Cover photo courtesy of Russ Walker.
On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Loyola’s Democratic Party Club welcomed several representatives from the “Hillary Clinton 2016” campaign to speak with its members about working in politics. Kathy Bustraan and Scott Sokol, both representatives of the Baltimore division of Clinton’s campaign, were more than happy to speak about their experiences.
Bustraan opened the conversation by asking the students who had seen the Democratic Debate, which had been the night before. The club in conjunction with Loyola’s Republican Party Club and the American Association of University Women (AAUW), had had a viewing party of the event.
Bustraan continued to talk about the opportunities for students to get involved (hopefully with Clinton’s campaign, she added). She invited all of the members who are interested to a state meeting, where information for those who want to be political delegates will be provided. Many of the members of the club already have political experience, having worked on campaigns and in offices in their hometowns. Co-presidents Mark Cristaldi ‘18 and Rebeccah Swerdlow ‘17 shared that they have always been politically active. Cristaldi cited an internship with his county executive in Bergen, New Jersey that he hopes to do this summer. Vice President, Anthony Ioveno ‘17, also had an internship this summer with Letitia James, the public advocate of New York City.
Loyola students are no strangers to political activism outside of their districts, either. During the meeting, Swedlow called Danielle Melfi ‘13 on Skype and interviewed her about her role as a political organizer. Melfi had studied political science and American politics at Loyola, was originally a member of the Republican Party Club, and now works in New Hampshire as an organizer for Clinton’s campaign. She was thrilled to talk about the last 24-hours, since they had been big for Clinton’s campaign. As she mentioned the debate from the night before, she asked the students who they thought had won. An overwhelming large majority replied, “Hillary.” A student in the front row added that she believed all the candidates “touched on all the issues without bickering”, which she appreciated. Melfi laughed, saying, “yes, she did incredible work helping me do my job.” As an organizer, Melfi’s main job is voter outreach, meaning she helps people register, educates them on Clinton’s views and policies, spreads good news about Clinton’s campaign and why she herself supports her.
Melfi advocated for students to get involved with politics on campus, in Baltimore, and in their hometowns. She also encouraged students to get involved in this election, singing, “go vote on election day!”
When asked why she supported Hillary, Bustraan’s initial reply was, “it’s time to have a woman president.” This was followed by cheers and applause from the students. Sarah Doyle ‘18, had a different idea. “People shouldn’t support her just because she’s a woman,” Doyle sighed. “She’s a leader and an advocate for women’s rights. I believe that she has the most experience, the most plausible solutions, and is the most realistic candidate.”
The Democratic Party Club and Republican Party Club will be hosting a debate tentatively on November 12th.
For updates on the Democratic Party Club, like “Loyola Maryland Democrats” on Facebook.
For more information about Clinton’s campaign, go to hillaryclinton.com
