(See below for correction.) Some students from the state of California received a surprise visit last night.
Starting at about 9:30 p.m., students who live in the Quadrangle, Hill House, Kings Court/English House or the high rises were roused by an unexpected knock.
"We're Californians for Schwarzenegger," said the strangers at the door. "Do you have an absentee ballot for the recall election?"
CFS is an ad hoc group put together just last week by Wharton junior David Copley and College junior Daniel Gomez. Although many of its dozen or so members are also involved with the College Republicans, the "doorstorming" done Wednesday night was not an official College Republicans act.
California Governor Gray Davis is facing a recall, and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger of Terminator fame is one of the better-known candidates running for his position.
Taking advantage of the fact that many resident advisers and graduate associates post residents' hometowns on their doors, CFS members in groups of two and three sought out the Californians.
Anyone from the Golden State was given a packet with information on why Davis should be recalled, and why Schwarzenegger should replace him.
"Gray Davis is Satan. Vote Schwarzenegger," read the front page of the packet.
The packet also includes step-by-step instructions on how to vote absentee in California, a voter registration application and information on where to send it.
Neither Copley -- a former Daily Pennsylvanian columnist -- nor Gomez -- a current DP columnist -- are California residents.
Copley has lived in California, but now is a resident of the state of Washington. He explained his interest in the recall by saying that the California energy crisis raised energy prices even in Seattle because "we had to bail them out."
"It affects everybody," he added, referring to California's $40 billion budget deficit.
Gomez said that Davis "has failed policies -- that's the only reason for what's going on in California now."
"Schwarzenegger is the only fiscally responsible candidate who has a chance of winning," Copley said.
Copley doorstormed Hamilton College House, along with sophomore Michael Toto, the self-titled "Schwarzenegger" in the group. Laughing and speaking in a Terminator voice, Toto made not only his companions but also the surprised Californians chuckle.
Reactions to the doorstorming were varied.
Engineering sophomore Nikhil Haldar Sinha said he was planning to vote but had no idea how to do it until CFS and their packets came along.
He agreed with their views on Davis, saying, "Davis hasn't done anything. He should've seen [the deficit] coming, and done something."
College sophomore Joshua Kamins, on the other hand, told CFS members, "Don't even try it," when they started their pitch.
"I'm completely anti-recall," he said. "If a deficit is cause for a recall, half the governors and the president would be recalled."
Many were simply confused and surprised -- "I'm not even a U.S. citizen," College sophomore Martha Mijes said.
On Sept. 30, CFS will be hosting a Schwarzenegger movie marathon featuring Total Recall.
