Bill Bradley Addresses College Students at MIT Former NBA Star, Senator Hopes to Gain Support with Youth During Presidential Bid
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THE[Where You Read It First TUFTS Wednesday, September 22,1999DAILY Volume XXXIX, Number 9 Bill Bradley addresses college students at MIT Former NBA star, senator hopes to gain support with youth during presidential bid by DANIELBARBARIS1 ditionally liberal causes of racial tion, especially through the use of “There have Daily Editorial Board unity and environmental aware- television,’’ he said, his oversized always been Who is the real Bill Bradley? Is ness, Bradley benefits from a broad frame crammed into his seat, one gays in the he the jocular intellectualwho im- moderate appeal, won both hand loosely gripping the micro- military. The pressed and engaged the crowd of through his 17 years as a senator phone, the other lying on the table. problem is students and supporters in MIT’s from New Jersey and his career as “I think to the extent young that they’ve Wong Auditorium last night? Or is an basketball star fortheNew York people believe that money cor- had to hide. he the self proclaimed “intellec- hicks. rupts the democratic process,” “Why is it tual jock” who seemed ill-at-ease At the press conference, Brad- Bradley continued,launching into that gays can in an earlier, smallerpress confer- ley fielded questions from a num- one of his few formulaic pitches, be police of- ence, where his unquestionable ber of student reporters hailing “then that is a reason that they ficers, doc- command ofthe issues was almost from the Boston area and from should get involved in the cam- tors, and law- overshadowed by a very real, al- areasasfarawayasNew Yorkand paign. If they want to do some- yers, but they most awkward candorand a bum- hisalmamater, Princeton, in New thing about the environment, or to can’t be staff Photo--- -,bv Andrea - -- Wanher-. - ing determination? Jersey. foster racial unity, or to get more sergeants?” Bill Bradley with sophomore Ann Maurer, who Bradley has been threatening “I come to this meeting with a people covered by health insur- B r a d 1 e Y publicized the event on Tufts campus. the candidacyofVice President AI feeling that young people are ab- ance, or to reduce the number of asked those Gore, once thought to be a lock as solutely critical to the hture of children in poverty, then they present. “If the broader policy for 30 years,” Bradley said, “and the Democratic Party’s nominee this campaign,” Bradley said. “The should get involved.” was changed ... it follows from over those 30 years there’s been for president.Championingthetra- key is for them to get to know me. Bradley took strong stands on this that it would extend to the one continuum, and that’s been Not as a basketball a number of volatile issues rang- ROTC.” me going out to strangers, and player, and not as a ingfiomafirmativeactiontocam- Not shying away from other asking them to tell metheir stories. senator, but asapresi- paign finance reform, but perhaps tough issues, Bradley also pre- “Hearing those stories, I think, dential candidate. I his boldest move of late has been sented his views on affirmative ac- hasgivenmearealview ofwhothe think they would rec- his position on gay rights. Last tion. Affirmative action, hesaid,“has American people are.” ognize that the kind week, Bradley said hewouldelimi- animportantrole.Thekey istoreach The 300 people in the audito- of America I see is nate the Clinton administration’s out to the broadest possible com- rium apparently agreed with him, the kind of America “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on munity, andtodo it in the fairest way. many- including a Tufts contin- they would like to gays in the military, then going “I think it’s short-sighted to gent of more than 20 students or- see.” past that to include sexual orien- say we’re not going to use afirma- ganized by sophomore Ann Bradley added tation in the 1964 Civil Rights tive action anymore,” he con- Maurer-flashing signs support- that he has a true re- Act. Bradley reiterated his views cluded. ing the candidate. Once Bradley’s spect for young at yesterday’s conference, relat- Once the issue-heavy ques- speech had concluded and the people, a claim he ing them to a student issue at tion-and-answerof the press con- floor was opened to questions, backed up through Harvard University, a dispute on ference had concluded, Bradley sophomore Erin Ross asked Brad- the honest, unpre- whether federal ROTC scholar- and his entourage strolled over to ley his thoughts on a potential pared sincerity of ships should be granted to gay the Wong Auditorium for a cam- running mate. many of his answers students. paign rally and information ses- “In light of Elizabeth Dole’s on tough issues. “I “My personal view is that sion organized by a group of pro- campaign,” Ross asked, “I was Bradley’s demeanor seemed uncomfortable, think too much of gays should be able-to serve in Bradley students from local col- wondering if you’d given much yet determined during the press conference. politics is manipula- the military,” Bradley opined. leges and universities. thought to having a female candi- The cheers of 300 students and date for vice president.” 