Looking out over the faces of about 100 University students in a dimly lit lecture hall, Michelle Dixon, Carry Oregon student outreach director, asks audience members to raise their hands if they are scared by polls about the recent presidential debate.
Nearly 100 hands shoot into the air.
Poised before the crowd, Dixon springs forward as she asks how many people do not feel represented by the polls, which show that President Bush may win the state. Once again, a forest of hands rises, and irate shouts echo throughout the room.
But Dixon tells the crowd not to worry.
“We can win the election here,” she said. “We can be the campus that wins the state of Oregon for John Kerry.”
Dixon and other speakers addressed student supporters of democratic nominee John Kerry during a rally Tuesday night in an effort to coordinate student involvement in the Kerry campaign. As the audience snacked on cookies, pizza and soda, the representatives from regional and campus Kerry campaigns emphasized the importance of the University and Eugene communities in winning Oregon for Kerry. The meeting kicked-off of a coordinated effort between several groups of Kerry supporters, including the University College Democrats.
Lane County Commissioner Peter Sorenson also addressed the crowd. Sorenson encouraged students to participate in state and local elections, citing gay marriage and the potential dissolving of the SAIF Corporation as significant issues of student concern. He encouraged them to read handouts listing his views on several ballot measures.
“It’s crucial you get out and vote against those bad ballot measures,” he said.
Also at the meeting, College Democrats co-Chairman Kevin Curtin organized the audience into several “precincts” that will work to increase activism in specific areas of campus, such as residence halls and the greek system.
Dixon said University Kerry supporters have exceeded their goals for recruitment, with more than 700 volunteers involved in the campaign.
Students turned out for the rally for different reasons. Freshman Sarah Cate said she was previously involved with political activism in her hometown of Ashland and wanted to become a part of campus politics. Cate described the political climate on campus as “overwhelmingly liberal,” adding that there is a lack of debate on key issues.
“It is quieter than I thought it would be,” she said. “The lack of controversy makes things kind of dull.”
Freshman Daniel Sexton said he attended the rally for “free food and Bush bashing,” adding that he sees Kerry’s stances on healthcare
and tuition as some of the
characteristics that set him apart from Bush.
Junior Liz Sternberg said she turned out to support the Kerry campaign because she believes the democratic candidate will handle the war in Iraq differently than Bush.
“I feel like this election is really about international affairs, particularly in Iraq,” she said. “I don’t like the way Bush is handling it.”
Meanwhile, 48 people turned out for the first University College Republicans meeting of the term Tuesday. College Republicans Chairwoman Laura Jenkins said she was pleased with the turnout.
“We’re hoping in the next couple weeks to continue to grow, but we had a great turnout, and we’re really enthusiastic,” she said.
Jenkins said the group will try to have a daily presence to show support for President Bush and will meet at the Town Club in Eugene to watch the upcoming presidential debate at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
“We’ve got more Republicans out there than people realize,” she said. “We’ve got plans; we’ll be out there.”
The College Democrats will meet to watch the upcoming presidential debate at 6 p.m. in Knight Law Center Room 110.
The Democratic Party of Oregon will host former democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean at 11:45 a.m. on Friday in the EMU Amphitheater.

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