Penn politicos adjust to life with Bush

Not content to be armchair quarterbacks, some Penn political leaders decided to go on the offensive last year, campaigning to support their candidates. Now, with George W. Bush in the White House, these students can only watch and wait until the next election -- giving them a chance to readjust to life on the political sidelines. "Obviously, we were not happy with the end result of the election," said College senior Michael Bassik, the former state student coordinator for the Gore campaign and the co-chairman of Penn for Gore. Bassik, also the chairman of the Undergraduate Assembly, said that Penn for Gore will maintain its listserv to keep its members informed about Gore's activities and will help other Democratic candidates in local and statewide elections. "I support Al Gore in any endeavor he undertakes," Bassik said. "Wherever he goes and whatever he does, he'll do a great job at it." Much like Bush's bipartisan promises, the College Democrats and the College Republicans pledge to work together this semester to develop coordinated events and more of a campus presence, according to College sophomore Aaron Short of the College Democrats. The College Republicans hope to attract former Philadelphia mayoral candidate Sam Katz. A policy debate between the two campus political groups is set for March, said College senior Philip Bartlett, chairman of the College Republicans. These efforts will build upon an election year that both campus groups deemed a success. "I was able to speak to a number of minority groups," said College senior John Lee, co-chairman of Penn for Bush. "It's great that we got to go to those places to make our arguments." And despite their candidate's loss, members of Penn for Gore were equally optimistic about the impact of their work. "We were extremely thrilled that our efforts helped to carry the state of Pennsylvania," Bassik said. The political ambitions of some students took them off campus. College junior Tom Hickey, former co-chairman of Penn for Gore, took a leave of absence last semester to become a field coordinator for the state Democratic campaign. He was in charge of distributing campaign literature in Delaware, Chester and Lancaster counties. "It was definitely an experience that most undergraduates don't get to have," Hickey said. But even on campus, some have already learned the rules of politics. "You work hard, you believe in the cause. They want the motivated people who worked hard for them during the campaign to work for them in D.C.," Lee said, noting his desire to capitalize upon such newfound political contacts as Elaine Chao, Bush's selection for labor secretary. But after volunteering at last summer's Republican National Convention and co-chairing Penn for Bush, College sophomore Meredith Voliva has no desire to be a career politician. "The more and more I see politics, the less I want to be part of it myself," Voliva said. And although the College Republicans are ending the campaign season with a dinner to celebrate Bush's inauguration, Penn for Gore has other plans in mind -- a "Get Drunk for the Next Four Years to Deal with the Bush Administration" party. Needless to say, Republicans are not invited.