FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- OCTOBER 11, 2004
Contact: Matt Reeder, 309-530-0733
Matt Dobrowolski, 309-454-9432
At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12, ISU College Democrats and College Republicans will hold a debate at Capen Auditorium at ISU. ISU Campus Greens, however, have been excluded, as the Democrats and Republicans have decided not to let them participate.
The Executive Boards of the College Democrats and College Republicans unanimously decided to exclude Greens from the debate. Zach Koutsky of the College Democrats told Greens their inclusion would be "unfair" and justified the exclusion on the grounds that students could not vote for Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb. Illinois Green Party officials are preparing paperwork so Cobb will be a valid write-in option in Illinois, however.
Koutsky also stated that it would be "detrimental and distracting to have your [Green] opinions involved in the debate," since presidential platforms will be presented as a part of the debate format. Similar logic has been used by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates to bar Cobb and other third party candidates from debates, even though opinion polls consistently show that a majority of Americans believe more than two people should participate in the presidential debates.
ISU Campus Greens were among a contingent from Illinois protesting the exclusion of candidates from the presidential debate in St. Louis on October 8. There, attempting to cross a line of riot police blocking access to the debate hall, David Cobb and Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik were arrested.
"The decision to exclude the Campus Greens from the debate is alarmingly undemocratic and is downright disappointing," said Matt Reeder, president of the ISU Campus Greens who stood mere yards away as Cobb was arrested in St. Louis. "Universities should serve as a democratic model for society and the College Democrats and Republicans are not setting a very good example. Our voices are being censored."
"Our intention is to show up and participate," said Matt Dobrowolski of the ISU Campus Greens. "We think, given another opportunity, the Democrats and Republicans will do the right thing. If they still choose to exclude us, we will make our voices heard anyway."
Phil Huckelberry, Green Party candidate for 88th State Representative, concurs with Reeder and Dobrowolski. "We overcame arduous ballot access laws to get me on the ballot, proving there is support for Greens in this community. My opponent, Dan Brady, has agreed to debate me, because he knows it's healthy for democracy when all views are heard. Are the College Democrats and College Republicans trying to tell this community that Greens don't count?"
Campus Greens is a registered student organization at Illinois State University. The Green Party is the fastest growing party in the United States and has enough members to have a significant influence on national elections. With each election more Greens are elected into local offices across the United States.
