The students and faculty of Baker University are not sitting this election out.
Senior Kelly Gibbens, who works as a canvasser for the Democratic Party, explained why.
“Politics is something that affects everyone, whether they realize it or not,” he said. “From the local level to the state level, including issues like student financial aide.”
Gibbens said he works for the state party and does volunteer work for the county party.
Gibbens got involved in politics in 2000 when his father ran for state senate, and he started his current job in 2004 based on the recommendation of a friend with whom he had worked on the campaign of 1st District Congressman Dennis Moore D – Lenexa, he said.
Junior Andrew Hodges is also involved in the political scene.
Hodges works on Republican Tom Petersen’s campaign for Shawnee County Commission District One, which encompasses parts of Topeka in western Shawnee County, he said.
While Hodges himself is a Democrat, he got involved in Peterson’s campaign because the two are family friends, he said. However, it did lead to some interesting situations for Hodges.
“It was fun being in rooms with people who would pull out Ann Coulter books. In conversations before meetings I would have to bite my tongue,” Hodges said. “But, my boss knows I’m a Democrat and the County Commission doesn’t do much in the way of partisan policy. Also, he’s strict on spending and believes government should be run like a business. He’s a Republican in the old sense.”
Hodges serves a Petersen’s campaign manager, working on sign distribution, debate preparation, opposition research, and talking points.
Political activism is not just restricted to students, however.
Professor of Psychology Anthony Brown is the Campaign Treasurer for District Ten State Representative Tom Holland (D – Baldwin City), he said.
Brown unexpectedly began his work as Treasurer in 2002, when he was contacted by Holland, he said.
“I didn’t know Tom at the time,” Brown said. “He got my number from someone in town who recommended me.”
Holland told Brown he was considering running against incumbent Ralph Tanner, a former Baker University President, Brown said.
“Both Tom and I were foolish enough to say, ‘yeah we’ll give it a go,'” he said. “And dog gone it if we didn’t end up beating him.”
Like Gibbens and Hodges, Brown characterizes his political experience as being a positive one.
“Overall its been a lot of fun. If you’re going to be involved, you have to believe in the candidate you’re working for,” he said.
Brown said that while political activism was important, he does not think that everyone needs to be involved at the same level.
However, being politically informed is important, he said.
“Our system was set up based on an educated electorate. You have to be engaged,” he said. “Go to forums, read the newspaper. You need an objective source. Don’t trust direct mailings and public statements, because if you do, you’re asking to be deluded and fooled.”
did lead to some interesting situations for Hodges.
“It was fun being in rooms with people who would pull out Ann Coulter books. In conversations before meetings I would have to bite my tongue,” Hodges said. “But, my boss knows I’m a Democrat and the County Commission doesn’t do much in the way of partisan policy. Also, he’s strict on spending and believes government should be run like a business. He’s a Republican in the old sense.”
Hodges serves as Petersen’s campaign manager, working on sign distribution, debate preparation, opposition research, and talking points.
Political activism is not just restricted to students, however.
Professor of Psychology Anthony Brown is the campaign treasurer for District X State Representative Tom Holland, D – Baldwin City, he said.
Brown unexpectedly began his work as treasurer in 2002 when he was contacted by Holland, he said.
“I didn’t know Tom at the time,” Brown said. “He got my number from someone in town who recommended me.”
Holland told Brown he was considering running against incumbent Ralph Tanner, a former Baker University president, Brown said.
“Both Tom and I were foolish enough to say, ‘yeah we’ll give it a go,'” he said. “And dog gone it if we didn’t end up beating him.”
Like Gibbens and Hodges, Brown characterizes his political experience as being a positive one.
“Overall its been a lot of fun. If you’re going to be involved, you have to believe in the candidate you’re working for,” he said.
Brown said while political activism was important, he does not think everyone needs to be involved at the same level.
However, being politically informed is important, he said.
“Our system was set up based on an educated electorate. You have to be engaged,” he said.