‘Political passion’ Clubs organized to promote student involvement

KRISTEN CATALANOTTO NEWS EDITOR

KMC723@CABRINI

EDU

With the presidential election quickly approaching, students are taking notice concerning the importance of this election and are organizing clubs in order to help their peers stand up and vote. Two new organizations, the College Republican Club and the Student Democrat Association are taking aim at students on campus.

Almost every news station is talking about the presidential election that will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Experts are debating what each candidate stands for and what their plan is for the future of America. Students are also starting to debate what the real issues are that concern them.

The media advertises that this is “the most important election in recent history.” The confusion and results after the 2000 presidential election is from where most of the call to action comes from. MTV is trying to make young adults look at what affects them not only today, but also in the future.

Hot topics that have been floating around college campuses are: military draft, censorship and paying for college. Cabrini is no exception to the recent talk and political debates. The republican and democrat clubs can be seen handing out flyers outside of the cafeteria and at campus events to get people to sign up for their organizations.

The thought of having a club for republican students was sparked in the mind of the club’s President Julia Knudsen and Vice President Andrew Mindnich “We wondered if it were possible to create and sustain a club on what we thought was a very liberal campus,” Mindnich said.

So far the college republicans haven’t had problems getting students to join, “It is great to see that we have such a strong group behind us in such a short time. We couldn’t have expected such an enthusiastic response,” Mindnich said.

The democrat association hasn’t had a problem getting mem- bers either. Democrat President, Ryan Cox, started the democrat association “With the hope it would spark some type of political passion on campus,” Cox said.

Both organizations have sprung up within the last month and were required to go through the Office of Student Activities in order to become an official organization.

Mindnich says his organization’s main focus is to make sure that President Bush gets re-elected on Nov. 2, while Cox and his members are focusing on a victory for Sen.

John Kerry

Cabrini

College as a whole

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Picking our pockets at the pump

KELLY MCFEE & PAUL NASELLA STAFFWRITERS KMM723@CABRINI EDU & PJN722@CABRINI EDU

Doesn’t it feel like each time you pay at a gas station you leave with a little less change in your pocket? According to the Department of Energy gas prices have risen by over twelve cents per gallon since September 2003. Today with gas prices averaging on $1.87 per gallon across the states and soaring at $2.15 per gallon in California, it is clear that ‘oil’s not well’in this industry.

This is an issue that Americans have been less than ‘pumped’about for decades.

According to the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Americans drive more than 2.6 trillion miles per year, with personal vehicles using over 115 billion gallons of fuel alone. And this is on the increase. Protests are frequent, especially during an election year when politicians are forced to actually address the complaints.

As prime candidates, Republican President George. W.Bush and Democrat John Kerry have both expressed their views and concerns on the matter. Bush’s campaign calls for the boosting of U.S. energy supplies through drilling in such areas as the Alaskan Natural Wildlife Reserve. In opposition Kerry puts the emphasis on reducing demand for oil through conserva- tion and alternative energies.

Whichever administration succeeds, declining gas prices will always have opposition from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This organization is responsible for over forty percent of the world’s crude oil production and will reduce production when it requires a larger profit.

Accordingly the threat of yield disruptions in Iraq due to the

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The biggest news of this new program is that a new meal plan exists for the commuter students of Cabrini College. According to the Cabrini College Dining Services website, commuter students are now eligible for the 10-meal plan. The 10-meal plan consists of 10 meals during the week and $200 in flex dollars. This option provides commuter students with more of a choice in where to eat, however not all students agree

A&E: 89.1 degrees of radio page 7

News: Student’s ‘Divine’ accomplishment page 5