Thursday, September 12, 1996
Political posturing with John
by John Rossomando
CoUtgioHHaff
Just a few weeks ago I was granted the
honor of being invited to the Republican
National Convention in San Diego as part
of the Young Voters Program. Every
participant paid $325 for room, board, and
transportation as well as airfare. We arrived
August 9, in San Diego, all 800 of us. It
was especially heartening to meet a group
of Pennsylvanians in the airport when I
was 3000 miles from home.
by Joneatra Henry
Catttmmtkff
Are you involved? Many
ttudents walked through the Reed
Building on Wednesday, Sept. 4,
and signed sheets of paper
designated for “Membership Sign
up," but how many of us will
show up for the organizational
meetings?
I am treasurer of the Association
of Black Collegians and I know
how hard it is to attract and keep
members. Of course there are two
extremes to this: having people
who don’t commit at all, and
those who commit themselves to
too many organizations.
College is a time to have fun
and meet new people, but some
students shouldn't spread
themselves-too thin. For instance,
I would like to be involved in
SOA, Roundtable Society, MCC,
ABC. HRPC, SPC, St JRC, but
I’d only be able to give each
organization partial commitment
The best way to narrow ones
interests may be to choose an
organization based on one’s mnjor,
race, or an organization where one
Choosing an Activity
feels able to leave their mark on campus. Of
course this is not the only criteria to use to
pick an organization, but it does narrow down
the choices.
Once you find an organization that you
would like to join, make sure you join fdr
The gathering got off to a fast paced start
with a beach party in La Jolla Beach. Most
people in the Young Voters Program
remained low key about the convention
until the Deputy Convention Manager
announced that Jack Kemp was Bob Dole’s
running mate. The crowd went wild with
excitement over the selection. From then
on we knew that fate had brought us into
contact with our future.
Beginning on Sunday morning we left
our dorms at USCD early for the
convention site where we were scheduled to
go out into San Diego Harbor to escort
Bob Dole and Jack Kemp back to the
Convention Center from the Navy Base.
The different groups traded shouts of “Dole
and Kemp” as well as other slogans. My
personal favorite was “Back on track with
Bob and Jack.”
Jack Kemp pretended to throw a pass
toward us when we shouted “Quarterback
Jack” at him. All of this was spontaneous
and not orchestrated.
Throughout the week we were treated to
discussions on a whole host of issues
hosted by MTV, featuring speakers such as
Armstrong Williams, Lamar Alexander,
Senator Rick Santorum, Mary Matalin, and
others. This was our chance to challenge
our party leaders on Social Security,
Medicare, education, and the environment.
Opinion
Not everything went according to plan,
such as our pizzas that showed up two
hours late. If this was not bad enough, two
men streaked past a group of Republican
girls, flashed them, and screamed “Clinton
Gore.”
Monday night we were barred from the
Convention Center by the Secret Service
due to concerns that we might be a security
risk. Even so I was able to get into the
Convention Center through the press
entrance. For the next three evenings we
were able to make it onto the Convention
floor. The mood in the Convention Center
was very electric and everyone seemed to
know that history was being made. Every
speaker voiced a positive message for the
future.
The media said that Newt and the
Contract for America were absent from the
convention, but you could feel the impact
they had. It was evident, from discussions
with the delegates, that they believed in
both the Contract for America and in
Gingrich. I personally saw an eventful and
very exciting convention in which the hall
was the stage and we were the players. The
media looked for any evident divisions
within the Republican party and it was
visibly obvious that there were none.
Everyone was more interested in electing
Bob Dole and Jack Kemp than fighting
yourself and not for someone else. The
organization you choose may not be the one
your best friend is in or even.your roommate.
Organizations work best when members are
truly dedicated, so make sure you pick the
organization you can best serve.
over a minor issue like abortion
The media was very pushy, arrogant, and
very biased. Hey, I was there and I saw it
with my own eyes and heard it with my
own ears. Every question asked of the
speakers at the Youth Pavillion was hostile
and intolerant. For example, the Detroit
Free Press launched a barrage of affirmative
action questions against Armstrong
Williams. The hostility was evident in the
reporters indignant tone. The convention
tried to orchestrate everything on the floor,
but kids will be kids. Many of us started
chanting without provocation and even off
cue on occasions. Nothing on the floor
was fully orchestrated because those of us
who were on the floor believed in
everything that was said.
Mr. Dole’s speech was from the heart,
and it was evident by how he turned red and
his voice broke when he spoke about his
father and the war. I shouted so loud and
with so much passion at Bob Dole that I
lost my voice for about a week.
Before the convention I doubted Bob
Dole, but now I am a true believer. Too
bad it had to end. See you in 2000 when I
attend as a delegate. “Back on Track with
Bob and Jack” is my battle cry.
Adam continued
argued by the many as undemocratic,
however, it is necessary to understand
Cuba’s political situation. Cuba is
situated 90 miles away from a hostile
power that has been trying to destroy the
evolution since it threw out dictator
Fulgenico Batista in 1959. Many
counterrevolutionary organizations that
have sprung up over the years have been
funded, organized and sometimes armed by
the CIA.
But what about Fidel Castro? Not only
is he the country’s President, he’s also
First Secretary of the PCC. He’s also the
one dubbed a “dictator” by the American
media and government. Let us look at
how much power this “dictator" really has.
The Council of State, including the
President and five Vice Presidents, are
elected by the National Assembly to
govern while the Assembly is not in
session. The Council has no permanent
decision-making power and only acts in
emergency matters. While the Assembly
is in session, each member of the Council
has one vote. This means that Fidel
Castro’s dictatorial powers consist of one
vote out of 5504- people.
Of course, it is easy to see this as an
abstract issue. To actually go to Cuba and
see it for yourself is the best way to
understand socialism and Cuba. While l
was there, I lived with a Cuban family and
was able to get an idea of what living in
Cuba is like (though my Spanish still
needs a little work). I even met Ricardo
Alarcon, president of the National
Assembly. One thing remains certain; the
Cubans are proud of their country and its
accomplishments.
I want people to look around and
(consider the possibility that maybe, just
(maybe, American propaganda is wrong.
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