College Democrats of America: SmartAss Blog

"Grab a Mop!"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:40:00 -0500

On Tuesday, October 20th I attended an event with President Obama in New York City held by the Democratic National Committee and Organizing for America. At the event each attendee made five phone calls to fellow New Yorkers, asking them to call their members of Congress in support of health insurance reform. After the thousands of calls were made, President Obama delivered a speech on the urgency for Americans to mobilize in support of reform.

Recognizing that we are all in this together the President has been hard at work to create jobs, ensure stable and affordable insurance, and better secure the country. But he has been met by Republicans with knee-jerk opposition and partisan obstruction to every new idea. Last week, the President suggested that rather than simply saying "NO" to efforts to help put the country back on the right track, the GOP should "grab a mop" and help clean up the mess we're in to move the country forward.

Inspired by this statement and the overall push for health insurance reform, College Democrats around the country saw this as a call to action. Students delivered mops to the offices of Republicans nationwide to ask Republicans to take the President’s advice: either grab a mop and help clean up the mess, or stop blocking change.

~Aarti Sheth, National Programs Director, College Democrats of America

President Obama Announces Plan to Remake Student Loan System

Tue, 19 May 2009 16:12:29 -0500

Earlier this week, Organizing For America sent out the email below, highlighting President Obama's plan to remake the student loan system by eliminating wasteful subsidies to banks and investing the savings in America's young people. Check it, and the video from President Obama, out:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Addisu Demissie, BarackObama.com
Date: Tue, May 5, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Subject: VIDEO: Students deserve better

You know how important financial assistance is for students across America who dream of a brighter future. That's why we need your help to fix a broken system.

Right now, taxpayers are paying a massive subsidy to the banks that currently make most student loans. It's a system that wastes taxpayer dollars -- money that could instead help students afford college -- while helping banks make massive profits.

That's money that we can't afford to waste, which is why President Obama wants to use it to expand Pell Grants, offer tuition tax credits, and launch college completion programs for students who need it.

Watch the President lay out his vision for a new student loans system and tell Congressional leaders that you support it.

President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act already dramatically increased college affordability, providing relief to as many as 13 million families with currently enrolled students.

But President Obama's plan for federal direct lending will build on these gains and help provide steady funding to ensure that the door to college is open to every American.

The special interests -- bankers, lenders, and their lobbyists -- are lining up against this plan, and that's why I'm asking for your help.

Stand with the President now. Please contact the leaders in Congress who can make a real difference -- add your voice:

http://my.barackobama.com/StudentLoans

Thanks,

Addisu

Addisu Demissie
Political Director
Organizing for America

P.S. -- Today is the deadline to apply for Organizing for America's ten-week summer organizing fellowship. If you are dedicated to the mission of reviving our economy, making our country the leader in clean energy, and providing health care for every American, don't miss this opportunity. No prior experience is necessary, but please hurry -- the deadline is midnight tonight, May 5th. Apply now.

Student Loan Abuses Mirror Predatory Credit Card Industry Practices

Tue, 19 May 2009 16:04:32 -0500

Earlier this week, the Times published a great piece on predatory lending practices in the private student loan industry. It reveals an industry rife with tricks designed to maximize profit by withholding critical information from student borrowers.

As Gretchen Morgensen outlines, private student lenders are:

1)     Advertising loans as having terms that don’t end up in the final agreement.
2)     Hiding fees associated with servicing and collecting (until it’s time to pay, of course).
3)     And guiding students to sign promissory notes committing to pay off loans before disclosing the interest rates students will have to pay.

Markets work when consumers can make smart choices. When lenders withhold information from borrowers in order to maximize profit, they take advantage of consumers and poison the market.

We know the Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress take the issue of college affordability seriously - they already proved it with the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and in the President’s plan to end wasteful subsidies to banks and use the savings to expand college aid.

This week, President Obama and Congress are acting to curb the unfair practices of the credit card industry. Next, they should set their sights on abuses in the private student lending industry.

