Conservative syndicated radio and television host Oliver North spoke to GW students Thursday night in Funger Hall about the upcoming presidential election.

My message is clear – vote, said North, a former lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps and Republican who lost a senate bid in Virginia in 1994.

The GW College Republicans’ event attracted about 200 students.

North addressed the issues at stake in the presidential election and concerns he has about voter turnout, American pride and his colleagues in the media.

It strikes me that much of the information voters have received from their newspapers and televisions have not helped (voters) come to a decision, he said.

North said the Clinton administration caused a drop in American pride and said the country needs more role models for young people.

I have read in many places that you are a generation without heroes and you need somebody to look up to, but there are many out there in your communities setting examples for all of us, he said.

North told students he agrees with the views of many candidates, ranging from Ralph Nader to Pat Buchanan, and all the candidates have positions that should be heard.

North questioned whether people should rely on the federal government to solve their problems.

But the Republican said that it does not matter who students vote for, as long as they get to the polls.

About 15 students from the Progressive Student Union, Students for Nader and the International Socialist Organization protested North’s visit. They held signs that read Indict Ollie North, and distributed literature about North’s controversial military background.

In 1986, as a Marine and member of the National Security Council under the Reagan administration, North was a key suspect in the congressional investigation of the Iran-Contra affair – a scandal in which U.S. officials allegedly sold arms to Iran to make money to support the Contras in Nicaragua.

Basically, he has a horrible record, with his past in the Iran-Contra scandal and his collusion with Manuel Noriega, said junior ISO member Shrayas Jatker, who protested North’s speech. Our ultimate goal here is to see him tried as a war criminal.

North said he was glad students voiced their opinions during the event.

I was pleased that there were protesters and happy that they believe in something so strongly, North said after his speech. I hope that they believe in all amendments in the Constitution in addition the freedom of speech.

North has a daily radio show called Common Sense Radio and co-hosts the MSNBC show Equal Time.

Students in the audience said they enjoyed hearing the speaker.

I didn’t know a lot about his views to start, and I didn’t agree with all of them, but I respect what he had to say and how he was open to dissent, freshman Evan Brustein said.