Hundreds attend election event

With only eight days left to register to vote, students gathered around seven elongated tables, political posters, and brochures surrounded in the center of Foster Quad's circle drive for the first "Foster Rocks the Vote" event. Hundreds of students from the surrounding dorms meandered around the tables in front of Gresham food court from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday exploring their right to vote.\nMany IU student organizations were in attendance to help support the event, including the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Support Services Center, Indiana Public Interest Research Group, College Republicans, College Democrats and College Libertarians. A representative from The League of Women Voters was also in attendance. \nEach group had a table where students could register to vote, and ask any questions regarding the upcoming election.\nThroughout the afternoon, students were offered Papa John's pizza, the opportunity to register to vote and gain political knowledge with the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties.\n"A lot of students are having small conversations with all of the different groups," said senior and Foster Residential Assistant Christine Ramker. "Many students are already registered to vote, and that's good to hear, but I feel today this is really helping many students."\nGraduate Student Matt Vandenberg bellowed on a bullhorn to students asking "Hey you, are you registered to vote?"\nStudents wandering around the event felt it was a superb way of rounding up non-registered students and quickly informing them about the need to register to vote.\n"This is the year to care," said College Libertarian and senior Nick Blesch. "We need to get out and vote this year more than ever."\nA discussion took place shortly after 1 p.m., between members of the College Republicans, the College Democrats and the College Libertarians. \nSenior Angel Rivera, chairman of the College Republicans, represented his group and senior Justin Fallick represented the College Democrats, while Blesch represented the College Libertarians.\nThe discussion began by each party stating their stance with the upcoming election. Students then readily posed questions to the three parties using the bullhorn. A wide range of topics was covered, but the popular discussions included health care, the war in Iraq and free trade.\nThe main theme that remained strong throughout the day was simply getting as many people to register to vote as possible. Foster RAs strongly felt getting a student registered to vote is only the first step. Whether students make the decision to vote on Nov. 2, at least those registered will have the option.\nZach Richer, senior and member of INPIRG, said in the 2000 election only 36 percent of 18- to 24-year-old citizens voted. The idea is that once students are registered to vote, come Nov. 2, they need to get out to the polls and vote.\nRicher said they are not stopping at registration. The first step is collecting a pool of interested people after the registration deadline, Oct. 4, and then increasing the public discussion on the candidates and issues, he said.\n"What we will do, is try to give people a reason to go out and vote," Richer said. "It is in the best interest of all young people to get out and vote on Nov. 2."\n-- Contact staff writer Kristin Huett at khuett@indiana.edu.