No Desk Left Open: My Story of the Economic Recession's Impact on My Education (Video)

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:23:25 -0500

by Aarti Sheth
National Programs Director, College Democrats of America

As college students are coming back to their campuses for the spring semester, many of us are noticing that far too many of our peers' desks are empty. Their families can no longer afford to pay for college or loans are not available. The recession is forcing many colleges and universities to dramatically raise the cost of tuition in order to cover budget shortfalls while the credit crunch is making it nearly impossible for many students to obtain academic loans at a reasonable rate. Students who need to work part-time jobs on the side to afford college are now being laid-off as companies continue to make cutbacks. To add insult to injury, recent college graduates who are hoping to pay off their loans beginning within six months of graduation find an unwelcoming job market.

I myself was forced to make a hard decision this year, when my family was pressed for money with two of us in college and one more to soon join us. I tell my story in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saKazwApto4

The passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is a step in the right direction for the millions of American students and families currently struggling to make ends meet. The act, H.R. 598, created a new American Opportunity Tax Credit of up to $2,500 of the cost of college tuition and related expenses each taxable year, and expanded the Pell Grant program by $15.6 billion - raising the maximum Pell Grant award by $500 from $4,850 to $5,350. When combined, these two provisions provide up to $3,000 of direct relief - making affording college more realistic.

Additionally, President Obama's recently approved 2010 fiscal year budget makes permanent the American Opportunity Tax credit in addition to a new five-year, $2.5 billion Access and Completion Incentive Fund to support innovative state efforts to help low-income students succeed and complete their college education.

But as the economy continues to struggle, more needs to be done. Our state and local governments are facing the brunt of this recession and we can't afford to let our public colleges and universities suffer because of it. Eighty percent of college students in America attend public colleges and universities - institutions which receive the bulk of their funding from state governments. Traditionally, in times of economic hardship, institutions of higher education are the first to experience budget cuts; cutting away at many young American's dreams as the result is an increase in tuition. Given the challenges facing higher education right now, we cannot afford to go down that path again. Providing federal assistance to state governments will prevent tuition increases and allow for four-fifths of our nation's students to take their seats behind their desks.

You do not need a college graduate to tell you that the education of our citizenry is vital to the long-term health of our economy. Tomorrow's engineers, innovators and policymakers are today's college students. If Congress doesn't act to assist our students and support our state governments, then students like me will continue to be forced to cheat their college experience and one-by-one, the desks in America's institutions of higher education will forcibly be abandoned, by eager young minds of today and tomorrow.

College Democrats Statement on the Passing of Senator Claiborne Pell

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:14:15 -0500

Washington, DC - The College Democrats of America (CDA) recognize the lifelong work of former Senator Claiborne Pell who passed away last week at the age of 90. Pell was the leading force behind legislation that created "Basic Educational Opportunity Grants" in 1972 and provided direct aid to college students. In 1980, these awards were renamed "Pell Grants." Over the past three decades, the Pell Grant program has given $250 billion in over 108 million grants to students in need.

"College students and graduates in America will long remember Senator Pell and his groundbreaking work toward making college affordable for every student in this country," said Katie Naranjo, President of College Democrats of America. "His legacy can be found in the millions of students who have been able to go to school through the Pell Grant program. President-elect Obama is carrying on Senator Pell's legacy by continuing to work to make higher education affordable for every American. CDA and students everywhere look forward to working with the President-elect on this important issue."

College Democrats of America is the official youth outreach arm of the Democratic Party.

###

College Students: GOTV During Last Day of Early Voting and Election Day

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:27:04 -0500

From the Huffington Post:

by Katie Naranjo

This election year, more than ever, campaign experts and media pundits have attempted to understand the youth vote. After 21 months of trying to "understand" young voters, this 22-year-old has a few positive and optimistic pointers to provide:

The Obvious Facts

College students have and continue to increase their voter participation rates, beginning in 2002 and most recently with the 2008 primaries. Indeed, the 2008 primaries brought about a 103 percent increase in youth turnout from 2004.

Also, technology speaks to young people. Text messaging and new media platforms like Facebook and YouTube have revolutionized political campaigning -- generating a completely new method for young people to interact and discuss ideas.

Traditional pollsters don't actually poll cell phone numbers, and many young people only use cell phones -- thereby excluding them from polling samples. With young people supporting Senator Obama by a roughly 2 to 1 margin over Senator McCain, a lot of these polls are understating the views of the youth demographic.

