Oct. 1, 2002
Democracy Day Caps Week of Participation Events
McCain Address Audience of Student Editors and Presidents
A day-long leadership conference commemorating
the anniversary of the signing of US Constitution capped the Universitys
events as part of National Civic Participation Week Sept 17.
The Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) hosted delegations
of student body presidents and campus newspaper editors from colleges
and universities from across the nation for Democracy Day,
a conference that GSPM Dean Christopher Arterton hopes will become a
fixture on campuses for years to come.
The overall conception of Democracy Day is a
celebration of the achievements of the Founders, said Arterton.
It is designed to appeal to student leaders who care about their
community and are dedicated to spreading the ideals of civic participation.
Leading off the days events was a front-runner analysis of the
upcoming November elections with Bernadette Budde, senior vice president,
Business Industry Political Action Committee; Mark Gersh, Washington
director, The National Committee for an Effective Congress; Charlie
Cook, editor and publisher, The Cook Report; and Stuart Rothenberg,
editor and publisher, The Rothenberg Report.
The highlight of the day was an address by Sen. John McCain (RAZ).
A standing-room only crowd filled the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre to
hear McCains remarks on topics such as Saddam Husseins regime
and the threat posed by terrorism.
My friends, let me give you a little dose of reality, warned
McCain. As long as there are young men standing around street
corners in the Middle East, without jobs, without hope, without a vote,
without the ability to determine their own future, they will become
terrorists. They will become committed to the destruction of our way
of life.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu