Accomplishments

2004:

While young, the Drexel Democrats were able to make a significant difference in the 2004 election. We registered an unprecedented amount of new voters on campus, and through Get-Out-The-Vote drives, we were able to help John Kerry win Philadelphia by a margin of 80% to 20%. We also co-sponsored two huge rallies, including the September John Kerry rally at Hill Field, and the historic Kerry/Clinton rally in Center City. Throughout the elections process, the Drexel Democrats were highly regarded in the field. During the Kerry/Clinton rally, we were given the sole responsibility for managing ticket distribution for the entire Kerry/Clinton rally. In part because of our hard work, the event was attended by over 100,000 people.

Winter 2005:

When the Drexel Democrats were denied equal time at the February 22, 2005 social security event with Senator Santorum, we decided to organize and protest the event. Given the partisan nature of Santorum's platform and rhetoric, we felt that this forum would be lacking without a counter viewpoint. We believed that Senator Santorum would use the academic forum as a guide for the Bush Administration’s national tour to promote social security privatization.

On the morning of February 22, 2005 approximately 40 students from Drexel and UPenn, as well as members of organizations such as Philly for Change, arrived outside of Drexel’s Behrakis Hall to protest the event. We were also joined by numerous news stations including CNN and a handful of Drexel Republicans. Upon the arrival of Rick Santorum, the Drexel Republicans in attendance began shouting “Hey hey ho ho social security has got to go.” At the time the Republicans were trying to dodge the accusation that they actually hoped to get rid of social security all together. The video clip of the Drexel Republicans was played on shows including CNN’s Crossfire and numerous other national cable television shows. To date the video of the protest alone has received over 2.5 million hits. ( Link )

At the end of Rick Santorum’s presentation the Drexel Democrats were able to send many of our members to the microphone where they were able to ask Santorum numerous critical questions. Rick Santorum was quoted in The Washington Post weeks later saying, “Clearly the other side is better organized. They got people to all these events. They had seniors lined up to ask questions, they had staff people running up passing them notes." ( Link )

The event and its fallout made national news, including CNN, The New York Times, Bloomberg News, ABC, NBC, CBS, throughout local newspapers, and all over the internet.

Spring 2005:

In May 2005 the Drexel Democrats were able to host U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah as part of The Office of Government and Community Relations Public Policy Forum and the LeBow College of Business Guest Lecture Series. Congressman Fattah is an outspoken supporter of equal access to education resources, and has introduced legislation to address inadequacies and inequities in educational opportunities available to millions of students, including the Student Bill of Rights Act of 2002, and GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs).

During the successful event, which was attended by approximately 50 students, many of Drexel’s faculty, and its President Dr. Constantine Papadakis, Congressman Fattah spoke on "Challenges of American Education."

Fall 2006:

Fall was a busy but exciting time for the Drexel Democrats as they registered voters and canvassed the city to support Democratic candidates in the upcoming election. On November 1st, the Drexel Democrats co-sponsored a rally at UPenn that featured Governor Ed Rendell and now-Senator Bob Casey, Jr. A week later, all the long hours spent registering voters, canvassing, and rallying paid off when the Democrats took back the Senate and House in an historic midterm victory.