The College Democrats of America Convention

Last weekend, over 450 college students from across the country came together in St. Louis for the College Democrats of America national Convention. We had a great time hearing from Democratic leaders, meeting like-minded people, and plotting to take our country back.

Howard Dean opened with remarks about what we could accomplish, not only at the convention, but after we went home to our respective states. For students from California to Maine, the message couldn't have hit home more. These students came to Convention searching for a way to become active in their states and to mobilize in their region of the country.

Because of the excitement of a competitive presidential election within the organization, numerous students who had never been to a CDA Convention before were encouraged by their friends or friends of friends to come hear speakers and, well, help out with their friend of a friend of a friend's bid for the CDA presidency.

The makeup of this Convention was different than any Convention of recent memory. Missouri and Arkansas fielded the largest delegations. The East Coast didn't have as strong representation as it usually does--except for Pennsylvania, which seems to always have tons of people no matter where the Convention is held. The level of enthusiasm clearly exceeded that witnessed in previous years. While College Democrats love our nation's capital, we also don't mind being a few hundred miles away from it!

When I first learned that the CDA Convention was going to be held in St. Louis, I immediately thought of an old childhood friend of mine, Janna, who had just started graduate school at the Washington University in St. Louis. Her focus was in biochemistry - a far cry from the usual government/law type that College Democrats Conventions attract.

Through a little bit of convincing, I managed to get her to sign up for the Convention. She helped me a bit on my campaign and despite the fact that she had little if any previous interest in politics, she managed to be drawn to the events, including an 8:15 AM Women's Caucus meeting. To learn the struggles of women in politics and later to hear Nancy Pelosi discuss the importance of young energy in campaigns drew Janna into the message of convention - get active!

Many people who attend CDA convention are similar - they're government majors, Washington DC interns, aspiring politicians - but to see people like a shy biochemistry student turned into an active College Democrat, shows the success of the Convention and of the Democratic message. The College Democrats Convention in St. Louis gave students the tools and the inspiration to go back to campus this fall and set precedence in terms of student activism and voter turnout in a non-presidential year.

I was fortunate to be elected CDA President, and I'll be more fortunate to lead the organization as the student vote powers Democrats to victories across the country.