News |

UMaine rocks the vote last night in Union

By Rick Redmond and Diana McElwain

Posted on Thursday, October 14th, 2004, 12:00 am

melissa armes

STEP RIGHT UP - First-year student Ryan Leighton signs up for his absentee ballot at yesterday´s UMaine-UVote event in Memorial Union.

Vote.

This was the message proclaimed on buttons, stickers, T-shirts and even through song at UMaine’s UVote event last night, Rock The Vote.

Sponsored by the Deans of Students office, the night reminded the campus that there are only twenty day’s left until the presidential election.

“Basically it’s for students to get energized about the election,” said Angel Loredo, associate dean for students. “There’s only 20 days left to get ready to vote … we want to give students the option to get registered.”

Matt Small was the host of the evening’s performances, which included musical groups the Maine Steiners, Bear Vocals, Propel, Renaissance and The Retirement Check.

“These folks strongly believe in voting, but I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir here,” Small said to the large crowd that had gathered around the stage set up in the Marketplace.

“In the last election, only 29 percent of college students voted. What do we think about that?” Small asked. “It’s like the opposing team just scored a goal in hockey,” said Small when a loud chorus of boos responded.

Small also warned the crowd that during the last election many student ballots were challenged and not counted.

“You need to know what to do when someone challenges your ballot,” Small said.

Third-year political science major Laura Mingione agreed that this was an important issue facing voting students, especially those voting by absentee ballots.

“It’s really important to explain that you can still vote if they contest your ballot,” Mingione said. “That’s something that needs to be taken care of.”

Some musicians such as Michael Dwyer of Bear Vocals incorporated the importance of voting into his performance singing, “On election night; voting is real fun.”

However, Mingione said that it was the enthusiastic tablers from campus political organizations that really the emphasized the importance of voting.

“All of the tables, the buttons, they really grab you, they say, ‘Vote!’ ” Mingione said.

Despite the eye-catching banners, the people surrounding the tables of the campus political booths were scarce.

“They look lonely up there, you should go see them,” encouraged Small.

Emily Cain, a candidate for the Orono seat in the Maine House of Representatives, came to meet students Wednesday night. Initially asked to host the event, Cain declined so that the event could remain nonpartisan.

“We’re trying to raise political awareness on campus by bringing together all political parties,” Cain said. “The point is to get the student vote out.

Voter Registration worker Erin Hartley said that the main focus of the night seemed to be the free concert.

“It’s a little slow, but we’ve got a few people signed up,” Hartley said. “Everyone’s over there watching the music.”

Nick Nadeau of the UM College Democrats agreed that while the tables were not in the spot light, much was still being accomplished.

“We’ve got rid of about half our stickers, but it’s been slow, they’ve all been downstairs,” he said.

Nadeau said that events like this are important, as the election is quickly approaching.

“Our major job right now is to get people informed and get people to vote. There’s twenty days left and there is a lot to be done between now and then,” he said.

Mia Dow of the UMaine College Republicans said that while they too had been able to give out information, the evening was difficult at times.

“We’re about the only conservatives up here. People want to come up and argue with us and that’s not what tonight is about. It’s about getting people to vote,” Dow said.

No matter one’s political orientation, the entire event served to bring home the importance of voting, as was stated by host Matt Small: “Can we all say it together? November second!”