The Obama campaign understands the importance of the youth vote. Check out Obama Campaign Manager, David Plouffe addressing College Democrats of America through a youtube message:

2008 is a Different Ball Game

The economy is in the tank and the Iraq War uniquely touches young people and our future. While John McCain offers four more years of economic hardship and war in the Middle East, Sen. Obama understands and addresses the issues important to young people. Therefore it's not surprising to see Obama Campaign Manager, David Plouffe, point to young voters as the main constituency, which drove participation in Iowa and changed the electoral outcome. Indeed, the youth vote is the only demographic (backed up by empirical date) from this cycle that can be directly correlated to a victory for Sen. Obama on Nov. 4th.

One example: Rock the Vote published polls in February with Sen. Obama beating Sen. McCain among college voters 56% to 29%. More recent polls indicate a commanding lead of 29 points for Senator Obama among young voters, and Democratic identification remains strong with a 21-point advantage.

College Democrats of America continues to engage our peers and work with the Obama campaign to turnout the youth vote. Early voting projections and streaming stories from field provide an optimistic outlook for Tuesday. Specifically in Florida (where I've been campaigning over the past few days), youth absentee and early voting is up 27% percent from 2004.

College Newspaper Endorsement Tally: Obama - 74, McCain - 1

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:16:20 -0500

Senator Barack Obama has an overwhelming lead over Senator John McCain when it comes to college newspaper endorsements. According to CDA's internal tally, Senator Obama currently leads Senator McCain by a spread of 74 to 1.

This spread is not surprising however when you consider the policies that each candidate represents. Young people now realize that they have to pay the price of eight years of failed Bush economic policies - policies that John McCain would continue. It’s become increasingly harder to secure loans to attend college, and the job market for college graduates is getting smaller. Now more than ever, young people understand that we can’t afford four more years of the same; they understand that Senator Obama will bring us the change we need.

Scroll down to see our tally of newspaper endorsements:

Barack Obama: 74

The Arizona Daily Wildcat, U. Arizona
The Daily Bruin, UCLA
The Daily Nexus, UC-Santa Barbara
The New University, UC-Irvine
The Orion, California State University - Chico
El Vaquero, Glendale Community College
The Daily Californian, UC-Berkeley
The Central Florida Future, University of Central Florida
The Stetson University Reporter, Stetson University
The Iowa State Daily, Iowa State U.
The Daily Eastern News, Eastern Illinois University
The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern U.
The Daily Illini, U. Illinois
The Northern Star, Northern Illinois U.
The Decaturian, Millikin University
The Indiana Daily Student, Indiana U.
The University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
The Louisville Cardinal, University of Louisville
The Amherst Student, Amherst College
The Berkeley Beacon, Emerson College
The Tufts Daily, Tufts University
The Justice, Brandeis University
The Harvard Crimson, Harvard College
The Tech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Sophian, Smith College
The Point News, St. Mary's College of MD
The Bowdoin Orient, Bowdoin College
The Bates Student, Bates College
The Life, Central Michigan University
The Voice, Washtenaw Community College
The Michigan Daily, U. of Michigan
The State News, Michigan State University
The Michigan Journal, U. Michigan - Dearborn
The Minnesota Daily, U. Minnesota
The Mac Weekly, Macalester College
The University News, St. Louis University
The Maneater, U. Missouri
The Davidsonian, Davidson College
The Duke Chronicle, Duke University
The Lamron, SUNY-Geneseo
The Binghamton Prospect Magazine, SUNY-Binghamton
The BU Pipe Dream, SUNY-Binghamton
The Cardinal Points, SUNY-Plattsburgh
The Chronicle, Hofstra University
The Columbia Daily Spectator, Columbia University
The Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell University
The Miscellany News, Vassar College
The Daily Kent Stater, Kent State University
The Independent Collegian, U. Toledo
The Miami Student, Miami University
The Post, Ohio University
The Oklahoma Daily, U. Oklahoma
The Rocket, Slippery Rock University
The Swarthmore Phoenix, Swarthmore College
The Pitt News, U. Pittsburgh
The College Reporter, Franklin & Marshall College
The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
The Daily Gamecock, U. South Carolina
The Pacer, U. Tennessee-Martin
The Optimist, Abilene Christian University
The Daily Texan, U of Texas - Austin
The Et Cetera, Eastfield College
The Daily Campus, Southern Methodist University
The Daily Utah Chronicle, U. Utah
The Flat Hat, College of William and Mary
The Mace and Crown, Old Dominion University
The Middlebury Campus, Middlebury College
The Daily Evergreen, Washington State U.
The Badger Herald, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Daily Cardinal, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Advance-Titan, U. Wisconsin-Oshkosh
The Lakeland Mirror, Lakeland College
The Parthenon, Marshall University
The Daily Athenaeum, West Virginia U.

