election fever
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Photo by Anne Burke UCLA Today
Richard E. Jones, a library assistant who supports Sen.
Kerry, likes to wear Kerry T-shirts and buttons. Bush backer
David Poepoe, also a library assistant, plays it more low-key. |
Employees get out the vote
by anne burke
ucla today staff
Lots of UCLA employees feel passionately about their candidate
in this year’s presidential race. But few are are doing something
about it with the vigor and enthusiasm of Richard E. Jones, who
works in the College Library.
Jones, a library assistant, has traveled by bus — not once
but seven times — to the swing-state cities of Las Vegas and
Phoenix to help get out the vote for Democratic Sen. John Kerry.
This week, he planned to make an eighth trip, taking vacation days
off work to return to Las Vegas to knock on doors of undecideds
and so-called softly committed Democrats.
Jones feels so strongly about defeating President Bush that if
his efforts are in vain, he has vowed to do something guaranteed
to shock his coworkers. Jones says he will cut off the dreadlocks
that have hung halfway down his back for the past decade.
“I like my dreadlocks but I love my country,” Jones
said. “This country is on the wrong track, and Bush has just
got to go.”
Bush supporters on campus may be less visible but they’re
no less committed.
David Poepoe, a library assistant at Young Research Library, is
a moderate Republican who generally likes the job Bush has done
for the past four years. Though outnumbered by Kerry backers on
campus, Poepoe said he doesn’t find the political atmosphere
on campus oppressive. If someone cracks jokes at his side’s
expense, he sometimes laughs along.
With the Nov. 2 presidential election fast approaching, supporters
from both sides are doing what they can to get their candidate elected,
even dipping into their own pockets.
According to a Los Angeles Times analysis of campaign contribution
data compiled by Dwight Morris & Associates, UC employees had
given more than nine times as much money to the presidential candidates
this year as they did in 2000, with more than 95% of it going to
Kerry.
“My first contribution was $60 on John Kerry’s 60th
birthday in September and I’ve donated a few more chunks since
then,” said Mike Kockler, an adviser in the Center for Student
Programming who volunteers with California Grassroots for Kerry.
While employees like Jones are pounding the pavement in swing
states, other Kerry supporters among faculty and staff are leafleting
on the streets of Los Angeles, writing letters to undecided voters
in battleground states and joining phone banks at campaign offices.
While the Bruin Republicans student group maintains high visibility
on campus, Bush supporters among faculty and staff are engaging
in quieter, behind-the-scenes activities, said Grant Nelson, a law
professor and Bush supporter. With Kerry expected to take all California’s
electoral college votes and most people having made up their minds
anyway, there’s little incentive for Bush supporters to draw
attention to themselves by wearing lapel buttons or displaying bumper
stickers, the professor explained.
Instead, “What those folks tend to do is give money,”
Nelson said. “I’ve donated to Bush, and two or three
of my colleagues have. [Republicans] will put that money to use
in Ohio, Pennsylvania or a swing state.”
While individual employees are active politically, the Academic
Senate and Staff Assembly are staying out of the fray in any official
capacity.
“We try not to take sides politically,” said Staff
Assembly President Hassan Ghamouch. On Nov. 12, however, the Staff
Assembly will sponsor a lunchtime talk, “Election 2004 in
Retrospect.” Assistant Vice Chancellor Keith Parker of Government
and Community Relations will explain how the outcome of the presidential
race and state ballot initiatives will affect UCLA. Employees can
check http://uclasa.chr.ucla.edu/lal.htm
for the location.
Anticipation about the outcome of the presidential race is especially
high in one particular corner of campus. “One of my coworkers
who is a supporter of Bush said, ‘I can’t wait to see
you with a haircut,’” Jones said.
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