President Obama: We Can't Wait to Help America's Graduates
First, for some students we are proposing to cap student loan repayment at 10 percent of a borrower’s discretionary income, starting next year. For many who worry about managing their debt while working in lower-paying fields -- including teachers, nurses, public defenders, and social workers -- this could reduce their payments by hundreds each month. MORE
IUSB Preface: College Dems Looking Toward the Future
Published: Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The College Democrats is the official collegiate outreach arm of the Democratic Party. The group has been offering students the opportunity to get their feet wet in politics for decades.
At IU South Bend, the club works to raise awareness of democratic issues both on campus and in the community. They host events and participate in campaigning to further the ideals of the Democratic Party.
Even in an off election year, IUSB’s College Democrats are keeping busy. The club has been focused on issue-based campaigning.
“Members have been encouraged to work on behalf of comprehensive healthcare reform for our country,” said Caitlin Worm, president of IUSB College Democrats, in an email interview. “We have coordinated almost all issue campaign activities with local labor unions and with Obama for America.”
Worm also said the club will be working in local and federal election campaigns over the summer and fall for democrats including Joe Donnelly for Congress, Ryan Dvorak for state representative, and Corey Noland for county council.
IUSB’s College Democrats are always looking for people to get involved.
“The College Democrats, more than any other organization, truly value freshmen” said Worm. “We like to train the individuals from the beginning of their campus career so it will ensure our club’s viability. We understand it is hard for people to fit tough campaign work into their schedules so we offer a variety and flexibility of club activities.”
According to Worm, the club teaches valuable skills like teambuilding, networking, coalition building, and community organizing. In addition, College Democrats fosters real-life experiences. For example, one member is currently working as an intern for Obama for America and another is interning for Senator Evan Bayh.
“Just a few weeks ago the president of the statewide federation of College Democrats, Sean Dvorak, an IUSB Junior, held a fund-raiser in Muncie, Indiana,” said Worm. “The Annual Kennedy-Obama Dinner fund-raiser was a beautiful event attended by university students and civic leaders from all across the state.”
CDIN Annual Kennedy Obama Dinner Headed by IUSB Democrat a Success!
WELCOME back to campus this spring semester, College Democrats!
Thank You Congressman Joe Donnelly for Voting to Expand Access to Healthcare in America!
IUSB Democrats Calls on Republican Party to Help Clean up the Mess in Washington
IUSB College Democrats asked members of the St. Joseph County Republican Party to take the President’s advice: either grab a mop and help clean up the mess, or get out of the way. Click here to view the President's address.
“College students have been a leading voice for change across the country. Yesterday, we asked Republicans to join us in these efforts, helping to move the country forward,” said Caitlin Worm, President of the IUSB College Democrats
IU-South Bend Democrats Support the Employee Free Choice Act
What is the Employee Free Choice Act?
The Employee Free Choice Act is critical legislation that would help protect the rights of America’s workers to organize and form unions. The law would give more workers a way to form unions and negotiate for better wages, health care and working conditions.
Why do we need it?
A robust middle class. Economic growth and shared prosperity. The American Dream. None are possible without good union jobs that protect workers.
Today’s workplaces are tilted in favor of lavishly-paid CEOs, who get golden parachutes while hardworking families struggle to get by. Workers need a fair shake and a chance to get ahead – but employers intimidate, harass, and even fire workers who try to form a union.
The Employee Free Choice Act can restore the balance, giving more workers a chance to form unions and get better health care, job security, and benefits – and an opportunity to pursue their dreams.
What are we doing about it?
We’re teaming up with hundreds of groups and unions to launch a massive campaign to show the new President and Congress that there are one million people who want to give hardworking families a chance to get ahead by passing the Employee Free Choice Act.
One million people demanding a fair deal for workers. SIGN THE PETITION
IUSB Democrat Elected State President of College Democrats of Indiana
Congratulations, IU-South Bend College Democrat Sean Dvorak for being elected to the statewide position as President of the College Democrats of Indiana. Sean's experience on campaigns and community organize will ensure success to the organization in the next year!
Camilo Mejia, Iraq-War Veteran Speaks at IU South Bend
Camilo Mejía said he knew the Iraq war was wrong from the time he was deployed there, but it took him time to develop the courage to speak out publicly against it. Mejía is a former U.S. soldier who was court-martialed and spent time in jail for refusing to return to duty in Iraq in 2003. He joined the military at age 19, serving as an infantryman in the active-duty Army for three years before transferring to the Florida National Guard.Mejía was a senior in college when he found out his military commitment would be extended because of the start of the war in Iraq. He said he spent most of his spare time in college at Starbucks, studying and getting ready for a good life as a psychologist. In October 2003, after a two-week furlough home, he refused to return to his unit. He said he had decided the war was unjust, and he applied for a discharge as a conscientious objector.Mejía served nine months in jail, which he said was a good experience. MORE
Road from Ar Ramadi book by Camilo Mejia Available at Campus Bookstore
Road for Ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sargaent Camilo Mejia, an Iraq War Memoir is available at the IU-South Bend campus bookstore and online at amazon.com.
