Registration Rally

Students, faculty, community members and the national media were at the end of Fairfield Way Friday, Oct. 6, for a widely publicized rally featuring Ned Lamont and General Wesley Clark.

Loud music blared from speakers on both sides of the stage set up outside of the Student Union, reporters carried around large cameras and Ned Lamont signs occupied every grassy space in sight.

Although the rally was hosted by the UConn College Democrats in support of Ned Lamont, there were supporters of all three senate candidates present.

The UConn College Republicans were there to show their support for Joe Lieberman. Lieberman has been in the Connecticut Senate for the last 18 years as a Democrat, but is now running as an Independent after losing to Ned Lamont in the August primary.

"We support Joe because he's the most conservative candidate who has a chance to win the race in Connecticut," said Ben Tarr, a 1st semester political science major and member of the UConn College Republicans. "We need a guy who has experience in the Senate and understands the need to see the Iraq War out to the end and not cut and run."

The UConn College Republicans were not the only ones showing their support for Lieberman.

"I'm supporting Joe because I know he will fight for the state, he supports national security and is also strong on Israel," Steven Rubin, a 7th semester political science major and member of the UConn College Democrats said.

"I support Alan Schlesinger because I think he's in the right direction to lead America through fiscal openness and social liberty," Colin Brennan, a 5th semester economics and philosophy double major, said.

Schlesinger has had extremely low numbers in the polls, but Brennan, who is a Libertarian, said, "I figure I should vote as ideologically as possible."

Veterans for Peace was at the rally to show support for Lamont and his stance on the Iraq War.

"I support Lamont because I'm a veteran from the Korean War, and I served in a platoon that was wiped out, so I think that war is the worst type of terrorism. The money spent on this war could be spent in the inner-cities or on other issues," Guy Blair, a member of Veterans for Peace and Windsor native, said.

Another community member in support of Lamont was Kieth Crane, a Branford resident and owner of the site DumpJoe.com. He was giving out free buttons that he had made himself, which feature a picture of Lieberman and Bush appearing to kiss, with the words, "The Kiss - Bush's Favorite 'Democrat.'" Crane was also eager to talk to people at the rally, often pointing out that "Lieberman has never had a family member serve in the United States Army, yet he votes for war at every opportunity."

The rally was started with a speech from UConn College Democrats President Dave Steuber, who thanked everyone for coming and stressed the importance of UConn students voting in Connecticut's 2006 Congressional race.

Connecticut state Senator Don Williams spoke next, and pointed out that for many UConn Students, this would be their first time voting.

"I can't imagine a more exciting time to participate in democracy and take back America," William said.

Next in line was Chris Donovan, Connecticut state representative and House Majority Leader, who started off his speech by asking, "What do you guys want?" To which someone in the crowd shouted out, "Beer!" Donovan turned this request into a "We Want Ned" chant, finishing up by saying that "When you elect a Senator, you elect them for six years. The time is now."

At this point in the rally, Ned Lamont and General Wesley Clark came through the crowd, shaking hands with people from the crowd while being photographed by numerous reporters.

Lamont spoke first, with a focus on the war in Iraq. He pointed out that we have been in Iraq almost as long as we were fighting the Nazis during World War II, and also stressed that his plan of action for the war did not involve 'deserting' the people of Iraq. "George Bush and his friends down in DC are taking a good hard look at this Connecticut race," Lamont said in the conclusion of his speech.

"When I graduated from West Point, we didn't know where UConn was," began General Wesley Clark. "Now you're a powerhouse athletically. The question is, are you going to be a powerhouse politically and help to change this country?"

Clark also focused on the war, stressing the failures of the war in Iraq and the need to set a plan for removing the troops. He also mentioned all of the foreign issues that were resolved without the loss of American lives while Democratic candidates were in office.

Clark had the crowd laughing with statements such as, "George Bush says 'Stay the course.' How can you stay on course when you are stuck in a ditch?" and "When Bush was down chopping cedar on the ranch, 9/11 happened."

The theme of getting students to vote was prevalent throughout the rally.

"You've got to drag people out to the polls on November 7th. You must vote and you must bring others with you. We are in a battle for America's future. It's not about 2008, it's about 2006," Clark said in his speech.

Clark even went as far as to say that students should skip their classes and tests if it meant getting to the polls on November 7th.

"It's really important that students realize the importance of this race," said Leigh Ann Scheider, statewide field director for the College Democrats. "It's also important to register on campus because students will find it easier to get to the polls with the transportation being provided."