College Dems go local!

by: rchsdems

Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 15:39:34 PM EDT

The MFCD is going on a bus tour!  That's right, we're boarding a bus (well actually a Ford E-350) and stopping all over the state to meet with college students and local activists in many different regions.  The 'Students First Tour' will be bringing attention to the tuition increases caused by everyone's favorite State Legislator, Mike Bishop and help to gather signatures and support from students in support of Senate Bill 518, which will repeal the Mike Rogers Bill that prohibits students from voting on their college campuses unless their state ID matches their campus address.  In addition we will work to obtain a comprehensive database that of college activists that can assist us in events in 2008, so that we can all work together for stronger victories and provide information to students on how to register to vote.

Small amounts of information will be given to students at our stops about Presidential candidates, although much has been withdrawn from our original itinerary.. for obvious reasons.

The first campus stop will occur later in the day on the 27th when the bus arrives in Mt. Pleasant for the Central Michigan stop at around 3:00pm.  A social event will take place where Central Dems and MFCD officers will discuss repealling the Rogers Bill, and what we all need to do now to make sure that we are successful.

As the Students First tour keeps truckin' north, the tour will stop in Antrim County, Bellaire to be precise, to meet with the Antrim County Democrats from around 10:00am-12:00pm on Sunday Oct. 28. 

After the invigorating meeting, the Students First Tour travels to Traverse City to walk with the Grand Traverse County Dems for their endorsed school board candidates from 2:00-5:00pm. 

To wrap up the day the MFCD will head to Emmet County to meet with the Emmet County Democrats and students of North Central Michigan College over coffee, and discuss 2008, as well as the importance of Senate Bill 518 in Petoskey from 6:00-9:00pm at NCMC.

Taking the reins and heading back down south, the tour will stop at the University of Michigan-Flint campus on Monday Oct. 29 from 1:00-6:00pm.  At this stop students will have an opportunity to meet with Youth Caucus endorsed Flint mayoral candidate, Dayne Walling.  Thank you to the 5th Congressional District Democrats for Sponsoring this event.

On the backs of the event with Dayne Walling at UofM-Flint, following the campus event, bus riders and any other interested parties will take some time, 6:00-9:00pm, volunteering at the Walling campaign headquarters.

Joining many Oakland County area organizations and clubs, we will set up shop at Oakland University from 9:00am-1:00pm where we will be joined by Gary Peters, and none other than the Toyota driving-unpatriotic-celebrity himself, Bruce Fealk.

Following the OU stop, the Students First Tour will swing by Wayne State University in Detroit from 2:00-6:00pm to join local political leaders and activists to spread the word about our efforts to repeal the Rogers Bill.

Rolling into the Mighty 11th District, MFCD members on board the Students First Tour will stop in Livonia from 7:00-9:00pm to spend some time volunteering for Maureen Brosnan, Youth Caucus endorsed candidate for Mayor or Livonia.

Starting out a spooky Halloween day, the MFCD will stop at Eastern Michigan University, in Ypsilanti to continue to gain support and attention from students on campus.

Wrapping up Halloween 07, the SFT will be stopping in Ann Arbor, at the University of Michigan Diag from 3:00-8:00pm.  Several elected officials likely will be present at this stop, however final confirmations are not in as of today.

Thursday, Nov. 1 brings the tour to Albion College in the heart of the 7th District.  From 10:00am-1:30pm the SFT will spend time talking to students and welcoming Sen. Mark Schauer to the event.

Rounding off a great Thursday, the SFT will stop onto the campus of Western Michigan University and spend time with WMU Dems, and other interested students.

On November 2, following an event by Howard Dean less than a week prior, the MFCD will stop at Hope College from 9:00-11:00am.  Hope has seen an increase in College Dems activity over recent years, and we want to be on the heels of an even larger expansion.

Leaving Hope College, the SFT will trek a few miles away to Grand Valley State University Allendale Campus.  Here the MFCD will be joined by the great State Representative Mary Valentine as well as by a powerful college dems chapter.  We will be at GVSU from about 1:00-5:00pm, and will be serving a tailgate style lunch to all visitors.  Representative Valentine will arrive on campus at approximately 3:30pm.  Thank you to the GVSU Poli Sci Department for sponsoring our efforts.

Ending the week-long tour in a big way, MFCD members will join area elected officials at one of the greatest rivalry football games in the nation.  The SFT bus will be in the Student Tailgate Section in East Lansing for the UM vs. MSU football game.  Thank you to Mayor Virg Bernero for all of his assistance and sponsorship!

The MFCD has a lot going on this fall, and we sincerely hope that you can join us at one of our stops in your backyard this fall.

As a sidenote-- we are hoping to Youtube and liveblog most of the trip if not the entirety.  We are currently seeking any interested Michlib bloggers who could take a week long or semi week long trip on board the Students First Tour bus.  Please let me know if you are interested. 

A call out to any other local activists: We are seeking lodging from generous activists at many of our stops to eliminate many costs.  If you are able to assist us, please comment below!