A large and noisy crowd of Princeton students and residents gathered in Palmer Square on Tuesday evening to support Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) candidacy for president.
Students for Obama field coordinator Mark Jia '10 said that about 200 people showed up to hear four speakers voice their support for Obama and their frustrations with the Bush administration.
Politics professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell, speaking to the ralliers, said "it is antidemocratic to continue this line of presidents who are all related by blood or marriage."
Harris-Lacewell, whose speech condemned the decision to invade Iraq, also drew parallels between Obama and Martin Luther King.
"As we look back in history, Barack Obama's stand against Iraq will be as important as King taking a stand against Vietnam," she said. She also called on the "white folks of Princeton" to say "I realize Barack Obama is black, but I'm voting for him anyway."
Robert Weiss '09 told supporters that the war in Iraq will affect students "even within the Orange Bubble." His cousin is a Marine serving in Fallujah, Iraq.
Weiss then drew a parallel between the invasion of Iraq and dismantling a computer.
"Give me a screwdriver," he said, "and I could take my computer and turn it into a pile of a little parts in about 10 minutes. But it would take an expert to put it back together, and even then, who knows if it could ever be made to work again."
Retired Air Force General Scott Gration and Princeton High School senior Andrea Warby also addressed the rally.
Gration praised Obama for "calling for a pullout" and proclaimed that "the military cannot be treated as it's been treated."
Meanwhile, Warby read a letter from Obama criticizing Congress for voting to authorize the Iraq war, a swipe at opponent Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).
The rally, organized by the Princeton chapter of Students for Barack Obama and the Mercer County office of the Obama campaign, was part of a nationwide effort by the Obama campaign to mark the five-year anniversary of Obama's speech against the Iraq war.
Rallies were held in 16 other cities nationwide, said Elizabeth Lampert, the Mercer County co-chair for the Obama campaign. Lampert credited Princeton students for helping to drum up enthusiasm for the rally on campus.
"I got a call from Chicago that they wanted to have a rally here. They know there's a lot of support at Princeton University," Lampert said, adding that "If all the college students voted, Barack would definitely win."
Gauging campus support
One student at the rally, Yujhan Claros '10, said he attended in part because "the group of students behind Barack Obama seems visibly stronger than any other candidate."
Shelby Gai '10, co-director of the Princeton chapter of Students for Obama, said in an email that supporters of other candidates have not been as vocal.
"For whatever reason, the people who have taken the initiative to organize the Barack Obama group have been particularly active," said Philip Levitz '08, who interned for Clinton's campaign last summer. "We have plenty of time to get organized," he added.
Levitz said that support for Obama on campus was not particularly larger than support for any other candidate. "In fact, if national polls are any indication, then Hillary would be ahead" on campus, he said.
Obama is not the only presidential candidate with a group on campus. College Republicans president Jon Fernandez '08 noted that there is a "Students for Mitt" group in support of former Gov. Mitt Romney's (R-Mass.) candidacy. "I know that if we host a speaker from the Romney campaign, some College Republicans will organize a 'Students for Mitt' Rally," Fernandez said in an email.
Read More
Princeton awards 1,293 degrees to the Class of 2025 as speakers reference political headwinds
Maya MukherjeeReunions and graduation speakers referenced the tense political climate around higher education, adding urgent undertones — and sometimes overtones — to otherwise standard ceremonial speech fare.
Reunions and graduation speakers referenced the tense political climate around higher education, adding urgent undertones — and sometimes overtones — to otherwise standard ceremonial speech fare.
Joseph ’25 next Young Alumni Trustee in 21 percent turnout election
Vitus LarrieuGil Joseph ’25 won the Young Alumni Trustee election, which saw 21 percent turnout. Joseph, Stephen Padlo ’25 and Ben Wachspress ’25 competed in the final round of elections after advancing from a notably large primary in April.
Gil Joseph ’25 won the Young Alumni Trustee election, which saw 21 percent turnout. Joseph, Stephen Padlo ’25 and Ben Wachspress ’25 competed in the final round of elections after advancing from a notably large primary in April.
‘A brilliant young contemporary writer and a beautiful human being’: Remembering Lauren Blackburn ’26
Victoria Davies and Caitlyn TabladaBlackburn was found deceased by authorities on April 25, several days after he was reported missing. He was 23 years old at the time of his death and is remembered by friends and mentors as a brilliant writer, voracious learner, and loving friend. A family obituary said he passed away after a “courageous battle with bipolar disorder.”
Blackburn was found deceased by authorities on April 25, several days after he was reported missing. He was 23 years old at the time of his death and is remembered by friends and mentors as a brilliant writer, voracious learner, and loving friend. A family obituary said he passed away after a “courageous battle with bipolar disorder.”