Nader to make campaign stop on campus

By Yael Kohen

Daily Staff Reporter

Green Party candidate Ralph Nader is focusing his attention on non-voters and in an effort to get his message across to students, he is visiting the University during a visit to campus tomorrow.

Students make up the largest segment of the voting-age population who don't vote, leading Nader to focus a great deal of attention in their direction.

In the past few months, the candidate has visited numerous colleges and universities, Nader spokeswoman Stacy Malkan said.

Nader is scheduled to visit the Michigan Theater at 12 p.m. tomorrow accompanied by Michael Moore, a film-maker and political activist from Flint, and former television talk-show host Phil Donahue joining in on the discussion. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

"People are protesting the system by not voting," Malkan said, adding that Nader is campaigning to the 50 percent of the population that doesn't vote.

Malkan said Nader's platform speaks to young voters who have become somewhat apathetic to the political process.

Nader's platform includes same-day voter registration, a none-of-the-above option on the ballot, proportional representation in government with more than two major parties in the American system, publicly financed campaigns and the elimination of corporate contributions.

Referring to Nader's college campus visits, LSA senior Lee Palmer, a Nader supporter, said "he actually speaks to students."

Most voters determine who they are going to vote for during the presidential debates, in which Nader will not be included, Malkan said.

Nader did not qualify to participate in the debates because polls did not show he had the 15 percent of support needed to participate in the debates.

The newly established Student Greens, the campus group organizing the event, is working to spread Nader's views throughout the campus and plans to distribute information around campus.

Student Greens has long-term goals that go beyond this election year.

"It's about Nader, but it's not just about Nader," said Information student Steve Herrick, a member of the Student Greens.

Herrick said although he doesn't believe Nader will be elected president in November, he is hoping for at least 5 percent of the popular vote to qualify for the Federal Elections Committee matching funds in the next election cycle. Student Greens members also are hoping Nader will have "a long coattail" to enable others Green Party candidates to be elected such as LSA senior Scott Trudeau, who is running for a spot on the University Board of Regents on the Green Party ticket.

Herrick said he hopes supporters and non-supporters come out to the event. For supporters, it's about getting a chance to hear Nader; for non-supporters it is a chance to learn what he is all about and maybe throw support his way, he said.

Palmer, also a Student Greens member, said she was originally an Al Gore supporter but changed her mind during the summer when she became disillusioned with the political system in which, she said, Gore has fallen prey.

Some voters say they support Nader's ideals but they will not cast a ballot for him on Election Day for fear of strengthening Republican George W. Bush's electoral hold against Gore.

But Palmer said voting for Nader is about supporting for the person that she wants to see leading the nation.

"We live in a democracy and when Election Day comes, we should vote for people who address the issues important to us," she said.

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