R.I. Congressman pays a visit to Durham
Tuesday, September 16, 1997

By JENN VENTO
Staff Reporter

Rep. Patrick Kennedy visited campus this past weekend on a mission to strengthen local activism and to increase membership in the Democratic Party.

In a round table discussion on Saturday morning, the Rhode Island Democrat met with a small group of students and Durham residents, urging them to get involved in local causes and to continue America's tradition of youth activism.

"Young people have always been the center of where this country is going," Kennedy said. "There's no reason today should be any different. It was young people who sounded the bell of caution as to where this country was going with Vietnam."

Today's equivalent of the national activism of the 1960s and '70s, Kennedy said, is youth activism on a local level.

"On the local level, young people are making an enormous difference," said Kennedy, who also cited gay civil rights as a cause for today's youth.

An activist himself, Kennedy showed signs of political involvement throughout his youth. Aside from leading his school's chapter of College Democrats, Kennedy made his first run for state legislature while still a sophomore in college.

Now, as the second youngest member of Congress, Kennedy continues to work for issues of importance to young people, such as education and health care - issues, he said, which Democrats are constantly fighting to improve.

"Democrats have priorities in education, [and] in programs such as school breakfasts and Head Start, but that's not where our money is going," Kennedy said. "We're battling uphill against Republicans who don't believe in investment."

Kennedy cited student loans as an area that Democrats must defend in order to make a college education available to all.

"Republicans have been adverse to college students, targeting $30 billion in cuts to higher education," Kennedy said. "These days, more than ever, everyone needs to be educated."

He also urged his listeners to rally behind the Democratic Party for this and other issues of importance to middle-class America that Republicans have lost sight of, Kennedy said.

"The Republican Party doesn't know what it stands for," said Kennedy. "Their Contract with America had nothing that mattered to people. It was more like a contract on America."

When asked about bipartisan leadership in Congress, Kennedy remained in support of his party, and said, "Democrats should stick to their views and play as hard as they can. We will have to compromise, and if we are true to our Democratic principles, the compromise will be closer to us than to them. It's a tug of war. It's a power play. Let's hold tight to what we've got and make them move toward us."

The congressman's discussion was well received by those in attendance, including some who said they even learned from it.

"It was interesting learning about the education part of [government]," first-year student Lori Baker said.

First-year student Eileen Savary agreed, adding, "I didn't know Pell grants and work study were regulated by the national government." Sophomore Chris Wolski said he was encouraged by the congressman's support for activism, especially within the Democratic Party.

"I totally agreed with him," Wolski said. "I liked how he emphasized the fact that the more young people who vote, the stronger the Democratic Party will be. I thought it was too bad more people didn't come."

While the group totaled just over 20 people, College Democrats coordinator Chris Bober said he was pleased with the turnout and with the event as a whole.

"I thought [the] turnout was great, good for a round table discussion. It allowed [Kennedy] to get down to the people," Bober said, adding that it was primarily an event to promote student awareness.

"Hopefully, this will make [students] realize they can make a difference in voting for elected officials," Bober said.