Asian groups sponsor empowerment rally

Lamda Phi Epsilon in coordination with 11 other Asian groups on campus sponsored a voter registration drive and rally on Asian empowerment last night in room 350 of Steinberg Deitreich Hall. Several prestigious guests, including City Commissioner Alex Talmadge and Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel, spoke to a crowd of more than 30 students. "As a fraternity we are interested in hosting a series of events that are not purely social, but political as well," said fraternity house manager June Joe, one of the event's organizers. "Asians have been largely unrepresented in the political forum. "This is an opportunity for Asian students and the community at large to have a greater political voice," the Engineering junior added. Saidel opened the event and was the first to speak. "Anyone who doesn't vote doesn't have the right to bitch about the government," he said. "It is incumbent upon you to vote for candidates that understand the problems of urban life and the incredible melting pot that exists in Philadelphia." Following the city controller, Talmadge went through the registration process step by step. He demonstrated how to properly fill out registration forms and use the voting booths. "We want students to rally around the voting process," he said. "Some of the funds given to the University come from the state's office. By voting, students can affect some of the financial ends of the University, even student loans." The purpose of the evening was to encourage the registration of Asian students, organizers said, but there was a strong emphasis on electing Democrats in the November race. "We are here to convince students that this is a critical election," said Tsiwen M. Law, a part-time University professor. "In the past, Democrats have supported the Asian agenda whereas as the Republican party has sought to exclude legal Asian immigrants from eligibility of programs , such as health care and education, which they payed for through taxes." Law added that another purpose of the rally was to encourage bilingual students to go into Asian concentrated areas in Philadelphia to help register people to vote.