Democrats Young And Old Unite
When Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley appeared in Chestertown
at the first rally of the newly formed Democratic Club of Kent
County in early February, local organizers tipped their hats
to a 19-year-old college sophomore who motivated them by his
own example. Chestertown Mayor Margo Bailey thought that if
the College had an active Democratic club, then certainly Kent
County needed one.
Mike Shaffer, a political science major from Frostburg, organized
the Washington College Democrats last semester in response to
a speaker the College Republicans brought to campus. The topic:
“Why The Left Hates America.” The Democratic club
had languished in recent years, while the College Republicans
were going strong.
“That talk gave breath to our organization,” Shaffer
says. “I saw a real need on campus for political balance—the
need to educate people and get them involved in the political
process.”
Melissa Deckman, assistant professor of political science, is
serving as the faculty adviser to the group.
The student club has formed an alliance with the County’s
group, pledging to help out with future rallies and to provide
some enthusiastic volunteers as local political campaigns heat
up. “It was great to see so many Democrats come out to
support the launching of the new club,” Shaffer said after
the O’Malley rally. “The College Democrats are excited
to get involved with local politics in any way possible.”
The Washington College Democrats, now grown to 56 members, are
working to register Democratic voters on campus, to raise awareness
about issues that should matter to college students, and to
keep students informed as the presidential race progresses.
They helped to spread the word about the O’Malley event,
a membership drive for the newly formed club of registered Democrats
in Kent County that will work to support Democratic issues on
county, state and national levels.
Its mission includes voter registration and voter education,
and collaboration with the Kent County Democratic Central Committee.
“We also want to support the students in their efforts
by serving as advisers to the Washington College Democrats,”
notes P Trams Hollingsworth ’75 M’85, one of the
organizing members of the Democratic Club of Kent County. “We’re
thrilled to see students who are interested and energized in
this really important election year.”
Between classes, Shaffer passes out Howard Dean buttons wherever
he goes. Another club member, Minety Abraham ’04, spent
her winter break working for the Lieberman campaign. Still,
the club members expect to unite next fall in their bid to elect
ABB—“Anybody But Bush.”
“Among the issues that concern us are the state of higher
education in Maryland in the wake of budget cuts, universal
health care, civil rights, particularly the rights of gays and
lesbians, and the war in Iraq,” says Shaffer. “We’d
like to see the U.S. do the right thing in Iraq and turn over
sovereignty to that country sooner rather than later.”
|
|
|
