Youth set for inaugural

WASHINGTON -- The younger generation's effect on the presidential election could not be more obvious than here in the nation's capital during inaugural week. Students flocked to the Norma Lee and Morton Funger Hall at George Washington University last night for a televised town meeting sponsored by Lead or Leave and Rock the Vote, two non-partisan political organizations geared toward the nation's youth. The forum was a question-and-answer session featuring numerous politicians and celebrity guests. All participants agreed that the younger generation needs to play a large part in the political arena. "There is no agenda for the future without young people," said Rep. Cleo Fields (D-La.), the youngest member of Congress at age 30. "Washington must be inclusive of young people. We must make the youth part of the decision making process." California State Senator Tom Hayden (D) also said that the younger generations must make concerted and focused efforts to effect positive change in the country. "Young people will have to forcefully express their issues," he said. "Government is always looking for someone to dump the debris of their decisions on. Young people have been the least responded to, they have shown a lot of interest in issues such as the cost of college, national service, abortion and AIDS. Washington must realize these are issues personal to [the youth]." Celebrity guest Robert Patrick, who played the T-2000 cop in the movie "Terminator 2," said he attended the function to tell students to "get out and get involved." "The younger generation must be a force and cause change," Patrick said. "The more we can do to prove that [the youth's] issues matter, the better." Lead or Leave is an organization that grew out of debate over the deficit. The group asked Congress to sign a petition to cut the deficit in half by 1996 or not return to office But organizers of the event said the town meeting is not a one-issue event, but rather an attempt to organize the younger generations of the country. "It was a time to have an event for the youth, an event where the younger people can question their leaders," said Justin Kelly, the national field coordinator for Lead or Leave. "This year is the massive turnout of youngsters. It is an awakening of our generation." Kelly said his organization is truly for the younger generations, because not only does the group target the young generation, but the leaders and founders themselves are only in their 20s. Events geared toward the younger generation -- from a youth ball to a Disney salute to children -- are happening all over the nation's capital. Both students and professors alike here have noticed the rededication to the future leaders of the country. "The events are geared towards younger people," Georgetown sophomore Sara Haderman said. "The events have been young-spirited because Clinton has geared his campaign in part towards the young people." "Young people have not been voting," George Washington University American Civilization Professor Howard Gillette added. "There has been a concerted effort to bring them back and reverse the trend of young people not voting or caring."