Kentucky Bound

This weekend, five vans of over 60 Columbia University and Barnard College student activists will head for Lexington, Kentucky as the Columbia University College Democrats launch an army of liberal campaigners into the final days of Kentucky’s gubernatorial race. This race is of tremendous importance, not just to Kentucky, but to the entire nation, as this southern state will become a potential battleground in the 2008 presidential race. The campaign trip has become an annual institution of the Democrats Activist Council, taking New York students out of the city to participate in major races across the country and boosting crucial campaigns in their final days. Previous campaign trips by the College Democrats to Virginia and Ohio were remarkably successful, leading to higher-than-predicted margins of victory in canvassed precincts. Columbia and Barnard students have proved themselves invaluable campaigners who come equipped with political smarts, enthusiasm, and an ability to survive on pure political adrenaline. Campaigns now seek out and generously accommodate the Columbia contingent in the hopes of drawing us onto their team and benefitting from our numbers and energy.

The reason for this campaign trip, however, is both larger and more long-term than simply electing more Democrats. It is about giving students the opportunity to participate more powerfully in their democracy and to have a genuine impact on national races. Election Day weekend was created for a reason. Students must seize the initiative to leave campus and claim ownership of their government and their country. By targeting decisive districts in crucial races and training students to participate effectively in tough campaigns, the trip facilitates a type of student activism that is not possible in deep blue New York City. Campaigners each meet with dozens of ideologically diverse voters throughout the trip, participating constantly in the political debate that makes democracy function. This Democratic campaign trip is a unique institution at Columbia that uses election break for its original and greatest purpose—empowering student voices in American politics, not just in an academic environment, but on the ground among voters of all persuasions and in a climate of direct political action and change.

We are thrilled that dozens of students have chosen to spend Election Day weekend bringing change to Kentucky, and we hope that the University administration will soon show equal enthusiasm for this type of opportunity. In the spirit of fulfilling the promise of Election Day weekend, Columbia should actively support student political participation by funding or otherwise supporting activities that take advantage of the long weekend. We are lucky to attend a university that fosters debate and welcomes controversy. But no amount of on-campus discussion can give students the same stake in the democratic process as working door-to-door to win a critical, national-level race. We challenge the University to commit to consistent facilitation, rather than regulation of these efforts, so that campus organizations are less limited by funds and logistics when they want to bring students further into the democratic process.

As students prepare, in record numbers, to immerse themselves in American politics, we are inspired by the surge of activism and expect it to build in the leadup to the 2008 presidential election. We hope that Columbia will offer the help that students deserve to fully engage with the electoral process. Facilitating political activity is not only about winning elections, but about helping students to be activists whose voices are heard loud and clear in the national dialogue of their democracy.

The authors are lead activists for the Columbia University College Democrats. Sarah Leonard is a Columbia College sophomore. Mara Richard is a Barnard College junior majoring in art history. Cassie Spodak is a Barnard College junior majoring in anthropology. Evan Thomas is a Columbia College senior majoring in history.