Spring Break
Heat of presidential election comes to Hopkins campus
Issue date: 9/18/08
Red and blue campaign slogans have decorated campus lately as the JHU Students for John McCain and the JHU Students for Barack Obama attempt to promote their causes and gain supporters.
Despite the fact that Hopkins has traditionally been a politically moderate campus, the JHU Students for Obama group has recruited 243 members, while the JHU Students for McCain group has recruited only 46 members.
Both groups have been active in meeting each week to discuss ways to promote their respective candidates, both on campus and in the Baltimore community.
According to Brendan Ullman, sophomore and chapter coordinator of JHU Students for Obama, the Democrats' success has been in large part due to their grassroots activity on and off campus.
"We've been doing phone banking, flash advertisements and voter registration booths each week," Ullman said.
Both groups are registered as part of the national network of college students involved in the presidential campaigns, thus giving them the authority to host events in the candidates' names.
Ullman explained that at least a dozen students typically show up to volunteer at the JHU Students for McCain phone banking events. At these sessions, volunteers call citizens in the surrounding states to talk about the candidates.
Ullman said that this is especially important, as many citizens can be on the fence or apathetic unless they receive a direct phone call from someone who is passionate about the campaign.
According to junior Jeremy Garson, JHU Students for Obama Events Coordinator, door-to-door campaigning has been of crucial importance to the group.
Members of the group have been taking trips into battleground states such as Virginia and Pennsylvania in an attempt to try to reach out to voters in person.
"Canvassing - or campaigning door to door - is a big part of our grassroots activity," Garson said.
Both Ullman and Garson are outspoken about why they support Obama.
Despite the fact that Hopkins has traditionally been a politically moderate campus, the JHU Students for Obama group has recruited 243 members, while the JHU Students for McCain group has recruited only 46 members.
Both groups have been active in meeting each week to discuss ways to promote their respective candidates, both on campus and in the Baltimore community.
According to Brendan Ullman, sophomore and chapter coordinator of JHU Students for Obama, the Democrats' success has been in large part due to their grassroots activity on and off campus.
"We've been doing phone banking, flash advertisements and voter registration booths each week," Ullman said.
Both groups are registered as part of the national network of college students involved in the presidential campaigns, thus giving them the authority to host events in the candidates' names.
Ullman explained that at least a dozen students typically show up to volunteer at the JHU Students for McCain phone banking events. At these sessions, volunteers call citizens in the surrounding states to talk about the candidates.
Ullman said that this is especially important, as many citizens can be on the fence or apathetic unless they receive a direct phone call from someone who is passionate about the campaign.
According to junior Jeremy Garson, JHU Students for Obama Events Coordinator, door-to-door campaigning has been of crucial importance to the group.
Members of the group have been taking trips into battleground states such as Virginia and Pennsylvania in an attempt to try to reach out to voters in person.
"Canvassing - or campaigning door to door - is a big part of our grassroots activity," Garson said.
Both Ullman and Garson are outspoken about why they support Obama.
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