John McCain: 1

The Daily Mississippian, U. Mississippi

Students: Making the Difference in Florida

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:25:40 -0500

From the Huffington Post:

by Katie Naranjo

Young people in Florida are kind of a big deal. A native of Texas - a reliably red state - it's refreshing for me to see all the excitement surrounding our Democratic process in the hottest (literally it's a beautiful 77 degrees today in Miami) battleground state. In Miami alone, the Obama campaign is working with seven campuses, and they're mobilizing over 35 statewide! With nine dedicated full time youth vote staffers in the state, students in Florida are turning out at much higher rates than expected!

Stationed in Miami, I am working with students at the Florida International University and University of Miami. On Wednesday I began canvassing with students to get out the vote and to encourage students to volunteer on Election Day - and they are answering the call. The number of students signing up to volunteer is smashing our sign-up goals, and college campuses are turning out to vote at an even higher rate than young professionals! Indeed, early voting in Florida has been flooded with so many people that Gov. Christ extended early voting from 7AM to 7PM.

A few more encouraging trends to report: the traditional notion of Cubans voting Republican no longer is the norm, especially with young Cubans in college, and the numerous stories of students changing their parents or abuelo's (grandparent's) opinions are just one sign that Florida is not only in play, but that youth are changing the dynamics of the game.

However one problem remains prominent: early vote locations being under-staffed and lines are long. Most students relayed stories of waiting 2 to 3 hours to vote early. Nevertheless, students won't be deterred this year - not when the stakes are this high - and the Obama campaign is proactively addressing the wait by entertaining voters and having staff support available to answer questions and provide information.

Needless to say, I am no longer in Texas Toto. Young people are fired up and this year the Democrats are going to win!

Respect Our Vote: College Democrats Launch Nationwide Campaign to Protect Students' Rights

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:51:52 -0500

From the Huffington Post:

October 8, 2008

Senator Barack Obama inspires younger generations like no other politician in recent history. Rather than ignoring young people and writing off our entire generation as apathetic, Senator Obama reaches out to us and understands our needs. He offers the youth a refreshing alternative to regressive Bush-McCain policies, which continue to increase the financial burdens on college students. More importantly, our country is more vulnerable to another terrorist attack, and our economy is in crisis because of the current Republican administration. In this election, Senator Obama has inspired millions of people of all ages to get involved in our political system, making the point that change can only happen when "We the People" make it happen.

This is why according to a recent Rock the Vote poll, 87 percent of young people intend to vote this election cycle. Indeed, unprecedented voter registration numbers since the primaries have put a number of traditionally "red" states in play. In Virginia, home to 13 electoral votes, the Obama campaign registered nearly 50,000 new voters in August alone. The Obama campaign is rapidly closing in on its goal of registering over 150,000 new voters in Virginia by the October 6 deadline - a remarkable accomplishment in a state that hasn't voted Democratic since Lyndon Johnson carried it in 1964.

Yet with millions of young people preparing to cast their first vote, a shameful Republican misinformation campaign has emerged across the country. Inexperienced voters and young people are extremely vulnerable to miscommunication campaigns, and Republicans in Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Virginia and all across the country have taken advantage of this over the past few weeks and months. In Colorado, a Republican county clerk falsely informed out-of-state students attending Colorado College that they could not register to vote in Colorado if their parents claimed them as dependants on their taxes. In Virginia and South Carolina, local registrars have intentionally lied to students registering to vote, telling them "you can't vote here." Indeed Republicans are discouraging young people from voting across the country, and these tactics must stop now.

But why would anyone try to strip someone of their right to vote? Yes, young people have voted increasingly Democratic over the past eight years - a USA Today/MTV/Gallup poll released yesterday found that 61 percent of young people support Barack Obama while just 32 percent support John McCain. But we live in a country founded on the premise that everyone has an equal voice on Election Day. We live in a country where you simply can't disenfranchise your political opponent's supporters because you cannot relate to their issues and their future.

