My Sincerest Apology

My sincerest apology for yesterday's cancellation of our College Democrats kick off meeting event.  It was unfortunate that a lot of people cancelled due to floor meetings that coincided with our meeting and some had classes from 8 pm - 11 pm, which both are perfectly fine.  I did however, move the meeting to Wedensday from 8 pm to 10 pm with the Room to be determined, because I feel that this is an election period, where we need to discuss some important topics that are ahead of us.

So please contact me at prodhanm@uindy.edu for more information. Also be on the watch for our updated advertising everywhere.  Thank you and I look forward to seeing you all.

Mustafa Prodhan
UIndy College Democrats
prodhanm@uindy.edu
Bookmark and Share

Starting the Year Right


As it has been explained in the article above, we have achieved so much.  Now we need to achieve newer goals.  Since last year, we not only did the activities mentioned above, but we created many networks with politicians and business people.  Most of the candidates running for office have a small business background such as Joan Sanders and Zach Adamson.  Some like Vop Osili, have a diverse background in Architecture, but with unique insight into politics.  However, the point made here is that as Democrats we have a diverse group of law makers, and if Melina Kennedy and the many candidates for the City County Council At-Large and District Candidates win, this will define the next generation of the Democrat party. 

In the sense that we want to accomplish many goals, I propose that we also add the experience of camaraderie.  This is important in any organization and serves to not only bring the members together, but enjoy the company of one another and to get to know each other.  I propose that we utilize our resources in order to better understand our political process by getting to know the candidates and in asking them the hard hitting questions, because that is why they are running for office, to answer to those citizens giving them the consent to rule.  We must keep in mind that we are in a General Election Cycle, so we must stay on task by volunteering to canvass or phone bank.  The overall goal is to turn volunteers or students with interest in internships to interns for the political campaigns that are at hand for the November 8th Municipal Election. 

At the same time, we also need to relax and enjoy the time in our club by doing extra-curricular activities such as having a bowling night, or laser tag, or even a day at Dave and Busters for a fun night out. To add to this, the prospects of Fund-raising and community service projects.   Who says that we should only be thinking politics.  Let us also plan for fun as well.  What we need is a plan to solidify the club to become stronger than ever.  The question is how?  Well I invite all of you to our first meet and greet of the year, this Monday, August 29 at 8pm at Schwitzer Basement Room 011.  We will discuss many important details, about our planned activities, but also our alliance with PRIDE, BSA, and other clubs, as well as an outside partnership with IUPUI’s Students for Melina group.
Bookmark and Share

A New Direction.

Hello, my name is Mustafa Prodhan. I have been tasked with the most difficult and challenging work of being the President of the College Democrats at the University of Indianapolis in the state of Indiana. As of last year, I began to reform the College Democrats in becoming an activist club, taking involvement in local, state, and national politics and campaigning. With the blessings of Dr. Douglas Woodwell, we've been fortunate to take part in community services and political campaigning, in the state. So allow me to explain what's happened so far with the college democrats of UIndy.

The major parts of what we've undertaken has now made a world of difference in the way we operate as student Democrats. So far, we've gotten involved in Big City Farming in conjunction with the Kennedy for Indianapolis mayoral campaign and having been tasked to the undertaking of creating farms in abandoned lots. I want to say we did one weeks worth of work in 8 hours of one day. I am proud of that achievement and success, which has catapulted the College Democrat of UIndy, to the starting of new heights. We've also undertaken in building a park with KaBoom in conjunction with the Students for Melina group. That's two community services in one good year. Let's shoot for three or more this upcoming 2011-2012 year. I know we can do it. Let's make it happen.

We have now since March have become actively involved in local politics of Indianapolis and the greater Marion County. We began to work in volunteering with the Kennedy for Indianapolis campaign in phone banking, community service projects, and canvassing the neighborhoods for potential volunteers and supporters. I believe that this aspect of our involvement with politics and campaigning is paramount to the success of the campaign's for offices under our party banner. It allows us to perform our civic duty as citizens of not just one nation, the United States of America, but the bigger picture of what will allow democrats running for office and incumbents to stand a fighting chance of success in the Local Politics of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. This is grassroots, and this is where and how all of the votes count.

I encourage the returning members and new members alike, to participate in this Mayoral Election and in the municipal election, so that we can bring back Democrat Candidate for Mayor of Indianapolis Melina Kennedy to the City County Council Building, in a successful volley from our efforts and that from all volunteers who have been busy hitting the streets and building momentum. I feel that she has been and is continuing to be the strongest candidate running against our Incumbent Mayor Gregg Ballard. I do feel that this is not enough, with a strong mayoral candidate, we need to ensure the success of our City County Council At-Large Candidates, John Barth, Leroy Robinson, Zach Adamson, and Pamela Hickman, and the respective City County Council Incumbents and Candidates. A unified government under Melina Kennedy, is what the city of Indianapolis needs in ensuring safer streets, more police on the beat in ensuring safer streets, a great plan for public transportation, but more than that, an improvement in our public education system. More importantly bringing jobs back to Indianapolis. So let us all challenge the status quo and bring a new era of leadership into the city of Indianapolis, and the greater Marion County.

In ensuring the continuing success of the College Democrats, I have proposed that we begin an alliance with PRIDE and the Black Student Association such as my predecessor Chris Jackson has done, in allowing us to become well represented in the party and in this city. I also propose that we ally with the Students for Melina group, in creating a strong coalition of Democrats in Indianapolis and the greater Marion County. This is what I believe is the step in the right direction and in achieving a fair loyal opposition against the Republican party. We need all of the support we can get in the coming days. Let us become the beacon of the light for many Democrats and lets take to the streets in electing our leaders to office by getting the vote out.
Bookmark and Share

College Democrats in the UIndy Reflector


This week's issue of the UIndy Reflector contained a cover story on our 'Breakfast with your Legislator' event that is this Friday, March 5th. Read a portion of the article below, pick up a copy on campus, or read the article in its entirety here.

The University of Indianapolis College Democrats will host “Breakfast with Your Legislator” on March 5, featuring several of Indianapolis’ legislators, who will address issues students are concerned with.

“Breakfast with Your Legislator” will start off in UIndy Hall A in the Schwitzer Student Center at 8 a.m. The event will begin with a free breakfast, followed by a question-and-answer session with the legislators and conclude with a meet-and-greet.

The event is free but students must have a ticket to attend. The use of tickets is mainly due to limited number of seats, as well as to make an educated guess on how much food should be ordered. Only 100 seats are available.

Students may also receive LP credit for attending.
Bookmark and Share

Update: Breakfast with your Legislator


We have some newly confirmed Indiana State Representatives that have agreed to attend the Breakfast: Representative Greg Porter (D-Indianapolis), Chairman of the House Education Committee, and Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), both pictured below.
We appreciate that they are willing to come out and speak to college students about the issues that effect them most.

Tickets for the breakfast have nearly all been given away, but some are still available! We will continue to give out tickets this week in Schwitzer Atrium Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 AM to 1 PM.

The Breakfast is March 5th from 8 am to 10 am in Schwitzer UIndy Hall A. A short 30 minute meet and greet with the state legislators will be followed by a 1 to 1 1/2 hour Question and Answer session with questions from the students in attendance. Free breakfast is provided and L/P credit is available for attending. A ticket is required for entry.
Bookmark and Share