Tuesday, November 2, 2004

by Micaela Baranello
Gazette Reporter

In response to student requests, college administration has offered all faculty and staff members three hours paid leave today to volunteer at the polls and to get out the vote. Students Emiliano Rodriquez ’05 and Ethan Ucker ’07 with the support of Student Council co-president Jyoti Gupta ’05 proposed the idea, backed up by a 400 signature petition of students, which said in part “for an institution that makes social responsibility a central part of its mission, we believe it is absolutely appropriate to extend this opportunity to all members of the Swarthmore College community.”

The students met with Vice President Maurice Eldridge last Wednesday, initially suggesting a full day off for staff to volunteer. Other early proposals included closing Sharples for Tuesday evening and holding a giant pizza party in Upper Tarble in conjunction with the SVRC party, which was rejected for obvious logistical reasons (including the size of Upper Tarble and the capacity of local pizza parlors).

Eldridge brought the issue to the college administration and the final proposal was worked out: all faculty and staff, subject to the approval of the supervisors, will get three hours leave to volunteer for election day related activities. It should be emphasized that this leave is not for voting, but for poll watching, voter transportation and so forth. “Being Swarthmore, this is keeping with our commitment to civic engagement,” Eldridge says, “This would be a good thing to do.” So far, it is unclear how many staff members will take advantage of this opportunity.

“I think the administration is very supportive and encouraging of the election-related efforts that have been organized by students, faculty and staff on and off campus this semester,” Gupta said in a written statement to the Gazette, though the students’ initial request for a full day’s leave for staff was not granted. So far, no similar policy exists for students, who will have to work out any missed classes with their professors.

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by Maile Arvin
Gazette Reporter

Where will you be when the winner of the presidential election is announced? If you’ll be on campus tonight, you have several options of venues in which to endure televised media coverage of the election returns. The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is offering cake along with its coverage, and the Intercultural Center (IC) will be hosting a screening on its big screen in the IC Big Room. The largest expected gathering, however, will be in Upper Tarble at the Swarthmore Voter Registration Coalition (SVRC) hosted Election Day Returns Broadcast Party.

The SVRC-hosted event promises to go from 8 pm until a clear winner is announced. It also promises food and professors from the Political Science Department to facilitate small group discussions about the results, if there is a decision early enough.

SVRC had some difficulty receiving SAC (Social Affairs Committee) funding for a campus-wide screening of the first presidential debate in early October, because of a by-law stating that SAC did not fund events promoting a political ideology. Further discussions with both Student Council and the Student Budgeting Committee overturned original denial of funds, deciding that the debate screening did not fall under the by-law. In accordance with that decision, SVRC’s party tonight will be partially funded by SAC. Ethan Ucker ’07, a SVRC coordinator of both the debate screening and tonight’s event, said that, “Despite the problems with the by-law and SAC last time, there weren’t any problems procuring funding for the event this time.” SAC co-director Charlie Sussman ’05 stated in early October, after the appeals over SAC’s political by-law, that the SAC co-directors, Student Council co-presidents, Student Activities Coordinator Jenny Yim and Dean Bob Gross had met to discuss potential clarifications of the by-law, but had not decided on anything concrete.

The election returns party is also funded by the Swarthmore Foundation (through the Lang Center) and the President’s Office, with additional support from the Democracy Project and the Dean’s Office. Ucker also mentioned that SVRC had to apply to the Swarthmore Foundation Committee for additional funding because the cost of the event exceeded initial estimates.

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* President George Bush and Senator John Kerry raced from rally to rally yesterday as the two major party candidates engaged in last minute campaigning prior to today’s national election. Bush sprinted through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, and New Mexico before heading home to Texas while Kerry stopped in Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. Kerry’s final stop was scheduled for early Tuesday morning in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, the conclusion of 16 straight hours of campaigning. Rather than the discussion of policy, the campaign stops yesterday were primarily geared towards encouraging people to vote. Both candidates offered platitudes about the American political system. In Florida, Kerry pronounced that “[t]his is the choice, this is the moment of accountability for America,” while Bush said to supporters, “I’m excited about Election Day. I’m looking forward to it…I’m also optimistic about the future of this country. I see a brighter and more hopeful day,” at a stop in Iowa. Kerry will vote at his home in Boston today, while Bush will vote in Crawford, Texas before returning to the White House to follow the results. Almost all major polls showed the difference in support for the two candidates to be within the margin of error, and with the error in the assumptions made to construct the polling models likely even greater, the election appears to be in reach for either candidate.

* Two federal judges in Ohio, one appointed by President Bush the other by President Clinton, ruled on separate cases only a few hours apart Sunday night and Monday morning, blocking efforts by the Republican Party to place thousands of observers inside polling places today to challenge the eligibility of voters. Democrats argued that the efforts were essentially efforts to intimidate minority voters. Lawyers for the Republican Party have already filed a last minute appeal in an attempt to get a stay on the judges’ decisions for today’s election activities. As of press time, the result of that effort was unknown.

* A suicide bomber killed three and wounded 35 others on Monday in Tel Aviv, Israel when he attacked shoppers in an open-air market. Shortly after the attack, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility. Palestinian sources told CNN that the bomber was a 16-year-old male from a refugee camp in the West Bank. Also on Monday, Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinians after the three pointed weapons at them. One other was wounded and one arrested. Israeli officials said they believe all five to be members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a group designated a terrorist organization by the US State Department.

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Solo Dance Performance: “On Fire”
Troy Dance Lab, 4:30 p.m.

Diya week film screening: “Himalayas”
Science Center 101, 7:00 p.m.

Feminist Film class screenings: “How Men Propose”, “Matrimony’s Speed Limit”, “A House Divided”, Too Wise Wives”, and “Trail of the North Wind”
LPAC Cinema, 7:00 p.m.

Self-defense class
Kohlberg 115, 7:00 p.m.

Shaolin Kung Fu class
Upper Tarble, 8:00 p.m.

Free Culture movie showings: “Night of the Living Dead”
Science Center 199, 7:30 p.m.

All-Campus Election Day Returns Broadcast Party
Upper Tarble, 8:00 p.m.

Election Day Returns Viewing
IC Big Room, 8:00 p.m.

Tango class
Upper Tarble, 9:30 p.m.

Student Council meeting
Kohlberg 230, 10:30 p.m.€

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SPORTS UPDATE

The men’s soccer team will be traveling to Johns Hopkins this Friday at 7:30 p.m. to face McDaniel in a semi-final match of the Centennial Conference playoffs. A bus will be available for any students, faculty, and staff interested in making the trip to support the team. The bus will leave the gym at 4:45 p.m. on Friday. Fans wanting to take the bus must reserve a seat by contacting Marian Fahy (x8213/mfahy1). Anyone who would like to go needs to reserve a seat by Thursday. If there is not enough interest, there will not be a fan bus available. If Swarthmore wins their semifinal match and top seed Johns Hopkins wins, a bus will be available to Saturday’s 7:00 p.m. finals at Johns Hopkins; however, if Swarthmore wins and Hopkins loses, the Garnet will host the finals at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday at Clothier Field. An in depth preview of the men’s soccer playoffs will follow later this week in the Daily Gazette.

Thanks to Adam Hertz, Director of Athletics, for providing the transportation information

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Today:
There are no contests scheduled for today.

Tomorrow:
Swimming hosts Widener, 6:30 p.m.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
–John Quincy Adams

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