October 2011 Issue

“City council encourages BU students to be politically active“
Written by Lisa Hagen, Published Oct 3, 2011

“The Boston University College Democrats hosted the College Democrats of Massachusetts’s annual Eastern Regional Kick-Off on Saturday with city councilors and political candidates.
Students from eight colleges around the area, including Boston College, Emerson College and Tufts University, came to the Student Activities Office to meet other college democrats and local politicians.
Co-Eastern regional director and BUCD treasurer Chris Towner, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore, said that the CDM was excited to have city officials visit the Kick-Off.
“It is great that so many students are here since they don’t know the officials or are from out of state,” said CDM president Kate Moore, a senior at Smith College. “It’s really exciting to have councilors here since many of them are young and we get to see how they jumped into politics at a young age.”
Councilor Matt O’Malley, of Roxbury, who said he is a George Washington University Democrats alumnus, spoke about his experience as a young politician repeatedly trying to run for local office because it is “the closest venue to everyday life.”
As the youngest member of the city council, O’Malley was elected in 2010 after running and managing campaigns for other politicians.
“Even if you have an inkling, run for office at some point even if you lose because those experiences and opportunities you get are worth it,” he said.
O’Malley said he now focuses on “bigger picture issues” such as education, public safety and the environment.
Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley, a College of General Studies alumna, said that she has been called controversial, but she believes that this brings change. She said her goal is to eradicate poverty and end violence, and she will not narrow her focus despite what others think.
“We won’t have peace in our streets until we have peace in our homes,” she said.
City Council candidate Suzanne Lee, a former Boston Public Schools principal and teacher, spoke about her campaign and election experience after winning the District 2 primary last week against incumbent Councilor Bill Linehan. District 2 represents parts of South Boston.
Her message to the students was to focus on education, immigration law reform and civil rights.
“It takes hard work to get people engaged because everyone wants to be involved to make a difference,” she said.
Mass. Senate candidate Alan Khazei asked the students about issues with jobs and unemployment, since he said his main focus is putting unemployed citizens back to work.
“You are not the future leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “I don’t believe that because you are the future leaders of today.”
The BUCD, a group of about 30 members, previously had Khazei attend one of their meetings, said President Hannah Brown, a College of Communication junior.
“We have been focusing on building the group’s membership, since it fluctuates with elections,” she said. “We are not just a group that bashes on Republicans and we focus on the values that we stand for as Democrats.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kevin Franck, Massachusetts Democratic Party Communications Director
617.939.0800
October 7, 2011

Massachusetts College Students Respond to Controversial Scott Brown Comments

Students from Brown’s Alma Maters take aim at junior senator’s votes against Pell Grants, student aid

BOSTON – After U.S. Sen. Scott Brown’s comments yesterday about how he paid for college and law school, Massachusetts college students took aim at some of the junior senator’s votes against making college more affordable and accessible in a conference call with reporters today.

Andrew Slade, a junior at Boston College and Vice President of the College Democrats of Massachusetts, encouraged Scott Brown to work with other members of Congress to make college more affordable.

“As an undergrad at one of the two fine private institutions that Scott Brown attended, I think it’s ridiculous that he who was presented with incredible educational opportunities at these two wonderful, private schools as a result of support from the government is now, as my United States Senator, voting to deny my generation the very same opportunities he was afforded. “We all know that college is expensive, so we should be working together to make it more affordable and Massachusetts needs to be represented in Congress by people who understand that,” Slade said.

Taylor J. Barnard is a junior at Tufts and a member of Tufts Democrats noted that Brown voted for a Republican budget plan that would have slashed the average Massachusetts Pell Grant award by $700.

“I have student loans, a full Pell Grant and work two jobs just to be able to pay for my college education. The nature of my family’s financial situation is such that if I didn’t have the assistance of Pell Grants and loans I wouldn’t be able to for college. I don’t know that Tufts is necessarily a school of “hard-knocks” but I know plenty of people here who are in the same situation as me. I’m glad that schools like Tufts recognize that there are students out there who have the talent and brains to succeed but just need some help paying for college. It upsets me that Senator Brown has voted against measures in Congress that would increase or maintain financial support for student aid. His vote against the Health care reconciliation is of particular concern to me. This increased Pell Grants and directed savings from government student loan programs to other education programs including Pell Grants,” Barnard said.

Bronwen Raff, also a Tufts junior who serves as Vice President of Tufts Democrats criticized Brown for not looking out for students who need to same kind of help he did.

“I can say with all certainty that I would not be at this amazing institution without Pell Grants. It is hurtful to know that Scott Brown has not looked out for the students who have followed behind him at his alma mater. By supporting cuts for Pell Grants, Scott Brown is disallowing students like me from learning at the same institution where he too received a first-class education,” Raff said.

College Democrats of Massachusetts President Kate Moore, a student at Smith College, warned that college students in the Commonwealth will not stand with Scott Brown in 2012.

“Throughout his time in the Senate as well as in the State Senate here in Massachusetts, Scott Brown has proven that he does not stand on the side of students, but on the side of special interests. For example, earlier this year, Senator Brown voted for the Tea Party Republican-controlled House of Representatives budget plan, which would have slashed the average Pell Grant awarded to Massachusetts college students by $700. Just as Scott Brown has made it clear that he does not stand with students, college students will make it clear that they stand with Democrats in 2012,” Moore said.

This year, Senator Brown voted for the Tea Party Republican-controlled House of Representatives budget plan, which would have slashed the average Pell Grant awarded to Massachusetts college students by $700

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