"battleground campus" from the denison magazine, fall 2004

in the snail mail today, i received the fall, 2004 issue of my alma mater's alumni magazine, denison...

i expected the article that i found within...(excerpts follow)...

throughout the 2004 presidential campaign, all eyes were on ohio, widely considered-- and rightfully so -- to be the most critical of all the "battleground states."...

...the morning of wednesday, nov. 3, dawns crisp and clear in granville. on this, the day after the presidential election, however, the exquisite fall weather can't mask the waves of shock and disappointment swirling across much of campus. oh, there are pockets of jubilation, and talk of victory parties here and there...

...inside cleveland hall...talk turns to the unprecedented denison voter turnout, which, even through a steady rain, produced a snake-like line around the first presbyterian church... nearly reaching the campus entrance...

..."no one left," remarks a young woman..."even though the wait to vote...was two and a half to three hours --- no one left."

...pick any week on campus before election day and chances are good that some political events or activities were planned. student groups organized voter registration drives and chalked the quad walkways with political slogans... many went to hear senator kerry speak in newark or president bush in columbus. the battle lines were drawn, and the battle had most definitely begun...

...last april...a group of five students decided that a stronger liberal voice was needed on campus, and the denison democrats was formed...their impact across campus has been great. memorably, their bright pink t-shirts, emblazoned with the caveat, "mr. bush i am your pink slip," were inescapable on campus during the final weeks of the campaign...

the article goes on to speak of the student republicans' organization, and the numerous speakers attracted to the campus to lecture, including:

howard dean
jim petro
angela "bay" buchanan
fred barnes of "the weekly standard"
torie clark
deedee myers

the last line in the article goes:

apparently the republicans won the battle, but the war wages on.

article written by: suzanne bressoud