To protect the essential right to vote and ensure that students are heard on Election Day, the College Democrats of America are launching a nationwide youth empowerment campaign. The project, entitled Respect Our Vote, intends to combat these despicable tactics and ensure that every student has all the information that they need to cast their vote on November 4th. Students will be able to educate themselves on their rights and report any incidents of voter intimidation on our new website: www.RespectTheYouthVote.com. More over, CDA will be transporting thousands of student activists from around the country to key battleground states to canvass colleges and inform students on the laws in their areas. The right to vote is a non-partisan issue, and we - as College Democrats - will do everything in our power to protect it. The youth vote will not be suppressed now or in the future.

Throughout our history, millions of people have fought to provide all Americans with the right to speak out, choose our leaders, and enjoy the freedoms that many of our peers are fighting for. We owe it to everyone in our generation to ensure that all of us are able to fulfill our civic responsibility. While Senator Obama continues to build a relationship between the youth and the political process, it is up to us to make sure that all students are able to voice their vote in the most important election of our lifetime.

Yes We Can, Yes We Will: College Democrats are Prepared to Mobilize Young People in November

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:16:33 -0500

From the Huffington Post:

September 12, 2008

At the College Democrats of America (CDA) Convention in Denver, young voters proved that we’re ready to change the political landscape as we know it. Students from across the country engaged experts on issue panels ranging from the environment, faith in politics, new media to hip hop’s influence on our political culture. Students also participated in campaign trainings directly designed to assist with preparations on college campuses for voter registration, mobilization, protection and turnout. We know that young voters recognize the generational theme of this historic election. That’s why we left Colorado clear on our goals for November 4: Register, mobilize, turnout, and elect Sen. Obama.

Washington pundits have always written young voters off - assuming that we won’t turn out on Election Day. But we’ve already proven why this year is different. With Senator Obama as our voice, young people are more motivated and empowered than ever to have their votes counted. In the Democratic primaries, over 6.5 million young people voted - up over 100% from 2004. Young people are voting overwhelmingly for Democrats, and our record-setting turnout in the Iowa Caucuses helped launch Senator Barack Obama’s victory in the Democratic primary. College Democrats across the country are confident that the trends we’ve seen are not a fluke. We’ve been on the frontlines of registering and organizing voters, educating our generation on the issues at stake and why this election matters. Young people feel connected to politics again - the issues are too relevant and the times are too tough. We know the problems and the solution. This year the youth will show up and vote for Senator Obama.

Our plans for this election are ambitious - but we have no intentions of falling short. College Democrats will register and mobilize thousands of new student voters in key swing states across the country. State by state, precinct by precinct, CDA’s “Precinct Project” aims at harnessing the excitement of this presidential year to maximize turnout for the entire Democratic ticket. We want the center of attention at every student activity fair to be the voter registration table. We want to bring the election to our peers and engage them about the issues and the candidates - from the presidency to the city council.

But there are still serious hurdles for college students when it comes to voting rights. Voter suppression poses a major hurdle to college students as they head for the voting booth. Voter ID laws, a lack of ballot boxes on college campuses, and confusion regarding residency requirements prevent thousands of students from exercising their right to vote. This has been a major concern of the College Democrats since 2000, and one we will continue to fight for in this election. One of the highlights of our Denver convention was when students enthusiastic to put an end to voter suppression planned detailed, state-by-state education campaigns and learned how to petition their state officials and registrars of voters to obtain early voting locations on their campuses.

If the College Democrats Convention has demonstrated anything, it’s that not only are college students valued hands on Election Day for phonebanking and canvassing, but we are a strong and increasing constituency in the Democratic Party. We are growing, we are fired up and we are working as a unified force to elect Senator Obama and the rest of the Democratic ticket. This year, students are turning out to the polls in record numbers - representing 25% of the primary vote - and this trend will only increase in November. Students are here. Students are listening to the candidates. Students are educated on the issues. And most importantly, students recognize that in more than any time in recent history, this is a generational election. Politics is relevant to the youth again. We now know what it feels like to be invigorated by a candidate who represents our concerns. We proved the pundits wrong in the primaries. And we’re going to prove them wrong again on November 4. Vote Obama.

Student Loans: A Step In the Right Direction

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:17:32 -0500

(Cross-posted at HuffingtonPost.com)

Thanks to the Democratic Congress, today the interest rates for federal student loans will decrease 0.8 percent.

