Many students headed to the polls to cast their ballots yesterday, and the undecided were finally forced to take a firm position. On Monday, those still unsure, along with plenty of die-hard Democrats, received a last-minute bit advice from Senator John Kerry, D-Mass, at a rally at Tufts. The evening event took place in Jackson Gym.
Kerry strongly encouraged the audience to vote for Vice President Gore, and asked for their support of his campaign as well. He called on students to "work the polls" in Massachusetts and even more importantly, in the neighboring swing state of New Hampshire.
While college-aged students are statistically ranked among the worst voting demographics in the nation, the rally and Kerry speech drew a large crowd from Tufts and surrounding colleges.
"It's important to get excited about the election, and this is an opportunity to do so," said Tufts sophomore Evan Weinberg.
The rally came complete with Gore posters, blue and red pom-poms, and decorations, which lent the gym a patriotic look. Homemade signs touting Al Gore as "Tufts' Choice for Prez" adorned the walls.
A group of UMass students sporting "Mass Students for Gore" T-shirts joined students clad in patriotic scarves and colors, and a few token students wearing "George W. Bush for President" stickers.
"I don't support Gore," said sophomore Ted Schwartzberg. "But I came to watch, to see what a rally would be like." For the first half hour, the rally resembled a party that had not quite started, but the crowd was noticeably energized when the senator arrived.
Kerry spent the past several days travelling to seven states proclaiming his support for Gore, and Tufts was his last stop before the election. Students received him with loud cheers and clapping, raising their Gore posters high above their heads and waving pom-poms.
"I want to talk to you in a different way. The Monday before the election is a special time," stated Senator Kerry. Because Kerry began his political career years ago as a young Democrat, he felt "very close to you and the way you feel tonight." He went on to speak about his involvement in environmental issues before moving on to the highlight of his address: his remarks in support of the vice president.
"We are electing the first president of the millenium," he said. "Everybody's vote counts, everybody's vote matters!"
Senator Kerry urged people supporting Green Party Candidate Ralph Nader to vote for Gore instead, reminding the audience that the first piece of legislation Gore had promised to pass was campaign finance reform - an initiative closely aligned with Nader's own sentiments. He added that voting for Nader was essentially a vote for Bush.
"Only Al Gore will protect a woman's right to choose, protect Roe v. Wade," Senator Kerry declared to the crowd of cheering students, of whom many had pushed their way to the front of the room to get a glimpse of the senator.
"I already voted, but I came to support Gore," said sophomore Matthew Alford. "Political activism is important."
Also present at the event were representatives from Citizens for Participation in Political Action, a nonpartisan, statewide organization working to educate people about the important questions on this year's Massachusetts ballot. The group also distributed flyers stating its own opinions on the issues.
Just near the conclusion of his speech, Kerry increased the level of enthusiasm in his voice, causing the audience to cheer louder and louder. As he ended with a shout about moving Gore on to victory, students erupted with clapping and the DJ turned up the volume to fill the room with the Backstreet Boys' famous song, "Larger Than Life."
When they stepped out of the gym, most of the students seemed encouraged by the rally and by the senator's remarks.
