Half of them rallied on Grand River Avenue to support President Bush. The others posted fliers across campus announcing Howard Dean's visit or in support for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.
But members of both MSU College Democrats and MSU College Republicans have put aside their differing views for the first time in recent history to challenge ASMSU's election code.
Their bipartisan action against MSU's undergraduate student government began last week when the new code was released. It's the first time current members say they can remember working with each other.
Executive board members met last week to discuss action against the code, which they said limits free speech regarding candidate endorsements.
ASMSU officials have said their code reiterates Spartan Life code policies, and the groups should address those instead.
"I think it's really significant, because we all want the same thing," said Tim Phelps, vice chair of MSU College Republicans. "The difference is, we have different visions of how we get there."
MSU College Democrats spokeswoman Jaclyn Macek agreed, adding the meeting was "quite peaceful" and that any partisan political discussion was made in jest.
"I think working together gives us a lot more credibility," Macek said of the groups' complaints to ASMSU. "If one group decided to go alone, I'm not sure they would have been taken as seriously."
Bipartisan action is good practice for the real political world, said Sen. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing.
Bernero used the state budget as an example of both parties working together.
"It's not 100 percent what Democrats want or 100 percent what Republicans want, but we ended up with a good mix of what reflects public priorities," he said.
Bernero said he was delighted MSU students are attacking what they see as a problem instead of each other.
"They can set an example, because not enough of it goes on up here," he said.
After the groups resolve their case with ASMSU, Phelps isn't sure they will continue to work with each other, although members aren't opposed to it.
"It's going to be really busy for the next nine or 10 months," Phelps said of their work during an election year. "We need to stay on the ball and do our stuff."
For more information on MSU College Democrats, visit www.msu.edu/~msudems. For more information on MSU College Republicans, visit www.msucollegerepublicans.org.
