I The Behrend Beacon
Push and shove pay off for Behrend College Democrats
of Obama supporters stretched from the
Clinton drums up support for Hillary Security tight for Obama visit
Continued from page I
college more affordable, and a way to bring the men
and women serving our country home safely.
He said that she believes to create more jobs in
this country, we need to focus more on going green.
He said her plan includes the increase the amount of
solar and wind energy, and make buildings greener
because these are jobs you cannot outsource.
"The second reason you should vote for her is
because she is the only candidate that will give you
a plan that will provide affordable health that will
cover every single, solitary American." President
Clinton said.
As he asked the crowd to raise their hands if they
knew someone without health insurance the major
ity of the crowd did so. "This is no wealthy nation
on Earth where you would get that response." he
said. "This is no other wealthy country w here this
question would be asked because everybody else
has a system to cover everyone and that enables
them to save monev."
Under Sen. Clinton's plan, the former President
said. Americans would have the opportunity to buy
into the same plan that ensures employees of the
federal government and members of Congress.
"If it's good enough for our family, you should
have access to it." he said.
President Clinton's third pitch for his wife was on
Former President Bill Clinton waves to onlookers as he leaves Erie Hall
Junker Center doors all the
college affordability. "She is the only candidate that
has ever done anything to make college more
affordable and her plan will enable every young
American who finishes high school to get at least
two years of education." he said. "And everyone
that wants a four year degree to get it and that is in
America's economic self interest. We have to do
that."
President Clinton explained that his wife's plan
would be to raise the Pell Grants every year to keep
up with inflation and more than double the luiton
lax credit from 51.600 to 53.200 per student a year.
He also said. "[She will] crack down on the abuses
of the private loan companies that are charging 14.
16. IS percent. It's wrong."
"She's the only personal that actually have a plan
to end this home mortgage crisis." President
Clinton said. Her plan, he said, is if the homeowner
has been making all their payments, the homeown
er can stay in the house at the same mortgage rate
for the next five years.
President Clinton also touched on Sen. Clinton's
plans to reform trade agreements and her plan to
produce a way to pull out of the Iraq War safely.
"1 would still be here, even if we had never been
married." President Clinton said. "Obama is a good
speaker, but Hillary has empowerment."
Daniel Smith/THE BEHREND BEACON
Keegan MeGregor/THF. BKHRhND RHACON
way to Station Road.
By Rachel Reeves
opinion editor
rcrsos7<« psu.edu
Although Senator Obama announced his
rally at the Junker Center less than three
days before his arrival, it took Behrend
organizers months of campaigning to secure
the event.
Since Behrend cannot invite a presidential
candidate to come speak, recognized groups
and clubs within the college have to take the
initiative. The College Democrats started
the process after Greg Stewart,
Pennsylvania co-chair of the Obama cam
paign. came to speak to them in November.
Since then. Josh Synder has been working
with the local Erie group alongside Paul
Witt. President of the College Democrats.
"We’ve been passing out stuff on campus,
we’ve been working with the local commu
nity," said Witt, describing months of on
campus campaigning for Obama.
Student enthusiasm seemed to play a large
role in bringing Obama to campus. Ted
Kennedy, after his visit on Monday, was
impressed with the turnout he received and
the overall support for Obama on campus
and in the Erie area. Some suspect that
Kennedy came solely to gauge voter interest
in Obama. Obama's advance team arrived
with Kennedy and began contacting people
with Behrend’s administration, like Director
of Student Affairs Ken Miller and Director
of Student Activities Kris Torok.
Although Kennedy's visit has elose ties
with Obama's, the simultaneous Clinton
appearances are pure coincidence as
opposed to political strategy. The two cam
paigns did not know that the other would be
there until it was announced to the public.
