While campus campaign leaders have been scurrying to gather support for their respective presidential candidates, Dartmouth students, in general, said they have mixed feelings about the upcoming election.
Some are actively following the candidates' every move, yet others, often engrossed in schoolwork or simply uninterested, are unsure whether they will even vote in the national election.
David Denton '03 said he is not concerned with the looming New Hampshire primaries and has not following national or campus coverage actively. He said he does not plan to attend the presidential candidates forum scheduled at the College in late October.
"I forget when they are coming and when they are here I won't go see them," Denton said.
Sara Winzelberg '02 also said she was not following the campaigns closely, but she said she would like to follow the race more closely in its latter stages.
"It all depends on my work schedule," Winzelberg said.
Ji-hoon Chang '03 said he does not plan on following the elections coverage or voting.
"I'm pretty apathetic," Chang said.
Sara Becker '00, however, said she is highly interested in the candidate race. Though she is extremely busy, Becker said she has followed the candidates. Becker has decided to vote for Bill Bradley during the primaries and plans to attend the candidates forum.
Alison Lothes '01, describes her feelings as "mixed," and said she does not have the time to closely follow the contest, but intends to vote.
Student organizers of political campaigns are recruiting volunteers for the upcoming primaries.
According to Bill Bradley organizer Scott Given '02, more than 110 students have expressed interest in assisting with the campaign, which he said is the sign of an insurgent campaign since the group has burgeoned from 30 students from last spring.
"This is an overwhelming response. It's nothing I could have imagined. I'm very excited about," Given said.
Future goals include expanding the volunteer base to 300 students and creating a steering committee, which will be a public list of Dartmouth students and professors who support the Democratic candidate.
"The reason I think so many students are getting involved with the campaign is because Bradley offers a fresh, honest face to a generation that has grown up skeptical of politicians," Given said. "The campaign is a way to make a difference in New Hampshire, and even throughout the world."
According to steering committee member of Dartmouth Students for George W. Bush, Christopher Dreisbach '00, his group plans to hold a preliminary meeting October 7.
Dreisbach said he expects no problems in assembling a group of 50 Bush volunteers who could travel throughout the state to promote Bush events.
"From the people I've talked to and being in government classes, there seems to be a fair amount of interest in campaigns," Dreisbach said. "As the primaries get closer and the candidates come to Dartmouth, that excitement will only increase."
Kelly Grieco '01, president of Dartmouth for Dole, the organization is in the process of recruiting '03s and increasing awareness that a Dole organization exists on campus.
"We're approaching 60 students and are trying to make the Dole presence stronger when the event comes closer to let her now students support her," Grieco said.
Gore 2000 organizer Tom Leatherbee '01 said he maintains an active BlitzMail list of 30 to 40 students, and that working on a campaign of the current Vice President helps arouse interest from the College community.
However, not all students share the same eagerness of the campus campaign leaders.
The campus organizers remain committed to plans of mobilizing their student supporters.
Among projects arranged for publicizing Bradley include hanging door knockers in residence halls to encourage participation, holding signs on street corners and holding a rally in front of the Hopkins Center on Bradley's arrival and departure date are in the works.
"We're trying to run a college campaign in a more creative way to parallel the way Bradley is running his campaign, which is more innovative, grass-roots, honest and voter-contact oriented than past campaigns," Given said.
Dole for Dartmouth also assists students who desire to work on Dole's campaign trail in New Hampshire. Whether it be at parades or greeting voters at picnics, students are offered the opportunity to see how she spends her day and interacts with prospective voters, Grieco said.
"You don't have to sell this candidate to people. They become very interested when they her name that it's easy doing recruitment for her," Grieco said.
