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By Ame Phitwong Senior News Reporter
As the campaign for the presidency begins nearly a year sooner than usual, students at UP are gearing up early to support their political causes.
Last Friday, several UP students headed out to the Convention Center to show their support of Barrack Obama in his campaign for the 2008 presidency.
Senior Jessica Lewicki, who also participates in UP's College Democrats, attended the event with some other students from the club. The club volunteered at the event through Countdown to Change and met with other Democrats from Linfield College. They greeted press and directed questions and people.
"Fortunately, our executive board got a great position to rally in the top level of the stands, holding 'Oregon for Obama' signs, showing our support for the camera crews and holding the best seats in the house to view the speech," Lewicki said.
Lewicki said she enjoyed the intensity and spirit present at the speech.
"There were Republicans, Democrats, Independents and people of all ages and races, which solidified what a great candidate can do. I got chills when he spoke," she said. Lewicki thought Barrack's passion and enthusiasm resonated in the air.
Senior Megan Gill is part of UP's College Republicans.
"We haven't backed a candidate because there's so many. We all have differing opinions and personal preferences," she said. "Generally, we allow all members to have a candidate. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion and candidate."
Gill said the club participated in the last governor's election in Oregon, supporting Ron Saxton. She said five or six members of College Republicans each logged in 40 hours a week, walked miles for the campaign, and made thousands of phone calls. Until the candidates narrow down or as the 2008 election near, Megan Gill said things are not concrete yet in terms of what the College Republicans has planned.
Although some students do have direct plans for campaigning, being involved in a political campaign and balancing school can be difficult. Senior Jeff Gill said he is less involved in campaigns at the state or national level, but will still go to events like the Obama rally and do some volunteer work for the Democratic Party of Oregon. Right now, he said his focus is on school and a local campaign. He is currently campaigning for Cyreena Boston, who is running for House District 43 in North Portland. He is also passionate about ballot Measure 50, which would increase the price of cigarettes by 85 cents to provide health insurance for 100,000 children in Oregon.
"It's important to me because, as a UP student, I believe in social justice - social justice through economic growth - and I feel my support of this bill kills two birds with one stone," he said.
For the 2008 election, Lewicki said she will be working closely with the Democratic Party of Oregon and College Democrats to canvas for voter registration with the goal to dramatically increase voter numbers.
"We hope to end some UP apathy," Lewicki said.
In the coming years, Jeff Gill hopes to see the national debt lower and economic growth become a priority in the U.S.
"Young people are who hold all the power in our society," Gill said. "If you think that I am wrong or idealistic or boring than just imagine how this institution would crumble if we were to decide to walk out."