What does this mean in the real lives of students? Though President Bush has no problem spending billions in Iraq, American students can barely scrape enough money together to go to college. With college costs having skyrocketed in recent years, the average college student now graduates with $21,600.* That's not the best way to send America's best and brightest into the world. Luckily, decreasing the interest rate on student loans is one of the many ways that Democratic leaders in Congress have addressed increasing college costs.

In addition to interest rates, students will now be permitted to borrow an additional $2,000 in unsubsidized federal student loans each year. Previously students could only borrow $3,500, but this year they can borrow up to $5,500. These federal loans typically have lower fees and interest rates than private loans.

It's important that the next administration places a high priority on addressing the needs of college students who are struggling to support themselves financially. Building a well-educated workforce that isn't burdened by excessive amounts of debt is part of building a strong economy.

Senator Obama and his family know this issue well. He and his wife often talk about how they were only recently able to pay back student loans. Thanks to two recent best sellers, the Obama family is now student debt free. If running for president and writing a best-selling book or two is the only way to pay off your student debt, things are not looking good for the rest of us.

It is imperative that we make higher education accessible in this country. Today's interest rate decrease is a start. And with Barack Obama in the White House, we'll have a president who truly understands the burdens of student loans, and we'll see even more progress.

* = For a student graduating from a public university in 2006. Source: Project on Student Debt.

Convention 2008!

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:15:32 -0500

With the youth vote surging this year, we are expecting a very large attendance at the annual College Democrats of America Convention. So if you want to go to Denver, start planning now! Here are the details: The CDA Convention begins Friday, August 22nd. Most of the CDA portion of the programming will be over by Sunday, August 24th but lots of events will continue through the Democratic National Convention. Both events will officially end on Thursday, August 28th.

Everyone is encouraged to stay for the College Democrats of America Convention (which will have most of its events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and for the Democratic National Convention (which begins Monday and ends on Thursday). For those who were at our 2004 CDA Convention which overlapped the Democratic Convention in Boston, this year will be exactly the same. During the Democratic National Convention we will host all sorts of panels, parties, and events.

Registration is limited and housing is even more limited. If you have housing options available to you in Denver, secure them now. Know a friends couch you can stay on? Great. Otherwise CDA has dorms that will be available for students from Friday, August 22 to Thursday, August 28th. Prices and registration are up on on www.collegedems.com.

Also, we've made this fun video: http://www.youtube.com/v/CC6WX_Qc5pU&rel=1

See you in Denver!

College Dems and a brand new website!

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:36:14 -0500

Hello and Welcome to a brand new College Democrats website – and with the site a new blog and videos with stories from across the country, a newsletter to let you know what we are up to, and podcasts that you can listen to on your way to class.

CDA is expanding upon its efforts in hopes to truly get input from across the country. If you have a story, a video, or a podcast from your campus that you want to share, let us know. We hope to feature as many stories as possible from schools from all fifty states. Keep checking back for daily updates, download our podcasts and spread our videos on Facebook and MySpace. Keep up the momentum, mobilize the vote, and get ready for November 2008!

College Dems Featured on Huffington Post

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:24:26 -0500

A number of leaders in the College Democrats have recently been published in the Huffington Post.

Check out CDA National Council Chair, Iraq War Veteran, and Bowdoin College Senior Alex Cornell du Houx's front page featured blog post about his views regarding the disastrous, war in Iraq. Click here to read it.

Also be sure to check out National Political Affairs Director and Truman State Senior Sam Hodge's remarks on the Housing and Urban Development Secretary, and on the cronyism mentality of the Bush Administration. Click here to read it.

Finally check out CDA National President Lauren Wolfe's commentary on the 2007 National Convention, and on the increasing importance of the youth vote. Click here to read it.

John Edwards Will Address CDA '07

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 07:21:17 -0500

One of the most exciting Democratic presidential candidates, John Edwards, will be speaking at the 2007 CDA Convention!

During the Convention, Senator Edwards will be bringing his campaign directly to us. Senator Edwards has shown a commitment to engaging the youth of America and our issues. And we are very excited that he is joining us in Columbia. To learn more about the John Edwards for President Campaign, visit http://johnedwards.com

For more information on CDA '07 please visit us at http://convention.collegedems.com

Be on the lookout for more convention announcements.