2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: News
Campus leaders criticized for endorsing Obama
Student gov. leaders from Penn, Villanova, Haverford, Temple make 'personal' endorsement
Kathy Wang
Other student leaders did say they were concerned about making their personal views so clear.
"The only hesitation I had about endorsing was … [that] we represent diverse constituencies and I've always supported staying unbiased," said Juan Galeano, senior and student-body president of Temple University.
"I thought we were able to put together something that distances ourselves from our organizations and make more of a personal statement," said John Von Euw, senior and student-body president at Villanova University.
Galeano emphasized that the main purpose of the endorsement was to encourage students to vote.
Von Euw echoed Galeano in saying that the campus leaders' intention was to promote political involvement - he thinks most students already know whom they are voting for.
Still, some students have criticized that goal.
"I think you can promote political dialogue through other forms, such as soapboxes, and putting out a personal endorsement doesn't really promote much dialogue - if anything, it cuts it short," said College junior Phil Shecter.
*This article was edited at 3:07 a.m., 4/22/08. Wilson Tong was incorrectly identified as a junior. He is a senior.
"The only hesitation I had about endorsing was … [that] we represent diverse constituencies and I've always supported staying unbiased," said Juan Galeano, senior and student-body president of Temple University.
"I thought we were able to put together something that distances ourselves from our organizations and make more of a personal statement," said John Von Euw, senior and student-body president at Villanova University.
Galeano emphasized that the main purpose of the endorsement was to encourage students to vote.
Von Euw echoed Galeano in saying that the campus leaders' intention was to promote political involvement - he thinks most students already know whom they are voting for.
Still, some students have criticized that goal.
"I think you can promote political dialogue through other forms, such as soapboxes, and putting out a personal endorsement doesn't really promote much dialogue - if anything, it cuts it short," said College junior Phil Shecter.
*This article was edited at 3:07 a.m., 4/22/08. Wilson Tong was incorrectly identified as a junior. He is a senior.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
alumnus
posted 4/21/08 @ 1:34 PM EST
DO YOU REALLY THINK ANYONE CARES?
re: Jason Karsh sucks
posted 4/21/08 @ 3:17 PM EST
Wow, the UA prez is supporting Obama?! In that case, I'm abandoning my political principles and voting for Obama!
...Jason Karsh works for a little-known organization that affects few people on campus (wow, they got Rukus!!!). (Continued…)
mt
posted 4/21/08 @ 4:27 PM EST
Look, let's call it what it really is: none of these people really give a shit about what is ostensibly the main issue here, i.e. is it appropriate for people in elected leadership positions in academia to get on their soap box when their constituents are of many different minds of thought and back a few different people. (Continued…)
All hail Zac Byer
posted 4/21/08 @ 8:50 PM EST
Zac Byer is the MAN!
Jake
Sung-Yi
posted 4/22/08 @ 2:15 AM EST
Were you out of the COUNTRY when THE REV. WRIGHT story broke?? Because I know all you liberal elites savor your moral relativism with your morning lattes--but among real people. (Continued…)
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