What We Accomplished!

by Daryn Cambridge

This was a historic election and many people accurately predicted that young voters were going to come out in record numbers.  To prepare for the election Democracy Matters chapters informed students on the issues facing the country and the voting process.  We launched an aggressive election protection campaign in conjunction with Common Cause and were able to produce some outstandinf results.

Across our 75 campus chapters in 22 states we were able to achieve the following goals...

Protecting the Student Vote

Daryn Cambridge

Over the past ten days, Common Cause staff and our allies at Democracy Matters have been traveling through several battleground states, helping our student organizers educate their peers about their voting rights, preparing them for a record turnout, and giving them information about the 1-866-OUR-VOTE election protection hot line and what to do if they encounter any problems casting a ballot.

On September 17th, the Brockport Chapter of Democracy Matters (Coordinator Randall Franklin) co-sponsored a naturalization ceremony held on the campus of the College at Brockport N.Y. The event took place on Constitution Day, which gave the ceremony a spirit of patriotism and excitement.

VP Debate Watch Party

Southern Methodist University, TX

Cody Meador

Democracy Matters SMU led an effort to coordinate student groups on campus to bring people to see the vice presidential debate and register to vote. The Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department sponsored the showing of the debate. Democracy Matters, Students for a Better Society, Political Science Symposium, Association of Black Students, SMU Democrats, and College Republicans were all present with information for students on registering and getting involved. We had JD’s cookies, and coffee from 7-Eleven. The coffee donation was arranged by the CCPA Department, but DM wound up coordinating that aspect of the event, too, working with the 7-Eleven sponsors and getting the coffee to the event. 7-Eleven was promoting it’s new “7-Election ’08” which allows people to vote based on cup choice (http://www.7-election.com/). Attendees at our debate event were able to choose a red McCain cup, a blue Obama, or a regular undecided cup. 

We needed a big event to gain visibility on campus, introduce ourselves to students, and gain a reputation of a fun, exciting new group to be a part of. We came up with Democracy Fest, An outdoor event, taking advantage of the beautiful Indiana weather we have had so far, with live bands, free food, games, and of course speakers to highlight some of the most important issues we want to get across.

Does Experience Matter in Presidential Politics?

Calvin College, MI

Emily Daher

Does “experience” matter in Presidential politics? Calvin College Democracy Matters co-sponsored an event with the Political Science Department on Constitution day. The event focused on the current Presidential election and the Constitutional requirements for Presidential Candidates. The event began with a debate between two professors and the passing out of pocket Constitutions. The Professors contemplated whether there should be a requirement for a specific number of years in public office added to the Constitutional requirements for President.

At Penn State University, Constitution Day wasn’t an event that people were preparing for. At 9 a.m. it still wasn’t spoken about. However, the blocks were being set up. Seven chalkboard blocks were set up around campus to commemorate Constitution Day in an unusual way. The blocks each served as the response for a constitution-related question. Up at the Palmer Museum of Art, Democracy Matters and Amnesty International were sponsoring the blocks at a busy area of campus. The forum building ended classes, and 1,000 students flooded out into the walk. Democracy Matters sponsored two “writer’s blocks” on campus for this year’s Constitution Day, highlighting thought provoking questions for students to answer.

Film Screening and Recapture the Flag

Nicole Hanson

Bradley University, IL

In order to promote the brand-new Democracy Matters chapter, I wanted to host a movie screening, as these events are quite popular on our campus. I chose a film on foreign policy, in hopes of targeting students from another organization concerned with international politics, in addition to the general campus population. I was lucky enough to be organizing this event at the same time Common Cause launched a new campaign. My staff link and I realized that "The War on Democracy" and the Recapture the Flag Campaign could easily go hand-in-hand.

From the National Constitution Center: “On Sept. 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution was signed by thirty-nine brave men who changed the course of history. Now Constitution Day is a time for us to continue their legacy and develop habits of citizenship in a new generation of Americans.”

Today, and throughout the month of September, many coordinators are running campaigns educating and informing their campus and community about the ways in which the principles of Constitution have been trampled over the past eight years.  Common Cause (DM’s parent organization) has been running a “Recapture the Flag” campaign for the past few weeks that is calling on Congress and those running for office to sign a pledge promising they will work to curb the abuses of power in the Executive branch.  Check out the official campaign website below and feel free to pass it along to your friends and members.

The event was sponsored by Public Citizen and our local group Clean Elections Texas-Dallas, with a special support from Democracy Matters and League of Women Voters-Dallas (both organizations are part of the Clean Elections Texas coalition).