsure what he was doing to their campus government. In the end, they recognized that the one truism to their activities would apply to him as well. It was the very reason for their long-running success. It might take work, and it might take deception. It might even take a belated tapping. Once accomplished, however, it would solve their problems.
No matter what it took, anyone can be brought into The Circle.
Even Mike Adams.
The Influence of Aimee Jackson
The group folded up prior to a fall SG election, at the urging of Aimee Jackson. Jackson had been seeking support from both sides of SG politics for her own ambitions in the following Spring election, under a new banner called Alliance. Mike Adams disagreed with this decision and continued the fight in the fall election against The Circle's Campus Party with his short-lived New Democracy Party. For the Spring election, however, younger members of The Circle formed their own insurgency, under the SOAR banner (Students Opposed to Aimee and Richard). Alliance won and cemented The Circle's dominance on campus by bringing the Gator Party organization to an end and reuniting with the folks from SOAR after the election.
Differences with The Circle
- While The Circle is secretive, the Gator Party tried to be so open as to hold a "public caucus" event to nominate their presidential candidates.
- While The Circle focuses on unity within its organization, the Gator Party at least rhetorically supported the independence of its membership.
- The Circle is selective about who joins; the Gator Party was eager to gain new support.
- The Circle always won the majority of SG elections; the Gator Party always lost, obtaining only handfuls of Senate seats at each election.
| The Mike Adams Series by Kenneth Kerns | |
|---|---|
| The Novels | Reunion At University Avenue • The Proxy Senator • Confirmation |
| Major characters | Mike Adams • Ashley Woodard • George Avelli • Jeff Simon • Sam Lee • Aimee Jackson |
| Minor characters | Adam Ruppesberger • Bennita Jones • Ben Burns • Rick Roberts • Nicholas Hickey • Peter Easley |
| Fictional organizations | The Circle • Gator Party |
| Related topics | Greeks vs. Independents • Legacy • "Old Walter" • Student Government • U.S. Senate |
