by Amelia Epley
Staff Writer
When Austin Peay Senior, Adam Haynes, was a young boy living in Morristown, TN, he was not your typical kid who dreamed of becoming an astronaut or a treasure hunter. Instead, he had a different sort of adventure in mind.
“As long as I can remember I’ve loved law and politics,” Haynes said. Now, the boy has grown into a man and is well on his way to making a difference for his community by becoming a lawyer and politician.
In April 2009, Haynes was elected as President of the Tennessee Federation of College Democrats. Since then, 20 new chapters have been added in addition to the six already established. This, Haynes said, has been his greatest achievement. He said that getting college students involved in the politics that run their lives is a tough feat since education can be such a heavy burden.
“Sometimes that doggone education keeps you too busy,” Haynes said. “But we just need to keep developing chapters and making sure that
we know what we are doing.”
Jordan Huffman, Vice President of the TFCD, works closely with Haynes and said that he couldn’t ask for a better person to work with.
“Adam always takes the time to talk to individual members one on one, should they request it,” Huffman said. “He is always just a phone call away.”
The two have worked together for two and a half years, and plan on continuing to do so in the future. Both Haynes and Huffman plan on attending law school.
“We’ve talked about starting a law firm together,” Huffman said. “And I see it as a great possibility.”
Haynes’ current project consists of raising awareness of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ (DADT) policy. In coordination with chapters and campuses all over the country, the TFCD will work to raise awareness within their districts and with their state representatives as to why DADT is a bad policy and should be overturned.
“It’s not the equality that our forefathers fought for,” Haynes said. “I feel there’s a need for it and I believe that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will end this year.”
Adam Haynes is a small-town boy with dreams to serve his community. Eventually he wants to open a law firm, become a father, and do what he can to help those around him.
“I am who I am,” Haynes said. “You’ve just got to be yourself.”