U.S. Senate candidate, John Cox, rallies at Pinch Penny Pub

Even though students had pizza grease coating their fingertips he insisted on shaking their hands.

John Cox, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, got lost on his way to Pinch Penny Pub Tuesday night. It was no worry though, his student supporters were in no rush to leave. They all sat patiently eating pizza, some drinking beer, some smoking cigarettes, just like a typical college night out.

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Except it wasn’t a typical college night out. These students had issues they wanted to discuss; education, military finance, Illinois budget reform, and campaign finance reform.

Cox didn’t speak like he was at a Country Club dinner, he spoke like he was at a bar, talking to college students.

I was a Democrat when I was your age, Cox said. I felt that I could make a difference.

His take on government has undergone a facelift since his days as a young Democrat. Cox, now a Republican, is facing off with Jim Durkin and Jim Oberweis in the primary, March 19.

I became a Republican when I started working, Cox said.

Cox earned his CPA license and worked as an accountant to put himself through night school to become an attorney.

Cox also found solace in the words Ronald Reagan spoke during his presidency.

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Reagan spoke to me in some of the ways I hope to speak to you, Cox said, as a group of 25 SIU students listened intently.

Carlo DeFranco, a student representative at SIU for the senate hopeful, likes Cox partly because of his Reagan approach to politics.

I did some campaign work up in Chicago and I met one of his representatives up there, said DeFranco, majoring in political science. That’s how I got involved.

The Illinois education system as well as the state budget needs to be revamped, Cox said, adding that taxes need to be cut and distributed better.

We need to collect the tax money, distribute it to parents and let them choose where and how the money goes to schools, Cox said. The best way to fight crime is with education. We need to make colleges and professional schools more available.

Carl Weimer, an SIU student majoring in journalism, attended the rally for a different reason.

I’m in the Army and I want to ask him about Veteran Affairs benefits how will we be compensated after our service.

Cox began answering the question by telling Weimer that his father spent the last period of his life in a Veteran’s Hospital.

We need to make sure we provide the benefits we promise to the armed forces and that they are paid well, Cox said.

Cox left Pinch Penny Pub offering the students some tidbits of advice.

Don’t hold your breath for social security. Start saving now, and talk to your congressman or senator about changes you want to see happen, Cox said Thank you all for coming.

With that said, some students jumped up to shake hands, some ran to ask more questions, but most returned to their beer formally beginning their typical college night out.