Youngest of 14 children studying to be a politician

Sept. 28, 2015

Rachel Librach
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Politics can be a touchy subject and some try to avoid it when they can, but there are students who are hopeful to become future politicians.

Freshman political science and economics double major, Benyam Capel, said he decided to attend UCCS for many reasons, including the “gorgeous campus,” the fact that one of his best friends attended and the more moderate, conservative political leanings.

Capel’s focus is politics.

“I’m going to be in Congress by the age of 30, because it’s the only thing I could ever imagine myself doing,” Capel said.

He credited much of his political fascination to popular TV shows.

“I watched ‘The West Wing’ a lot as a kid. It detailed what life as a staffer in the White House really looks like and for some reason that really captured my interest,” Capel said.

Capel was born in Ethiopia and was adopted into an American family. His adopted parents went on to adopt seven other kids to add to their seven biological children.

“My parents are just very loving people; they are the best people I know. I could never explain why, but they (adopted me) and I’m thankful,” he said.

Capel said he is the youngest of his siblings and has always been close with them.

“(Growing up with 13 siblings) is actually pretty great because if you get pissed off at one, there’s 12 others you can go and talk to,” he said. “We are really close to one another and still keep in touch.”

Between the 14 siblings, the only two currently attending college are Capel and his oldest brother, who attends Lynn University in Florida after he was in the Navy.

“My brother just started college this year as well, so we are both freshmen together,” Capel said.

Capel is on his older brother’s Florida radio show every Wednesday for 15 minutes, where he usually speaks about youth opinions on politics.

Capel added that he loves a good political debate, staying up to date on all the news and playing in a band with his friends.

“I’m an avid watcher of the news; it’s what I do when I feel like getting mad at something and shouting at a plastic screen,” he said.

“Me and my buddies just started a band called Bri and the Brownlings, because we’re all brown. I sing and the music is pretty generic, really whatever we feel like doing.”

He is still uncertain if he wants to join any clubs on campus, whether they be politically aligned or simply for pleasure.

“I know I’ll be volunteering for a campaign as it becomes closer to the Colorado primary vote. I don’t know if I would ever join a political party club,” he said. “I am a registered Republican but being part of a group with a bunch of people that agree with me just doesn’t sound fun.”

Capel has been closely following the Republican debates and said his top choice at this time is John Kasich.