Mejía, a veteran of the Iraq conflict, became an antiwar hero when he refused to return to his unit and was court-martialed in 2004 for desertion. His memoir is a blend of compelling war narrative and dubious soapboxing. Mejía's claim to conscientious objector status, after eight years in the U.S. military, months of combat and a long campaign for a discharge, rings rather hollow. The son of prominent Nicaraguan Sandinistas, he takes a view of the insurgents' "fight for self-determination" that seems naïve ("[t]here seemed to be a unity that spread through the differences among Iraqis") and his prose is laced with clunky rhetoric about "the imperial dragon that devours its own soldiers and Iraqi civilians alike for the sake of profit." Most powerful are his firsthand experiences of prisoner abuse, senseless patrols that invite insurgent attacks, discord among his demoralized comrades and their careerist officers, and the constant brutalization of Iraqis by paranoid, trigger-happy GIs. (In one incident, an irate soldier arrests an eight-year-old rock thrower, who is then beaten by a local man desperate to appease the vengeful Americans.) Those stories add up to an indelible portrait of the dirty war in the Sunni triangle and Mejía's painful confrontation with his immoral complicity in it. MORE
Two College Democrats featured in Saturday Edition of South Bend Tribune
Indiana University South Bend students Koffivi Aklassou, left, and Victor Kamwendo rock the house with their dance moves Friday during a "Conversations on Race" talent show on campus. The daylong series of discussions about racial issues was open to invited area high school and college students. LINK
IUSB College Democrat Veteran Speaks Out on Diane Rehm Show
Lucas Stigler, a IUSB College Democrat and a disabled Iraq War Veteran spoke out on the Diane Rehm Veteran's Day special broadcast on servic. He spoke of his struggles back here in the States with cooperation from the military and Veteran's Administration. MORE
--- Yes we did! ---
IU-South Bend College Democrats featured in The Nation
...Their rented storefront on Mishawaka Avenue now functions as a GOTV location for the Obama campaign, buzzing with volunteers of all ages who've been making phone calls and knocking on doors in the campaign's final days. It looks like any other campaign office, save for the giant Bob Marley poster in the garage and thrift store couches (which I'm currently filing from). MORE
IUSB Dems Gear Up for Election Day
With only one full week left in the campaign, IUSB College Democrats are gearing up to elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States. They will be staging GOTV operations out of their campaign headquarters in coordination with other South Bend college campuses. Most focus attention will be laid on Obama, however, the IUSB Dems will also be coordinating Election Day strategies with the campaigns of Jill Long Thompson, Joe Donnelly, three state representative races, and three local candidates. If you would like to be a GOTV team leader or volunteer on election day contact ELECTION DAY at [email protected].
Gubernatorial Candidate Jill Long Thompson Visits College Dems Headquarters
The hardworking Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson visited some forty College Democrats at their office. She discussed the future of Indiana's economy and workforce under her administration and cited the current Governor Mitch Daniels' failure to make sound investments for our state.
Jill Long Thompson to visit College Democrats office
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson is scheduled to visit the Northern Indiana College Democrats at the College Democrats/Students for Obama campaign office at 2210 Mishawaka Ave. South Bend, IN 46615 two blocks east of IUSB on 7PM Thursday, October 16th, 2008.
Two IUSB College Democrats to be in Jill Long Thompson Commercial
Two IUSB College Dems will star in a TV advertisement to be aired starting next week. Stay tuned!
College Dems Host Lt. Governor Candidate Dennie Oxley
Jill Long Thompson's running mate held a press conference regarding the state of the economy and jobs in Indiana. He is traveling the state with a trailer that displays the number of jobs that have been lost in Indiana over the past year -- the number hovers 62,000, with 16,500 of those jobs in the last month alone. Dennie Oxley discussed Jill Long Thompson's plan to revive the economy of Indiana.
College Dems Office Opening Party a SUCCESS!
Nearly 500 students, community members, and public officials attending the grand opening celebration! We were able to obtain hundreds of new college dems from all the area chapters to sign up to volunteer for our various targeted races! Thank you to all who attended, who contributed, and hopefully you'll be in there again soon volunteering! Check out the photos page for pictures from the event!
College Democrats to host Office Opening Party Sept. 4th
STUDENTS FOR BARACK OBAMA - COLLEGE DEMS HEADQUARTERS
GRAND OPENING PARTY
Thursday, August 4th, 2008 | 5-9PM
2210 Mishawaka Ave. South Bend, IN 46615
Corner of Ironwood and Mishawaka Ave. | Next to Bruno's and Stude's
Come by anytime!
There will be food, beverages, special guests, and lots of FUN!
This is the first and only College Democrats office in the WORLD (no lie)...come kick off a great campaign season and check out our office. You may bring friends/family along, people of all ages are welcome to attend!
This party and the office will be ran by US -- the students! Come and meet awesome Democrats from area College Dems chapters -- IUSB, Notre Dame, Saint Mary's, Ivy-Tech, and Bethel College!
IUSB College Democrat to attend Democratic Convention in Denver
8/19/08 - IUSB College Dems President and College Democrats of Indiana President, Caitlin Worm, will lead eight other College Democrat students from DePauw, Notre Dame, and IU-Bloomington in Denver for the College Democrats and Democratic National Committee 2008 Convention. The students will attend trainings, speaking engagements, and celebrations, as well as take part in the DNC day of service, from August 22nd - 28th.
Run to Vote Team Thanks IUSB Democrats
8/10/08 SPECIAL THANKS:
32) Indiana
-Indiana University South Bend
Student Life Department
1700 Mishawaka Ave
South Bend, IN 46634
For hosting our voting drive and providing us with lunch. Thanks!
-IUSB College Democrats
For hosting us on campus and helping us find a place to stay.
-Holy Cross Catholic Parish
For arranging for us a place to stay
-WSBT – CBS