Ralliers hope to register students

Seeking to "empower" students, the 27th Democratic Ward and the Vote For A Change organization will bring three local politicians to campus today to encourage students to register to vote in this November's election. U.S. Congressman Lucien Blackwell, election board commissioner Alex Talmadge, West Philadelphia Democratic Ward Leader Cheryl George-Macalpine, and University Communications Professor Carolyn Marvin will speak to students during the rally on College Green this afternoon. The rally, designed to increase voter registration among students, will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will include tables at which students can register to vote in Philadelphia. "Historically, the [election day] turnout on campus has been very weak, not unlike many campuses," Ward leader George-Macalpine said last night. "Many students have shown a lack of interest." But George-Macalpine said she hopes registration rallies like today's will help stem the tide of voter apathy which has prevailed on college campuses across the nation. "My speech is going to focus on the importance of empowering yourself as a human being," she said, adding that she thinks "there isn't enough of a connection in students' minds between controlling their lives and the natural connection of voting." Talmadge will instruct students on voter registration procedure, she said. Students' registrations forms, which can be completed at the rally, will immediately be taken to the city's election board office to be processed, George-Macalpine said. Students should receive notice that they have registered within two weeks. College senior David Boyer, co-chairperson of the newly-formed campus group Vote For A Change, said yesterday that "this campus has one of the lowest voter turnouts city-wide." "This is notoriously an apolitical school, especially considering the caliber of students," Boyer added. Organizers said that while today's speeches will focus on the need to register to vote, students will be encouraged to vote for the Clinton/Gore ticket for president. Bill Clinton, who will speak to college students on other campuses via a closed-circuit television program broadcast from the University of New Mexico, will not be heard at the University because of technical limitations. While the University can receive closed-circuit broadcasts of this sort, the Communications School is unable to receive the specific station on which Clinton can be seen, Boyer, a 34th Street staff member said. The speech will be broadcast at Temple University, however. Boyer said that Vote For A Change, a group he has recently organized with College senior Marsha Zabusky, will continue its registration drive efforts until October 5 -- the Pennsylvania registration deadline. "Until October 5, our concern is voter registration," Boyer added. "We are partisan, but at the same time we want to make sure that everyone on this campus registers." During the last month of the presidential campaign, Vote For A Change will be one of several groups on campus which will actively campaign for the Clinton/Gore ticket. "This election will represent a turning in this nation," Boyer added. "There is a notion that something is wrong, that there is a real choice to be made." "Vote For A Change is the student arm of the Democratic National Committee," Zabusky said. "This is being operated out of almost any campus." The Clinton national campaign in Washington, D.C. has contacted Boyer about coordinating campus campaign efforts. The University's Vote For A Change campaign will mix politics with social events, Boyer said. "At Penn so far the political atmosphere has been dead or latent . . . and no one has shown any support either way," Zabusky added. "It's now a month-and-a-half until the election and this is to stir up the waters." Monday night, the group will host a "Murphy Brown at Murph's" night during which students can watch the season premier of the television show which was criticized by Vice President Dan Quayle last spring and discuss politics. Boyer, whose group numbers about 25 students and is "growing every day," said the group will also organize registration drives in the neighboring community. This election year promises to be one of the most active in recent memory, George-Macalpine said. "I am encouraged this time out that there seems to be a tremendous interest," she said. "I anticipate this year will be our best year since 1980 in voter turnout." "This is our chance to make a difference," Zabusky said. "Alot of people, who were not previously politically active like myself, have suddenly realized the impact of the vote." Zabusky added that it is important for students to understand that they can register in Pennsylvania, whose election laws stipulate voters live in the state for 30 days before the election. Zabusky said students who come from states which are decidedly Republican or Democratic should register in Pennsylvania because it is expected to be a hotly contested state where every vote will be crucial. Students will also be able to purchase Clinton/ Gore paraphernalia at today's rally, although organizers said they are more concerned with registering students than attracting their votes. "I am going to urge people to vote their conscience," George-Macalpine said. "The people are tired of living in a system which identifes people as adversaries."