Boston University College Democrats Host Non-Profit Founder and Political Advocate Kevin Peterson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2007
The Boston University College Democrats overwhelmingly declared themselves a part of Kevin Peterson’s Vote Corps project Thursday night. After Kevin Peterson, founder of the non-profit and non-partisan New Democracy Coalition, talked about what the Coalition does and how the members of the Democrats could help, members offered their support for the cause. Peterson, whose non-profit is in residence at BU, set up Vote Corps in response to the disenfranchisement of voters during last November’s gubernatorial election. Polling stations in Dorchester and other parts of the city ran out of ballots on election day, disenfranchising many voters in these neighborhoods most of which have large minority populations.
Vote Corps will be “protecting the vote” during the municipal elections on November 6, said Peterson. Student volunteers from area high schools and colleges will go to polling stations and serve as the “ears” and the “eyes” for voters with any grievances. Vote Corps will record any problems the volunteers learn of and take the necessary action against the city. Peterson said he follows the idea that “if every vote isn’t counted, then democracy is spoiled.” The members of the BUCD concurred and offered themselves as volunteers for the election day duties.
After Peterson’s presentation, the College Democrats added three new members to their Executive Board, Allison Glass, Anthony Mercurio and Katerina Wright, who will all serve as Freshmen Representatives this year. The other members of the BUCD elected the three freshmen from a field of eight candidates in a close race. The new e-board members all spoke of their involvement with campaigns at home before even coming to BU. Anthony Mercurcio, a native of California, touted that he helped introduce a bill into the state legislature, only to have the bill “vetoed by Arnold.”
The BUCD also organized its members into communications, finance, field and operations teams for the two-day Race to 2008 Political Activism Conference on November 10 and 11. The Boston University College Democrats will hold a panel on Race and the Democratic Party next Thursday, September 27 in the GSU Conference Auditorium.
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Michael O’Leary
Communications Director
Boston University College Democrats
mkoleary@bu.edu
