Barack Obama Wins Straw Poll At Harvard Dems Convention

The Harvard College Democrats held a successful convention this Saturday, bringing together the liberal community in a focal event which helped to ignite excitement for the 2008 race. The convention concluded with a first-ever straw poll of support for the primary candidates, with 45% of convention attendees choosing Barack Obama as their nominee.

Brigit M. Helgen ’08, President of the Harvard College Democrats, said “The convention was a huge success with over a hundred people attending. It brought together the liberal Harvard community and proves that we’re excited to take back the White House in 2008.”

For the full statement from the Dems, please see the full press release.

Harvard College Democrats Present Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius With Leadership Award

Above: Dems President Brigit M. Helgen '08, with Governor Sebelius.

At the third annual Leader of the Year Award Gala this Tuesday, the
Harvard College Democrats presented Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius with their Leader of the Year Award in a culmination of a year of successful activities and campaigns. Governor Sebelius, chair of the Democratic Governors Association and one of the most popular governors in the country, is the third recipient of the award, following Representative Artur Davis (D–AL) in 2005 and former Governor of Virginia Mark Warner in 2006.

Governor Sebelius was selected for the award to honor her work in building the Democratic Party into a strong force in a state once written off as a Republican stronghold. Governor Sebelius’s achievements in Kansas, coupled with her broad-based and bipartisan support from residents of the state, make her a perfect model of the resurgence of the Democratic Party all across the nation.

For the full statement from the Dems, please see the press release.

(More photos from the event can be enjoyed here.)

Senator Chris Dodd visits the Harvard College Democrats at Kirkland House.

In the first installment of the Harvard College Democrats’ “Conversations with the Candidates” series, Connecticut’s Senator Chris Dodd spoke with students about student issues, national politics, and a possible 2008 candidacy on Friday. The event, held in Kirland House’s Junior Common Room, drew an over-capacity crowd of undergraduates and graduate students.

Senator Dodd, who served in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic after his graduation, has indicated that he may be interested in running for the presidency in 2008. He stressed that his motivation to run stems from a desire to talk about issues which our country has no choice but to address. He said that the discussions which will come out of this upcoming election will be crucial in setting the course for our nation in the upcoming years.

For the full statement from the Dems, please see the press release.

The Harvard College Democrats congratulate Petersen–Sundquist on their victory.

Winning over 1,300 first-place votes, the Harvard College Democrats-endorsed ticket of Ryan Petersen ’08 and Matthew Sundquist ’09 became the next President and Vice President of the Undergraduate Council on Thursday. The Dems are proud to congratulate Ryan and Matt on their victory, and we look forward to working with them in the upcoming months as we kick off an exciting year of progressive advocacy on the Harvard campus.

For the full statement from the Dems, please see the press release.

The Harvard College Democrats reaffirm their support for Petersen–Sundquist.

The Harvard College Democrats are proud to reiterate their support for the Petersen–Sundquist Undergraduate Council (UC) ticket as the week of voting begins. The leadership of the Dems firmly supports the decision made by our members-at-large last Wednesday and continues to assert that the Petersen–Sundquist ticket represents the best combination of tested leadership and progressive advocacy.

For the full statement from the Dems, please read the press release.

The Harvard College Democrats endorse Petersen–Sundquist for UC.

After an extensive endorsement meeting lasting over an hour and a half and involving the participation of thirty-six members-at-large, the Harvard College Democrats announced their endorsement of the Petersen–Sundquist ticket for the Undergraduate Council (UC) presidential election. The endorsement represents a considerable victory for the Petersen–Sundquist campaign, as the Dems’ endorsement has historically been one of the crucial deciding factors in the UC race.

For the full statement from the Dems, please see the press release.

Time is running short! If you want to help the Petersen-Sundquist campaign e-mail Jared Pearlman right now saying you're interested.

The Harvard College Democrats announce co-sponsorship of CCAP; greenhouse referendum

The Harvard College Democrats announced Sunday their co-sponsorship of both the Course Cost Assistance Program (CCAP), a project of Students Taking on Poverty (STOP) endorsed by the Undergraduate Council, and the Environmental Action Committee’s (EAC) student ballot initiative to reduce the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ (FAS) greenhouse gas emissions by 11% of their 1990 levels by 2020.

For the full statement from the Dems, please read the press release.

The Harvard College Democrats to expand their UC endorsement process to members-at-large

The Harvard College Democrats announced Sunday that they will take a step towards democratizing their process of endorsing a presidential ticket for the Undergraduate Council by extending the endorsement vote to their Members-at-Large (MALs) in addition to the sitting executive board.

For the full statement from the Dems, please read the press release.

The Harvard College Democrats announce their 2006-2007 executive board

The Harvard College Democrats are pleased to announce their newly-elected board for the 2006-2007 year after an intense electoral meeting lasting over three hours involving over two hundred voters. The new board is made up of a diverse group of committed Democrats, including a majority of women for the first time in recent memory.

Members of the new board include:

Brigit M. Helgen ’08, President.
Harlan M. Piper ’08, Vice President.
Anne P. Steptoe ’09, Treasurer.
Garrett G. D. Nelson ’09, Communications Director.
Indira Phukan ’09, Membership Director.
Jarret A. Zafran ’09, Legislative Director.
Jillian K. Swencionis ’08, Political Director.
Elizabeth B. Hadaway ’09, Events Director.
Maryellen C. McGowan ’09, Campaigns Director.
Markus R. T. Kolic ’09, Secretary.

For the full statement from the Dems, please read the press release.