With just about two weeks left until Election Day, the Hopkins campus is buzzing with political activity. The College Democrats and the College Republicans are both putting forth strong efforts to get students involved and to promote their candidates.
Hopkins proves to be a split campus. Unlike other schools that tend to reflect an overwhelmingly liberal or conservative majority, Hopkins has a decent balance of political affiliations.
Despite differing views, the College Democrats and the College Republicans have worked together to plan events in preparation for the election. "There has been a strong effort to build bridges between the Republicans and the Democrats," said sophomore Marc Goldwein, Director of Operations of the College Republicans.
Officers of the College Democrats agree with Goldwein. "The dynamic between the two groups presents healthy challenges and excellent civil dialogue," said sophomore Sarah David, Vice President of the College Democrats.
With strong motives to get students involved and voting, both groups held a joint voter registration drive, along with the Hopkins American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), where students could register to vote and pick up absentee ballots.
Both clubs have also participated in conjunction with the MSE Symposium, working to bring significant political speakers to campus.
Speakers have helped to educate students about the current events facing our country and to give students a better understanding of what lies at stake in the upcoming election.
In the past couple of weeks, each club has held debate parties, bringing students together to watch the Presidential debates.
The College Democrats and College Republicans will be coming together on Monday, Oct. 25, to hold debates of their own. In a set-up mirroring the Presidential debates, students from each group will come together to go head-to-head on the major issues of this election.
The dedicated officers and members of each group have been busy with the events being held by their respective organizations, in an effort to have their political voices heard. The College Democrats have organized weekly themes, spending Wednesdays talking with staff and students on the Breezeway. One of the most memorable themes of this semester was "Asses Love Kerry." Students proudly sported Kerry stickers on their derrieres to voice their political views and support their candidate.
The Democrats organized a barbecue for students at the end of September, featuring Baltimore's own Mayor O'Malley as a speaker, along with other political delegates from the Baltimore area. Large crowds gathered on the Beach to enjoy food and to show their political support for the community.
The College Democrats have spread their efforts beyond the Hopkins campus, participating in numerous events throughout the city, as well as organized trips to Pennsylvania and Florida to share their views with voters and encourage people to get out and vote.
With the same goals of motivating student participation and promoting their candidates, the College Republicans have worked to voice their views to the Hopkins community.
Besides cosponsoring MSE speakers, the Republicans have brought other figures to campus to help represent their views and educate students, including Michelle Mulkins.
The Republicans have organized trips for group members and students to promote their views and encourage the American public to vote. Each year the group travels to D.C. to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). In the weekend before the election, the group will be traveling to Ohio to participate in a 72-hour task force. This is an intense period for them to really focus on bringing people out to vote and motivating political activism.
Members have also been making plans for the big Election Day on Nov. 2. Members of the College Republicans will be stepping out into the community- driving to the poles, poll watching and working as poll captains.
The College Democrats will be organizing transportation for Hopkins students to the polls, as well as holding events to promote their candidate on the upper quad.
Each group also holds weekly meeting, for students interested in becoming more politically involved.
The Republicans meet every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Mattin Center, and the Democrats meet every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. in the Mattin Center.