They contacted Behrend at almost exactly
the same time - Torok was actually on the
phone with the Obama campaign Tuesday
night when someone from Hillary's cam-
The secret service stands outside of
By Jennifer Juncosa
copy editor
jdjs()6l (npsu.edu
Early Wednesday. April 16,
Obama's visit was merely a
rumor to the students and faculty
of Penn State Behrend. Students,
faculty, and volunteers started the
process of preparing for the pres
idential candidate to have a town
hall meeting at the Junker Center
48 hours later.
Barack Obama's visit requires
intense preparation that ineludes
:g; rcgor/THE BEI
Erie Hall with President Clinton.
setting up security, closing the
Junker Center, telling the student
body of his visit, and handing out
tickets.
Obama's visit was planned to
come to a college campus but
with Hilary Clinton having gone
to Mercyhurst and Gannon not
wanting to start a conflict, Penn
State Behrend was his destina
tion. Paul Witt, President of
College Democrats, said, “We’re
hosting the event, when they
come on a campus they look for a
Friday, April 11, 2008
paign walked into her office. The Clinton
campaign confirmed only a few minutes
before the Obama campaign.
Behrend was not notified until around
5:00 on Tuesday night for either Bill or
Obama.
Obama’s team only considered two ven
ues in Erie: the Erie Bayfront Convention
Center and Behrend’s Junker Center. Obama
prefers to rally at colleges, since his stance
resonates more with student voters, and
Behrend was the clear choice of the other
schools in the area. Gannon made clear
months ago that they cannot host a liberal
candidate because of their strict involve
ment with the diocese. The Mercyhurst cam
pus would be a good venue except for the
fact that they hosted Senator Hillary Clinton
only two weeks ago.
The Junker Center is much smaller than
the convention center, but this was actually
more appealing to Obama’s campaign. A
smaller format serves a town rally, question
and answer setting better. “It’s going to be a
little bit more inclusive,” said Paul Witt.
Dr. Robert Speel, associate professor of
political science at Behrend, offers some
perspective on Obama’s visit. Speel said
that it was a “tactical mistake on part of
|Obama’s] campaign” to hold off on visiting
Erie for so long. Obama probably believed
that Erie was like other small cities in
Pennsylvania and that most voters would
lean conservative. However, Erie democrats
tend to be more liberal than those in the
southwestern part of the state.
However, Speel said, Obama will more
than likely be able to make up for lost
ground tomorrow. Since Erie residents are
finally getting a chance to see Obama, they
will probably forget the left-out feeling
experienced when northwestern
Pennsylvania was not included in the
Senator’s bus tour of the state earlier this
month-
group to sponsor them and natu
rally we were the group to do
that.” Due to the hard work of the
College Democrats, Penn State
Behrend was able to distribute
250 tickets and Obama ’OB stick
ers to the students interested in
attending.
Informing the student body was
challenging with the short notice.
The line of students, much longer
than the amount of tickets that
could be distributed, was what
brought in most of the students
due to the mass email taking
longer than usual to announce
Obama’s visit. After the shortage
of tickets able to be distributed, it
was important to keep the student
body updated. The Behrend
Beacon has set up to have live
blog updates, live video, and
detailed coverage of the political
events over the past week and
Obama’s rally that will be updat
ed and information up until the
primary election Tuesday April
22.
Barack Obama’s visit to Penn
State Behrend has the attention of
Police and Safety, Erie County
police, and Obama’s secret serv
ice. Prior to admission, the Junker
Center had to go through a securi
ty sweep with Obama’s Secret
Service and a police dog.
Attendees had to go through a
mini version of Airport security
that included bag searches, ran
dom spot-checking, metal detec
tors, and attendees having to be
searched with security wands.
Those attending to see Obama
speak were unable to be in pos
session of apples, bananas, un
searched bags, and most signs.
All press with Credentials
through Obama’s Campaign had
to go through security wand
searches and all bags needed to be
search by the police dog.
Despite all the security precau
tions taken by Police and Safety,
area police, and Obama’s secret
service, the event occured with
out any serious treats to security.