Kerry backers show student activism

Democratic presidential candidate Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry may not have come to Johns Hopkins on his stop in Baltimore last week, but a handful of Hopkins students still showed support for Kerry's campaign at the early morning rally at Morgan State University.

Members of Students for Kerry, an outshoot of the Hopkins College Democrats, were in charge of working the crowd and initiating cheers at the rally, and they helped sign up people to volunteer for Maryland's primary election last Tuesday as well. Students for Kerry handed out Kerry paraphernalia in churches and various other locations.

Hopkins may have a strong pre-medical presence among its students, but the student body is increasingly politically active . The College Democrats have been immersing themselves political activity, but their most recent showing of political activism has arisen from their decision to endorse Kerry for president. With this decision, Students for Kerry was formed.

Although it is a huge effort, the Democrats became heavily involved in the campaigning. In organizing the group's support, College Democrat Stephanie Hausner, as the group's John Kerry campus coordinator, contacted Kerry's headquarters and was later put in touch with the Maryland Field Team. As the campus coordinator, Hausner heads Students for Kerry.

Together, their plan of action for endorsing Kerry included "phone banking," which involves calling residents and asking who they plan to vote for, as well as telling local community members of Kerry's motivations and the reasons to vote for him.

Students participated in a "midnight meeting," flyered Homewood campus with endorsements, worked near the polling stations on election day at the English Lutheran Church and handed out information sheets.

On election day, members of Students for Kerry stood a regulated distance outside of the polls, and as voters arrived, disseminated literature in support of Kerry, Democratic Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Democratic Congressman Benjamin Cardin. Representatives from the Edwards and Kucinich campaigns were also present. As voters left the polling stations, members of Students for Kerry conducted an exit poll.

"It's been really exciting to work on the Kerry campaign so far, and that all was brought together when I was able to share my excitement with the voters of Charles Village as I handed out flyers and information about John Kerry and garnered support for my candidate," said Hausner.

Hausner feels that enthusiasm for politics hasn't always been present at Hopkins. When she arrived here as a freshman, she said, political activism was "completely dead."

The College Democrats only existed marginally last year. "Hopkins students are not politically active," Hausner said, "but the majority of students identify themselves as Democrats."

Change may be forthcoming in student involvement, she added. The International Relations major, for example, is, for the second year in a row, the most common major at Hopkins, beating out Biology once again.

"People need to realize it's their future too," said Hausner, commenting on student political participation. "The younger the people who get involved, the better. We're planning for our own future," she said.

The club encourages the student body to attend speakers scheduled in upcoming months, particularly a conference taking place on April 16.

The Democrats are also promoting Kerry through the Hopkins Donkey, the Democratic publication on campus.

Although the College Democrats are currently on a short break since Kerry has secured his party's nomination, they plan to soon become involved in a coordinated election campaign with the Democratic office of Maryland.

-Staff writer Ron Demeter contributed to this article.