Encouraging audience members to become involved in the political process, Philadelphia Mayor John Street spoke last night at a forum entitled "Political Divide."
Organized by the Delta Eta Philadelphia Citywide Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the forum -- held in Logan Hall -- sought to discuss the political apathy of college students.
Panel members included Director of Community and Economic Development for the Philadelphia Office of Senator Rick Santorum Charles Greene, Penn Democrats President and College junior Rich Eisenberg and National Assistant Treasurer for Special Projects of the National Society of Black Engineers and Drexel senior Lee Pham.
Street and the panel members, with the exception of Eisenberg, are all Kappa brothers.
The predominantly black audience was attentive as Kappa Vice Polemarch and Drexel junior Rashid Beyah opened the forum.
"In today's age, far too many young people's voices aren't heard," Beyah said.
Street, who frequently interjected his speech with humorous banter, agreed.
"An economic recovery without jobs is like going to [a restaurant] and ordering a burger without meat," said Street, citing outsourcing as an important issue.
Street encouraged the audience to participate and be active in politics.
"Get involved in the political process like your life depends on it," Street said.
"The next president will appoint three, four members to the Supreme Court," said Street, as an example of the long-term impact voting in the presidential election could have.
"Members of the Supreme Court never die," Street joked. "Do we want another George Bush picking another three, four members of the Supreme Court?"
Other panelists stressed the importance of the participation of educated voters.
"People who have the capacity to think through the process aren't involved in the process," Greene said.
Pham agreed.
"Our generation simply doesn't take ownership," Pham said.
"You've got to be knowledgeable about the beast you're trying to tame," said Pham, challenging the audience to learn more about the political process. "Otherwise, you'll just get beat up."
Although audience members and organizers said they enjoyed the event, some were dismayed by the turnout.
"I personally wasn't pleased with the turnout, even though there were nearly 50 people here," Beyah said. "I think there should have been four times as many."
"We have [social] events ... with much better turnouts," Beyah continued. "When we have an event that discusses something as important as political awareness, the turnout isn't as profound. That's something we're trying to remedy."
Kappa Secretary and College senior Jabari Evans agreed.
"We've been trying for months to get [Street] to come to this event," Evans said.
Evans noted, however, that the audience members benefited nonetheless.
"It's not that often that you get to sit up close to Mayor Street and ask him questions," Evans said.
Kappa Polemarch and Drexel junior Samuel Laurencin believed the attendance highlighted the need for greater awareness.
"The attendance, or lack thereof, is a perfect example of the need for this topic of discussion," Laurencin said. "I feel disheartened when the highest political figure in the city comes to speak to the student body and very little interest is shown."
