Hoyer: A Model Marylander

In this morning's Washington Post, there was a biographical article on House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Congressman Hoyer represents College Park's legislative district and is the highest official in Congress in Maryland's history. The article detailed a rough childhood and adolescence for Hoyer with hints of political aspiration. However, there was one turning point in his life that changed his grades and his interests around, and that was meeting then U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy. I know this sounds like a familiar story. Pretty much every politician from that era, including President Clinton, have a Kennedy story.
But this story was unique in the sense that Hoyer had gotten himself as far as college studies, but meeting Kennedy, gave him the push he needed to go on to higher things. Our organization should embrace this idea and help grow political aspirants and group members on campus by bringing speakers to UMD, and setting up internships for people to get involved politically. That is one thing this organization can do for young "Hoyers" around our campus. Keep in mind, he was here just like the rest of us, and it was a speaker on campus that changed his life for the better. The University of Maryland College Democrats can be a force for young activists around our campus and as a starting block for those who have broader aspirations of changing our county and fighting for the underprivileged, like Congressman Hoyer. I hope we can be inspired and make this semester inspirational for someone on our campus.

Click to Read the Washington Post Article on Steny H. Hoyer

Activism and Global Warming

It is important for everyone to pay attention to an article in today's Diamondback on the front page entitled, "Groups grapple with global warming" explaining how student activism, especially having to do with global warming is at an all-time low. As an active group on campus, with young activists, we should contribute to a policy change in this area. Global Climate Change is an important issue for our campus and our party. Our organization should play a role in helping to change the current course of this issue. In the upcoming weeks, the College Democrats are already working on bringing in trained speakers on the issue to give our organization as much information as we can get. Once we have learned the most about this issue, we hope we can team up with the Campus Climate Challenge group mentioned in the article to make our campus greener and more eco-friendly. Just a friendly reminder to keep your eye on the website for details on "Global Climate Warming Policy Initiatives". We hope to see you there.

Click to Read the Diamondback Article

Hitting the Nail on the Head with Iran

I hope everyone caught New Mexico Governor, and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson's op-ed on Iran in Saturday's Washington Post. Richardson, a former UN Ambassador under President Clinton and foreign policy expert, suggests that President Bush uses a diplomatic strategy in dealing with Iran. He cites North Korea as a perfect example of where diplomacy worked to end their nuclear weapon testing where endless threats and polarization did not.
He writes, "Rather than directly engaging the Iranians about their nuclear program, President Bush refuses to talk, except to make threats. He has moved ships to the Persian Gulf region and claims, with scant evidence, that Iran is helping Iraqi insurgents kill Americans. This is not a strategy for peace."
Governor Richardson is alluding to an important point. President Bush has, in the past, used excuses to carry out a forceful agenda rather than seeking a peaceful solution. It is time to call for peace and diplomacy to halt Iran's nuclear capabilities (whatever those may be). All President Bush's strategy with Iran is doing, is giving extra attention to the Iranian leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which is what he desires. In the upcoming weeks, many groups will be sponsoring an Iran awareness week. It is important that we, as College Democrats, participate by insisting on a peaceful and diplomatic solution to ending Iran's nuclear capabilities, rather than force.

This is not an endorsement of Bill Richardson for President.

Click to read Governor Richardson's Op-Ed

Racist Republican "Games"

The Democratic National Committee sent out a press release today, condemning the College Republicans for encouraging racist events having to do with illegal immigration. According to the release, “This latest ‘game’ has become part of a disturbing trend of College Republicans’ events around the country, including events like ‘Catch/Find an Illegal Immigrant Day,’ which is being orchestrated by the NYU College Republicans.”
The UMD College Democrats, in disbelief, found the event listed on the NYU College Republican’s website (pictured). At the beginning of 2007, the NYU College Democrats offered to co-host a bipartisan panel with the College Republicans about immigration, a sensitive and urgent issue in our country. The College Republicans decided against it and instead engaged in “games” designed to further polarize College campuses on this issue.
For some people legal immigration is a long and costly process, when they are living in squalor, poverty, and under an unstable government. The US government has been formulating policy on illegal immigration primarily from Central and South America, for years, and passing this issue off as a "game" is insensitive and racist in motivation and in practice. We join the College Democrats of America in urging the National College Republicans to condemn these activities.

To view the press release click here

Orlan Johnson Event

Yesterday's event, where we hosted Orlan Johnson, a member of the Maryland Board of Regents, was a great success! Thanks everyone for stopping by! It is important to open up the group to a discussion of what we can do to help implement the Board of Regents report findings to help people get on the college track. How do you think we can do this? And, what do you think of the report being "based on economics" rather than purely on education?

College Dems New Blog

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for visiting our new blog. From time to time our executive board will be posting hot news, opinions, and information on this blog for members of our organization and prospective members. We hope you enjoy its content and visit often!

As Always, Please Remember to Come to Our Weekly Meetings

Wednesday, 6:30pm
1101 Tydings Hall