Meeting unites Indiana college
democrats
By Rachael Conley
Assistant
Campus Editor
The first meeting since 1998 of the Federation
of College Democrats of Indiana was a success despite the absence of
three universities.
Indiana University, Notre Dame University and Valparaiso
University were not present at the convention this weekend for differing
reasons. IU's reason caused some concern with members of the Purdue
chapter of College Democrats.
"IU played politics with us," said Tim Carey, a
junior in the School of Management. "They almost tried to sabotage the
event."
The convention was set to begin at 11 a.m., and
Carey said he received an e-mail from the president of the IU chapter
informing him that they would not be attending the event's commencement.
"(IU is) under bad leadership this year," Carey
said.
The absence of IU's chapter, however, did not phase
Carey.
"I guess it's better off without people who drag
their feet anyway," he said.
Though the absence of the three universities left
the attendance of the convention at 15, with about six individuals from
Purdue and the remaining students from Ball State University, Carey
said the convention went well overall.
The attendees spent their day building the foundation
for the federation.
They went over the budget, drafted a new constitution
and named the federation's new president and vice president.
Ryan Hatton, a junior in the School of Management,
was named president, and a member of Ball State University's chapter
was named vice president.
Hatton was the only candidate who ran for president,
and though members had planned to vote for an executive director, the
position was left open to allow other universities to have a place in
the executive office.
Jessica Cavallo, a senior in the School of Science,
said she thought Hatton was a good choice for president.
"I think it's great; he'll do a good job," Cavallo
said. "It's good to see someone who has a lot of leadership take over
the position."
Carey said he believed Hatton would do a good job
but noted Purdue might be biased due to its connection with Hatton.
"I think he's going to be a great president; he's
got the time, he's got the support, he's got everyone behind him," said
Carey. "He's our guy, so of course we're happy to see him in there."
Though IU was not at the convention this year,
Carey said he hopes the group from IU will become involved later when
new leadership takes over.
"They have great members," he said.
Cavallo said she hopes IU will become involved
later as well.
"We were able to get stuff done without them,"
she said. "I would hope that in the future they would decide to take
part in the organization."
The convention served as a starting place for the
organization.
"We wanted to kind of give our own direction as
to what we were going to do," said Carey. "(The convention was) something
that kinda just laid the groundwork."
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