“He waffled on foreign policy,” said Betsy A. Sykes ’04, the vice president of the IOP’s Student Advisory Committee and a member of the Harvard College Republicans. “He seemed argumentative, constantly Bush-bashing. He seemed to talk more about the problems rather than effective solutions for them.”
Rock the Vote
While Dean has emphasized his outreach to younger voters, some questioned why he could not make time to meet with students outside of yesterday’s show.
The other candidates who appeared on “Hardball” have met with students in the “Conversations with Candidates” series at Kirkland House sponsored by the College Dems, answered a question on youth engagement for the IOP TV talk show and attended a reception after “Hardball.”
Dean, citing time constraints, did not participate in any of these events.
After Aaron D. Chadbourne ’06 questioned him on-air last night about his unavailability, Dean responded that he would be interested in coming back to meet with Harvard students.
Chadbourne said he was escorted backstage after the show and received a personal apology from Dean. Chadbourne said the candidate told him that his staff members had not informed him of the invitations and that he would make an effort to come back.
“I think it was a nice gesture, but I think it’s more important that if candidates are going to expect youth to support them then they should make themselves available,” Chadbourne said.
Frank said the College Dems presented Dean with an official invitation yesterday to return to Harvard during the primary season.
Some students were unfazed by Dean’s absence at campus events before and after yesterday’s taping.
“I think he has the potential to mobilize the youth in our country in a way that none of the other candidates have been able to do,” said Kate C. Gluckman ’07. “His appeal lies not only in his policies but in his presentation.”
Gluckman said Dean “wants to be hip,” pointing to his choice of Wyclef Jean as his favorite musician.
Regina C. Schwartz ’06, co-chair of Harvard Students for Howard Dean who helped organize the rally prior to the taping, said she felt Dean would do a better job than Bush in representing student interests.
“Howard Dean really gets in touch with the students and isn’t afraid to speak his mind,” Schwartz said.
—Staff writer Jessica R. Rubin-Wills can be reached at rubinwil@fas.harvard.edu.