Bostonians, among them 42 Tufts students, transformed the usually quiet Long Wharf in downtown Boston into a political arena Wednesday afternoon. They flocked to the dock to rally behind democratic hopeful Al Gore and his running mate Joseph Lieberman. Tufts students, many of whom were attending their first political rally, seemed infected by the pervasive political spirit as they cheerfully joined Gore's groupies.
Sporting her ten-gallon hat and lone star belt buckle, junior Alethea Peters chanted "Texans for Gore," the slogan that she wrote on signs and tapped to her shirt. Sarah Molenkamp, vice president of the Tufts Democrats, shared her patriotic enthusiasm. Rounding up a chorus of college students from
around the area, this political activist led a medley of cheers.
Since politics was in the air, senior Megan Dooley seized the moment and did a little political schmoozing of her own. Dooley followed the example of her uncle, Calif. Congressman Calvin Dooley, holding her own in yesterday's political circus. After a quick chat, she acquired a construction hat and had a Kodak moment with some new friends, construction workers participating in the Big Dig.
After another round of handshakes, the crowd assembled where Gore would soon speak. Twenty Tufts students were given special red guest passes promising special access. Though they were not sure what they had gotten themselves into, they soon learned the value of the small piece of paper hanging around their necks.
The group was led to the arrival point on the dock, and before long a large boat docked. Within minutes the vice president's press corps disembarked. Shortly after, amid loud music and cheering, Gore and Lieberman started up the ramp right towards the awaiting students.
Donned in navy blue T-shirts that rea "Mass Students for Gore," a student entourage welcomed the smiling and waving vice president and his sidekick Lieberman. They chanted one of Molenkamp's cheers: 'One, two, three, four, Boston students for Al Gore. Five, six, seven, eight, Al and Joe are really
great.'
An energetic Gore reciprocated the student-generated excitement with a round of handshakes. As he left for the stage where he was met by a sea of faces and signs, students were left awestruck and very pleased. "I am totally a Gore supporter," freshman Nuntyia Paravichal exclaimed.
"I still have the rush going," Pieters said, as she sauntered over to watch the speech. Junior Erin Butler, who was attending her first political rally, agreed with Pieters. "It was so exciting. I just feel so important."
Molenkamp immediately called her mother on her cellular phone. "Guess who I just shook hands with?" she asked.
Greg Propper, president of the Tufts Democrats, was also excited by the happenings, but for a different reason. Propper is spending this semester getting students interested in the election. He is working on a number of projects to get students up and moving.
"At Tufts there is a great percentage of people interested in [public and community] service. This is indicative of a large number of people interested in politics. It's just a matter of getting them involved," Propper said.
He has already begun his quest to heighten student involvement and awareness in this election by organizing a number of voter registration drives and political activities on campus. In fact, like Gore, Propper brought his own entourage to the rally: his explorations class. Propper and his "running mate" Dooley have teamed up to teach a class entitled "The Making of a President: Election 2000," which has already succeeded in getting students interested in the election.
"I think that this is a crucial time to be politically active," said one of his students, freshman Liz Wolkomir.
Gore's message that afternoon seemed to coincide with that of Wolkomir, the political neophyte. The vice president's speech noted the importance of students and cited his commitment to education. "We have to start investing in our people and that means making education our number one priority," he said.
He also made specific reference to expanding accessibility to college. Prefacing his statement with a verbal nod to Tufts students in the crowd, and a number of other Boston schools, Gore emphasized his commitment to universalizing education. "Everyone in this country who wants to go to college ought to be able to, regardless of their financial situation," he said.
Students left the rally satisfied with what they had heard. "I really feel like Gore is one of the first candidates who focuses on students. In his speech he described plans for tax cuts for college tuition and decreasing loan costs," said junior Paula Romero.
Romero was also pleased that Gore mentioned issues she is especially concerned with. "He also touched on an issue that's really important to me: the fact that the next president is going to be given the opportunity to appoint three new Supreme Court justices. I agree with Gore and his politics, and I feel comfortable that he'll choose justices that will reflect my concerns."
Leaders of Tufts Democratic were also pleased to see the political support students seem poised to give. "I think [the student interest] was very promising. It's important during an election cycle that student support remains strong so that their needs will be addressed by the candidates," Molenkamp said.
