A look back at the 2004 political conven tions Colby campus participa tes in voter mgistmtionxirive The group has a website at By MARK CHAPMAN http://www.neWvotersproject.org. CONTRIBUTING WRITER While Maine is not one of the specific focus states for the organization, its Across the United States organiza- status as a "swing" state in this year's tions and individuals are gearing up for ele ction makes the mobilization of the closing stages of preparation for voters especially important here. Thus, the U.S. presidential election, now less many voters are being encouraged to than one month away. Students, facul- vote in Maine in lieu of voting in their ty and staff are working hard to ensure home state, in which the results may that a certain college on a hill in central be a foregone conclusion. Maine does not get left behind. Colby's chapter of the New Voters Increasing voter registration is a Project has conducted several regis- major part of the process. Director of tration drives on campus, including the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs having a table at the Student and Civic Engagement and William R. Activities Fair and tables set up at Kenan Jr. Professor of Government L. each of the dining halls on Sept. 29, at Sandy Maisel commented, "There is which they were able to get approxi- no more basic form of civil engage- mately 230 and 250 (respectively) ment than voting." Thus, the Goldfarb students to register. They intend to Center is working in partnership with build on this significant success various Colby clubs and organizations through more voter drives until Oct. to encourage more people to register 19, after which they will shift their to vote and inform themselves in the focus to reminding those who. have run-up to the elections. registered to vote and providing logis- Leading the charge is an organiza- tical support for voters, such as shut- tion new to Colby, the New Voters tles to the polls. The group also Project. Part of a nationwide campaign traveled to the Common Ground to engage young Americans (aged 18- C ountry Fair in Unity, where they 25) in the political process, the Mew managed to get approximately 65 Voters Project is a non-partisan orga- youth from the area to register, while ' ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ nization that hopes to get at least receiving kudos for their efforts from . NOAH BALKS/THE COLBY ECHO Sen. John Kerry speaks at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston on August 29. Coverage ofthe DNC and RNC on pages 2 and 3. 260,000 young voters registered in six strategic states. Continued on Page 2 Liberal activist speaks in Pugh CBB p rogramsin their f inal year By CHARLES FREDERICK ing majority in our lifetime." polls. Brown's message was mainly By BRAD KASNET CONTRIBUTING WRITER Anderson read entries by Adrienne an invitation to young voters to take . NEWS EDITOR - . Maree Brown, a singer and program back something that was stolen from Piper Anderson, a representative director for the League, and Aya de them, "Young people are not apathetic The Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Study from the League of Pissed Off Voters, about politics," she wrote, She also Abroad Centres in London, England a nonprofit organization working to asserted that young people have been and Cape Town, South Africa are in help elect liberal politicians , came to bereaved of political power. "That their final years of operation and the Pugh Center on Tues., Sept. 28. When our stick- power is withheld from us...When our there are no plans for Colby to con- Anderson urged young voters to regis- ers can be [League of Pissed Off Voters] stickers tinue operating any program s in ter and vote, presenting severa l moti- can be found on every lamppost, those locales. The CBB program in vational speeches selected from the found on every every street corner, suddenly, you own Quito, Ecuador was also scheduled to League's publication , "How To Get lamppost, every democracy again." De Leon had a be shut down after this year, but did Stupid White Men Out Of Office " message of tolerance for. persuading not run this fall because not enough Anderson is one of the contributing street corner, those who are not straight-ticket liber- students signed up. authors to the publication. She suddenly you als: "If we don't connect to these peo- Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin described herself as a queer woman of ple, the other side will." Colleges launched the collaborative color, performance poet, writer, edu- own democracy Despite her organization 's visible effort in 1999, which offered students cator and activist. She also served as liberal tilt , neither Anderson nor any the opportunity to study with other again. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAD KASNET organizing co-chair for the "Listen of (he contributing writers from whom CBB students and a mix of both CBB The fall 2003 CBB London group on a trip to Glencoe, Scotland. Up, America" initiative and coordina- Adrienne Maree Brown she read mentioned the names ol and local professors. The decision to tor of (he "Lyrics on Lockdown " League of Pissed Off Voters President Bush, Hen . Join? Kerry o; end the programs was made last Ireland; Dijon, France; Salamanca, national anti-prison tour. Anderson is other political figures in today 's spring by Colby President William D. Colby students Spain; and St. Petersburg, Russia will promoting the book lo further its func- administration or opposition, Adams , Bates President Elaine he unaffected by the closure of the tion as support for the League ol Leon , a poet whose work focuses on Anderson also requested that the audi- Hansen and Bowdoin President Barry have not usually CBB programs. The Off-Campus Pissed-OIT Voters' cause. The African-American women. Brown is ence not ask questions about these fi g- Mills. Financial reasons were cited in had problems Study Office's list of approved pro- League's mission is "to engage pissed in charge of several national training ures, likel y because of the the decision to close the programs, grams includes about a dozen other off 17-35 year olds in the democratic programs designed to get young left- based on difficulty in achieving being accepted programs in England , including sev- process to build a progressive govern- wing voters and their friends to the Continued on Page 2 steady enrollment in the programs, into the pro- eral in London, and two programs in "Students were kind of voting with Ecuador, although no other programs their feet," Adams said. He noted that grams of their in South Africa. "CBB programs have Ihe CB \i programs represent only a choice... only been in existence for about four few of (he many opd'ons available lo years so Colby had already developed Colby Green grand opening Saturday students looking to study abroad. "A Martha Denney a large list of approved programs that ' vast majority [ of students] don 't go Director of Off-Campus Study is still valid ," Denney said. "Colby By BRAD KASNET William I) . Adams said, noting that will shift to the Colby Green, where a on CBIS programs ," Adams said. students have not usually had prob- NEWS EDITOR the campus master plan mark s the ribbon will encircle the green. Glass Before launching the CBB centers, lems being accepted into the pro- most si gnificant expansion to the officers will be stationed around the Colby ran its own program in London CHI J London, which Colby takes grams of their choice, as long as they A grand opening for the Colby May flower Hill campus since it was green and , on the signal from Student and the London program has always administrative responsibility for. He meet the eligibility requirements ol Green will he held on Saturday follow- built around Ihe 1940s and 1950s. "It 's Government Association President had more Colby students enrolled said thai (he College is currentl y the programs and apply in a timely ing the conclusion of the Colhy- a very hig deal ," he said. Cat Welch '05, the class officers will than Hates or Bowdoin students. working on how lo handle the lease way. That phenomenon will not be Wesleyan football game, which is This Saturday 's celebration is cut Ihe ribbon with gold-plated scis- Because of this , there was talk that on the building where (lie center is affected at all by (he CBB decision." expected al about 3:30 or 'I p.m. The "meant to be a rather informal and fun sors . The ultimate frisbee team will Colby could continue its own pro- located and what will happen with Despite the decision to end Colby Green is the new elli ptical lawn sort of thing, " Adams said. "This is to take to the green and give out 500 gram in London aller the CBH pro- employees of the center. "There are a Colby 's presence in London, former that sits across Mayllower Hill Drive show that it 's there for informal play," commemorative!IVishees. gram closes, bul the College decided lot of legal t 's to cross and i's to dot , students continued to sing the praises from the main academic quad. Il will he Vice President of Student A ffairs and Refreshments al the event will have against this possibility, "Wo decided but we're at work on those things." of the London program and the the focal point for campus expansion Dean of Students Janice Kassman said. an autumn theme , including an apple that it was not viable as a go-it-alone Yasinski said, unique experience it offered.