Regis University ePublications at Regis University Highlander - Regis University's Student-Written Archives and Special Collections Newspaper 11-1-2004 2004 Highlander Vol 87 No 6 November 1, 2004 Follow this and additional works at: https://epublications.regis.edu/highlander Part of the Catholic Studies Commons, and the Education Commons Recommended Citation "2004 Highlander Vol 87 No 6 November 1, 2004" (2004). Highlander - Regis University's Student-Written Newspaper. 174. https://epublications.regis.edu/highlander/174 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Archives and Special Collections at ePublications at Regis University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Highlander - Regis University's Student-Written Newspaper by an authorized administrator of ePublications at Regis University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. X01Hrne 87 lssue 6 peqyer. G01°rag0 November 1, 2994 The Jesuit University of the Rocky Mountains A \\'eekly Student Publication Candidate's Fraud reports make final jELECTION 20041 abound in heat­ • • ed election swing 1n co Andrea Silva Staff Reporter Carly Le Tourneau Staff Reporter After the recount chaos of the 2000 election, it's safe to say that the With this election being called majority of America has realized that the most important in our lifetime, it is every vote really does count. This only natural for .the last minute cam­ election, zealous organizations, count­ paigning to be hectic. Each camp's less commercials and programs on volunteers are busy knocking on TV, and even celebrities are doing doors, posting up signs and making their best to bombard citizens with hundreds of phone calls to get those their civic responsibility to vote. last minute votes. Both the Kerry­ However, due to the closeness of this Edwards and the Bush-Cheney offices election, the way registration organiza­ here in Denver were so busy that nei­ tions pay their employees and glitches ther could be reached for comment. in the registration system, fraud and The Washington Post has error have been running rampant with­ recently removed Colorado from the in the voter registration process. list of swing states. According to the Fraud where one party Oct. 25 issue of The Rocky Mountain Photos courtesy of gop.org attempts to eliminate registrations News, Sen. John Kerry has "scaled Though most don't believe Colorado is a swing state any longer, the pres­ from the opposing party has made back his television ads in Colorado idential candidates and their families have spent a significant amount of headlines in recent news. Perhaps the and scrapped a planned campaign time in Colorado during the run up to the election. most appalling case of this was the stop in Denver." Instead, he is focus­ Laura Bush is most likely to happen especially here in Colorado, a state report of the Republican-funded ing on more "hotly contested" swing before Nov. 2, said Sara Taylor, a Bush that Bush easily won in 2000. organrzation Voters Outreach of states such as Ohio, Florida, strategist. Members of both the Bush Colorado has been among the final America in Nevada which attempted to Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. This, and Cheney families have been seen dozen battlegrounds on both cam­ purge 17,000 Democrat voter registra­ however, does not mean that the around Colorado these past few paign trails in the final month before tion forms (www.OemocracyNow.org, Kerry-Edwards offices in Denver are weeks. On Oct. 19, the Bush twins, the election. But regardless of who cut 14 Oct. 2004). According to senior conceding. In the days leading up to Barbara and Jenna made a visit to the what funds and who visits more often, Scott Forrester, who works for the election, several rallies and parties University of Denver campus with the in less than 48 hours, we will (if there Kerry/Edwards Colorado Victory 2004, will be held by Kerry spokespeople Vice President's daughter, Liz Cheney. are no ballot recounts), have named the New Voters Project, as well as and volunteers all around Colorado. The following weekend brought the one of these two candidates the other registration organizations, has The Bush-Cheney camp con­ vice president to a rally in Grand President of the United States for the likewise been accused of purging reg­ tinues to concentrate on gaining all of Junction. Senator Kerry also made an next four years. istration forms from both parties. It is Colorado's nine electoral votes. appearance on Oct. 23 in Pueblo. estimated that potentially thousands of Another visit to the state by either Vice The candidates have been in a registrations have been fraudulently President Dick Cheney or First Lady virtual dead heat this entire election, removed from the rolls, though it is not clear how or if this will affect the