The Unheard Tale: What It's Like for Lefties and Repubs at a Truly "Liberal" Arts School

Sarah Levy
November 3, 2008

With two days until the election, Minnesotan Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate for U.S. senate Al Franken spoke at Macalester, urging people to “stand up and fight for the next 48 hours.”

Leading up to the event titled “Two Days ‘Til Tuesday,” for anyone living on campus it was hard not to see a flyer advertising Franken’s visit. On multiple levels of dorm stairwells and poster boards, as well as in class buildings and the campus center, Franken’s face could be seen smiling at passers by.

While some students weren’t fazed by this phenomenon, others, such as Dan Castelli ’11, said they were frustrated by the occurrence and others similar to it that have become more and more common as the election nears.

“As a person whose politics lie well outside the corporate framework of the Democratic and Republican parties, I can't help but feel alienated by the political culture on this campus,” said Castelli, who said he is planning on voting for Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney.

“Everyday I'm told that if I voted for the candidates who best represented my views, the ones who best sought to dismantle racism, economic inequality, homophobia, sexism and the overwhelming corporate privatization of society, that by expressing interest in the candidates with real principles and with real agendas, that I was throwing my vote away,” continued Castelli. “So don't come to my door and tell me to vote, when you're telling me my vote doesn't matter to begin with.”

Jenny Dawson ’12, said she merely thought the Franken advertising was excessive and unnecessary because it was wasting paper.

None of this seemed to affect the enthusiastic crowd of around 450 who attended the Sunday night rally sponsored by Mac Dems and held in the Campus Center, according to Alex Rosselli, president of the group. Besides Macalester students, present were students from nearby campuses and community members.

Following a brief performance by the Trads, which was flavored with several pro-Obama and pro-vote messages within their songs, Franken addressed the crowd.

“I’m pro-A’capella,” he said. “[My opponent] Norm Coleman hates A’capella.”

Franken acknowledged that there are specific reasons to come to a campus like Macalester where the majority of students are already going to vote Democratic.

“I want people out working,” he said. “The future belongs to those who are passionate and work hard.”

While Rosselli said he was pleased with how the event turned out, he said he was not sure how much of an influence it could specifically have to further mobilize students.

“[Macalester] is already one of the most active communities in the state,” he said. “It has been recognized as being extremely effective in getting out the vote.”

However, while many Mac students have been taking Franken’s message to heart as Rosselli said, not everyone has been acting as part of the Macalester Democratic status quo.

James Weismuller ’12, said he thinks all the pro-Obama energy of Macalester could be harnessed more effectively.

“I think this kind of political energy, especially on such a widespread and vibrant scale as we have witnessed during this election, could be used in ways that directly assert the will of the people instead of merely electioneering,” he said. Weismuller said he is not sure yet whether he will vote.

Paul McGuire ’12, said he doesn’t feel attacked by the Obama vibe of Macalester, but rather is amused by it. McGuire said at this point he is not sure whether he will vote for Republican candidate John McCain or Libertarian Bob Barr.

“I knew it was going to be like this when I decided to come to this college,” said McGuire. “I’m amazed by how people respect [Obama] so much, but I’m not surprised by it at all.”

On the opposite side of the political spectrum, Castelli did not take the issue so lightly.

“I feel like my views are made to be illegitimate,” he said about the mass of Democratic propaganda at Mac. “I am whole-heartedly disappointed with Macalester College for being so vehemently supportive of this two party system. If you want change then don't trust politicians; force them to act on your behalf.”

Though it cannot be told whether Franken was aware of this or not, at one point during his speech he seemed to be addressing the issue.

“Some of you—and you know who you are—need new friends,” he said, only partly joking.




The Election-Related Statistics, according to Al Franken:
• Number of Minnesotans without health insurance: 440,000
• Number of Minnesotans who can’t find a job: 170,000
• Number of years it has been since the unemployment level of this state has been this high: 22
• Number of phone calls made so far for this election: 1.5 million
• Number of doors knocked on so far for the election 2.8 million
Al Franken was a writer and performer on the show Saturday Night Live between the years 1975 and 1980, and again from 1985 to 1995.
In 2003 he published the book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right.
Now he is running as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate for the U.S. Senate in the state of Minnesota.