Students organize election day events

Jamie Rosen Staff Writer

Democracy Matters, the Moderate Independent Conservative Alliance (MICA), and Vassar College Democrats will collaborate Tuesday Nov. 2 to facilitate local voting and host an Election Night party.
Democracy Matters will transport students via shuttle to three polling locations assigned to Vassar students. According to Vassar College Democrats Vice President Rachel Zoghlin ’07, shuttles will run from Main Circle from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 2.

Members of College Democrats and Democracy Matters will assist students who have questions at the polls via an Election Day hotline, which will be accessible from the shuttles. Members of Democracy Matters will also be at the polls to provide support.

“This way, if there are any common or uncommon problems, we can help the person so they are able to vote,” said Democracy Matters Coordinator Katherine Goldstein ’05.

“[The Election Night party] will be a classic Vassar dance party, political...themed, of course,” Zoghlin said. Vassar College Democrats will host the party, MICA will provide manpower, and Democracy Matters and other campus groups will co-sponsor the party.

MICA President Harrison Kell ’05 said he is pleased that his non-liberal group will collaborate with other political organizations. “Our collaboration can be seen, I think, as an acknowledgement of our importance on campus, a realization that there is another point-of-view out there, and that, as the primary representatives of that perspective, our presence is necessary for a true and healthy political environment to exist at Vassar,” he said.

“The results of the election affect all of us, so it only makes sense that we all work together for this event,” said Zoghlin.

“I think if things go well for Kerry, it will be a happy celebration, as most people here obviously want the Democrats to win; the sense of relief will be tremendous, like a stale breath held for four years has finally been expelled,” added Kell. “If Bush is re-elected, I think there will be a lot of anger, but it will be paired with a sense of loss and extreme disappointment.”

21st Century Democrats will coordinate a trip to Ohio for students to promote Kerry from Sunday, Oct. 31 to Wednesday, Nov. 3. Students will talk to swing voters and transport them to polls on Nov. 2.