out­ come of the election. Alumnus provides Senate race alternative Another problem with voter registration has been occurring when Chris Dieterich opportunity to make a real difference in employees looking to collect a hefty Associate Editor Colorado politics." paycheck have forged signatures and Acosta has long been a stu­ sometimes even registered fake iden­ For months now, voters have dent of Jesuit traditions. After getting a tities. Earlier this year, an Aurora man been told that the race for Colorado's Bachelor's degree from Loyola who worked for the registration busi­ coveted U.S. Senate seat is a con­ Marymount University, he attended ness Choose 2 Vote was charged with tentious one. Though most voters will graduate school at Regis. Here, he forging 48 false registration forms likely select either Attorney General received a Master of Science in (Denver Channel 7 News, 20 Aug. Ken Salazar or Pete Coors to fill the Information Systems, with Honors. Fed 2004 ). Forrester believes that organi­ vacancy left by Senator Ben up with what he considered a lack of a zations that pay their employees for Nighthorse Campbell, these are cer­ Raul Acost is running as a write-in quality candidates, Acosta felt com­ every person they register are respon­ tainly not the only options. Regis canidate for the Colorado's vacant pelled to run for U.S. Senate the only sible for this type of fraud. University Alumnus Raul Acosta is one U.S. Senate seat. way he could, as a write-in. For example, some busi­ of several candidates running for nesses pay employees $2 a signature, Acosta wishes to provide voters with a Senate on the commonly overlooked (Continued on page 3) choice beyond the major parties, "I write-in section of the 2004 ballot. (Continued on page 3) offer the voters an alternative, the A quick guide to local election issues Pg.6-7 ... Monday, November 1, 2004 2 Highlander Election Highlander 3333 Regis Blvd, Mail Stop 1-8 Highlander endorses a candidate Denver CO 80221 In keeping with the traditional den to future generations is unaccept- shown us no reason to believe ~e 303-964-5391 role of a newspaper during an election, able, especially because as students, would make any major _improveme~t" as well as our stated mission of we see ourselves and our peers as On the issue of national secun Y, Mission Statement: th encouraging participation in our com- ·those upon which the burden will fall. Senator Kerry voted in favor of e As the staff of the Regis University stu­ munity, the Highlander has attempted Education policy has been well-inten- Patriot Act and, though he prop~ses ldent-run publication, the Highlander, we to cover election issues in an objective tioned but unsuccessful. The No Ch11d modifications, still supports the legi~la­ intend to serve the campus and the manner. As a way to participate in the Left Behind Act has been under fund- tion. Kerry has spoken of .reducing neighborhood by providing a weekly democratic process and as a means to ed, though to his credit the President outsourcing in order to pr?vi_de more forum regarding pertinent news and ideas. Our publication is designed to further encourage others to participate, has worked to increase funding for jobs for Americans, but this is a task cultivate greater overall awareness and the editorial staff of the Highlander has higher education and has requested too great for him to claim to be able to participation in university events by pro­ chosen to follow the model of estab- more money to be allotted for Pell tackle. Given all the aforementioned viding consistent coverage of issues lished newspapers by endorsing a Grants. The Patriot Act is a clear viola­ affecting those involved with Regis information, the Highlander still Presidential candidate. tion of our 'civil liberties, regardless of University. Often times the first question the constraint it places upon possible believes that George W. Bush is the strongest candidate for President. In a that a discerning citizen will ask is: Am terrorists. Editor-in-Chief post September world, national I better off because of the policies of Job loss must certainly be a 11 Ed Bessenbacher the incumbent? If we used this rubric concern, especially for a group of security became the most important here, it would make it difficult to young adults about to enter a job mar­ issue for our nation, and though the Associate Editor endorse President Bush. However, ket that has seen a decline in net job President's approach at times seems Chris Dieterich the events of September 11 have opportunities during the Bush bold, it is just such an approach that made the answer to this question less Presidency. However, we do not will insure American safety in the next Opinions Editor likely to inform the final decision. believe that the President is solely four years.