0 0 -* .. 0 supporters greeted Bradley as he Bradley nearly cut her off with m.usic wth actxwsm marched towardsthe podium, and the quickness of his answer, mat- OhCafe. / the adulation seemed to put him ter-of-factly stating, “Yes, I have,” Grand 0p e nin g concert to be held Friday nigh t immediately at ease. Trading smiles then going on to explain the quali- and waves with the audience, the ties he thought a vice president Bill Bradley who stood at the front must have. “The person would by BENJAMINGEDAN rate organization,but there is a lot ofoverlap between of the room no longer appeared have to step into office ifmy heart Daily Editorial Board the two,” Jovovic, a Collectivemember, explained. The first edition of the “Midnight CafP and the Oxfam Americais anon-governmentalorganiza- too big for his surroundings. stopped. A lot of women and a lot grand opening of Oxfam Cafd will be celebrated on tion and receives no federal funds. Likewise, Oxfam Towering above the student of minorities could do that. The organizers, the smiling presiden- key is going to be to find one who , Friday with a five-band free concert. The show, Cafe is not a Tufts Community Union Senate recog- overshadowed by the campus-wide Fall Fest ex- nized group and has to function without financial or tial candidate and 20-year politi- can work with you, on your team, travaganza, brings into sharper focus the role Oxfam any other type of assistance. For these reasons, cal veteran began with several for four to eight years.” . Cafd plays on campus as acenter of student activism fundraising is vital to the continuance of its work. anecdotes, delving into both his Though Bradley is not even and draws attention to Oxfam America’s interna- Collective members organize fundraising activi- early lifeand his presidential cam- close to picking a running mate, tional fight against hunger and poverty. ties for the central Oxfam America office in Boston. paign. and despite the long road he must Oxfam America is the 29-year-oldnationalbranch Their two major events are a campus fast in the fall “I’ve been out running now for travel before even becoming his ofthe powerhouse developmentalorganization Oxfam and the Hunger Banquet in the spring. The goal of about nine months, and it’s been party’s candidate, one student International. The group’s mission is to provide these Collective events is to “demonstrate the un- ajoyous experience. I knew I was asked Bradley what he would like “lasting solutions to hunger, poverty, and social equal distribution offood in the world,” Jovovic said. doing pretty well when I was in his legacy as president to be, as injustice through partnerships with poor communi- She noted that last April’s Hunger Banquet was very New Hampshire, and aman came well as how he would label himself ties around the world.” Each ofthe ten Oxfam mem- successful and the group hopes to recreate the up to me and gave me a bumper - looking for a catchphrase akin bers, the United States, and the other participating activity this year. Student participants in the fast stickerthat said, ‘Another Celtics to George W. Bush’s self-titling as countries, approaches this goal in a unique way. were randomly assigned an income group and fed fan for Bradley,”’he said, playing “the compassionate conserva- Oxfam America, the branch to which all proceeds of accordinglythroughout the day; the miniscule “high on the fabled Knicks-Celtics bas- tive.” Oxfam Cafe are donated, distributes its fundsto small income group” received a catered a meal while their ketball rivalry. Bradley at first demurred as to his legacy, then told the crowd community development programs and disaster re- lower income counterparts-representing nearly 85 Animated and gesticulating how he would like to be remem- lief projects, and it also lobbies politicians for “fair percent ofthe world population-were fed only rice broadly, Bradley now focused less Y and humane public policies.” and were forced to eat while seated on the ground. on the issues and more on his bered. “I’d like to preside over a Tufts University is the only school to house a cafd Although the cafd accommodatesthe Collective’s experiences and thoughts, crack- country that was at peace and was completely dedicated to raising money for Oxfam needs, it is also utilized by many campus groups. Eco, ing joke afterjoke to an apprecia- respected by people around the America, explained Cafe Events Manager Marisa an environmental group, Students for the Ethical tive audience, relating the lessons world.