Politics

Students Helping Students: Campus Groups Help Efforts by Busing Students to Polls

Written by Richard Caesar Tuesday, 05 February 2008 13:18

Amherst, Feb. 5 -- Hoping for a super turnout during today’s rainy Massachusetts primary, two University of Massachusetts student groups shuttled eager voters to area polling places throughout the day.

The vans picked up registered voters at three different campus locations and brought them to one of three polling places in Amherst during Super Tuesday, with 24 states around the country holding primaries or caucuses. The free shuttle services were organized by UMass Democrats and Students for Obama.

“A lot of people don’t know how to vote, or they’re from different towns and don’t know if they can vote here or what they can do to be able to vote from campus,” said Matt Giancola, president of the UMass Democrats.

Giancola described the student turn out as “surprisingly good.” Sitting at an information desk in the Student Union, Giancola and fellow member Emma Einhorn said they were getting more student participation than they expected.

He added that he was very happy with the turnout. By midday, a steady trickle of voters were leaving in the shuttle vans, two and three at a time from the Student Union steps.

Giancola’s thoughts were echoed by Caroline Lederman of Students for Obama, who was stationed outside the Franklin DC. She said there were a few students taking advantage of the service they ran, which consisted of three private vehicles making fifteen minute rounds between the polling stations and the DC.

“There’ve been some kids who’ve been asking if we’ll be here later so they can go after classes,” Lederman said. She too reported that most of the student traffic was mainly seeking information about voting and registering.

Both stations were providing rides to Democrat and Republican voters alike, although no campus Republican organization was directly involved. When asked about this, Brad Deflumeri, president of the Republican Club, said that although the club did not have a physical presence in the event they would support the initiative in other ways.

“We support fully what they’re doing . We will be lending financial support through our own budget to help,” said Deflumeri.

Shuttle stations were set up at three locations on campus – SouthWest, Franklin Dining Commons and the Student Union. Students could vote, depending on where they live on campus, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church on North pleasant Street, the Bangs Community Center in downtown Amherst, or the Wildwood Elementary School.

Freshman Tani Nakamoto was eager to cast her vote while waiting for a van at the Student Union yesterday. “I saw fliers at my dorm,” said Nakamoto, who lives in SouthWest. “I thought it’d be a good opportunity to do it cause they give you free rides and I think that’s great.”

Also waiting for a van was freshman Emily Seifert, who went to the Student Union expecting to find voting booths, but instead got on a van. Seifert said she thinks the war will play into how people vote.

Richard Caesar can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it