DNC Chairwoman visits UCF to kick off 2012 election

The College Democrats launched this year's election season with a bang on Sunday afternoon at their 2012 Campus Kickoff, even bringing in Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to rally support and enthusiasm.

Schultz (D-Weston) spoke about the importance the student vote at UCF will have in the party's endeavor to reelect President Barack Obama in 2012. With the second largest student body in the nation, UCF can sway the entire state of Florida, one of the most notable swing states in the country.

Anna Eskamani, vice president of the College Democrats, began the event with a series of chants to excite a crowd of about fifty people in the Student Union's Key West Ballroom.

"When I say vote, you say Obama," she yelled from behind the podium.

"Vote!"

"Obama!" the crowd cheered back.

The president of the College Democrats, Ida Eskamani, preceded Schultz to thank the room of supporters for showing up on a Sunday and to remind them how much influence the UCF area can have in the election. She has this saying: "We are full-time students, overtime organizers."

"If anyone has watched this presidency, you know what's at stake in this country," Ida Eskamani said. "At times it makes me shake when I think about it. Everything we have gained is everything we can lose in this one election."

Like many other members of the College Democrats, senior political science major Bryan Eastman said the rising cost of college tuition is going to continue to be a major issue to galvanize support in the party's base. He said he wants more accountability and scrutiny for universities that raise tuition.

When Schultz took to the podium, she explained Obama's blueprint to make college education more affordable and prepare students to go out into the workforce. The plan includes rewarding and encouraging colleges to keep tuition costs down, keeping the interest rates on subsided Stafford student loans from doubling, and permanently extending the tuition tax break – steps the Republicans are not committed to take, she said.

Schultz also hailed the end of taxpayer subsidies to banks that issue student loans as one of the president's signature accomplishments.

"We took the banks out of being the middle man and made sure the student loan program was a direct program that got rid of the bureaucracy, got rid of the extra costs," Schultz said.

This reform was without any help from the Republican, she quickly reminded the audience.

"[Republicans] seem obsessively focused on helping people who are already doing well do even better," she said. "Well, that's not what the president is all about."

Recent restrictions placed on voter registration activities and early voting in Florida were also a target of Schultz's disapproval.

"Republicans are deliberately trying to skew the 2012 election in their favor before a single vote is cast," she said.

Schultz ended her speech with a call to action to organizers, asking students to sign up for an active role with Organizing for America, a project of the DNC, and to support the party's message by using Twitter. She said 2012 differs from Obama's 2008 election because another victory is not historic.

"2012 is different. It's not history, it's personal," the South Florida congresswoman said. "I don't know about you, but I am so proud of all the progress we've made, that I am not going to let them turn back the clock. Not on my watch."

After her speech, Schultz fielded questions from the audience. Student Government Association Vice President Adam Brock was there to voice concern for students who are pursuing degrees in areas outside of the STEM fields. Schultz answered by highlighting the priority that STEM majors have in building the U.S. economy, though she said the president's efforts at reducing the cost of tuition across the board will help make college affordable for all students.

"I'm really happy that [Schultz] is coming here – to any college campus – to energize the youth and show them that there always is an opportunity to have them be heard by their state legislatures and their national legislatures," Brock said afterward.

In an interview following the event, Schultz said other key elements to the Democrat's platform in 2012 are issues like closing tax loopholes, revitalizing American manufacturing and pursuing alternative forms of energy.

Schultz said coming to UCF ahead of Tuesday's Republican primary was important to draw a contrast between her party and the Republican field, "which has been incredibly extreme and really out of step with issues that are important to students and young people."