Harvard Student to Head Mass. College Democrats for Third Year Running

Marcie Bianco '01, president of the Harvard College Democrats (HCD), was elected president of the College Democrats of Massachusetts yesterday during the statewide political organization's annual convention.

This marks the third year in a row that the head of the HCD has won the presidency of the 4,000-member statewide coalition. Former HCD presidents Marc Stad '01 and Joseph N. Sanberg '01 have held the top spot in the previous two years.

With 20 members present, Harvard had the largest delegation in attendance.

The convention, hosted by Boston College, drew more than 100 students from across the state.

It featured a series of debates and panels with Democratic leaders and activists, including former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis, Massachusetts Democratic Party chair Philip Johnston and Clinton administration secretary of labor Robert Reich.

As incoming president, Bianco said she hoped to strengthen ties between the various chapters of College Democrats across the state, and also to increase diversity within Harvard's own chapter,

"In the past it's been a lot of white Sigma Chi males," she said. "This year we have females and that has been a big change."

The convention was ripe with opportunities to get involved in Democratic causes and campaigns.

"We had the added bonus this year of having some of the gubernatorial candidates present," outgoing president Stad said.

Donna Brazile, campaign manager for Gore-Lieberman 2000, gave the convention's keynote address. She cited recent Democratic setbacks as reason for students to become more involved in the Democratic Party.

"It's time to take on the mantle of leadership and become a missionary for your party," she said.

She blamed competition from the Green Party and mishaps at the Florida polls for the Democratic loss of the presidency.

"We all know that the majority of Americans who went to the polls in Florida on November 7th meant to cast their votes for Al Gore," she said.

Aside from arguing party politics, the silver-haired Brazile spoke about the need for the youth of today to choose public service over professional advancement, and encouraged her audience to volunteer in their communities, in prisons and on Capitol Hill.

"Don't make [getting] a suntan and putting money in your bank account your primary focus this summer," she said.

Brazile described her experiences growing up in the South, and shared highlights from her 20 years organizing grassroots movements.

"This is the first year of my life since 1969 that I do not have a candidate," she said.

Currently a fellow at the IOP, Brazile teaches a weekly study group entitled "Presidential Politics: The Way, the Truth and the Light" which aims to encourage political participation and demystify the electoral campaign process.