They are here to spread the word, and this time it’s not tiny bibles with tips from Jesus.
This active group of political students advocate for presidential candidate, democratic socialist and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.
“Our main goal here on campus, aside from advocating for Bernie and getting people excited is really to educate everybody about the candidates and the process overall,” said Alex Nobiletti, Students for Bernie club president.
The club formed at the end of fall term after difficulty garnering approval from LBCC's Council of Clubs. Dr. Robert Harrison, history instructor and the club’s advisor, believes they may have experienced a political power play at the hands of a minority of council members with conflicting political views.
“The club wouldn’t have been approved if we hadn’t checked into the bylaws and made the administration aware of it,” said Harrison.
The Council of Clubs’ bylaws gave the council the power to approve or reject a proposed club’s formation and subsequent funding, in direct violation of administrative school policy regarding clubs.
“We want political views of all stripes on the campus and we should welcome that, and if you don’t agree with the Bernie club, form your own club. Let’s have a debate,” said Harrison.
Now any club seeking recognition from the Council of Clubs only needs to meet the basic requirements. Approval is no longer at the discretion of the Council.
Through its formation, Students for Bernie has already initiated change in LBCC’s student politics. The club doesn’t intend to stop there.
“The ramifications of your vote really matter,” said Sophia Ruiz, Students for Bernie club member.
Along with the other club members, Ruiz spreads the flame, registering voters for the Oregon primaries in the LBCC courtyard Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and encouraging students to “Feel the Bern.”
With the help of volunteer advisor Bert Guptill, the club has registered many previous independent voters to the Democratic party, and even has a Republican under their belt.
“Our main goal here on campus, aside from advocating for Bernie and getting people excited is really to educate everybody about the candidates and the process overall,” said Alex Nobiletti, Students for Bernie club president.
The club formed at the end of fall term after difficulty garnering approval from LBCC's Council of Clubs. Dr. Robert Harrison, history instructor and the club’s advisor, believes they may have experienced a political power play at the hands of a minority of council members with conflicting political views.
“The club wouldn’t have been approved if we hadn’t checked into the bylaws and made the administration aware of it,” said Harrison.
The Council of Clubs’ bylaws gave the council the power to approve or reject a proposed club’s formation and subsequent funding, in direct violation of administrative school policy regarding clubs.
“We want political views of all stripes on the campus and we should welcome that, and if you don’t agree with the Bernie club, form your own club. Let’s have a debate,” said Harrison.
Now any club seeking recognition from the Council of Clubs only needs to meet the basic requirements. Approval is no longer at the discretion of the Council.
Through its formation, Students for Bernie has already initiated change in LBCC’s student politics. The club doesn’t intend to stop there.
“The ramifications of your vote really matter,” said Sophia Ruiz, Students for Bernie club member.
Along with the other club members, Ruiz spreads the flame, registering voters for the Oregon primaries in the LBCC courtyard Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and encouraging students to “Feel the Bern.”
With the help of volunteer advisor Bert Guptill, the club has registered many previous independent voters to the Democratic party, and even has a Republican under their belt.
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| Bert Guptill shows up to every club event to advise and help Nobiletti and the other club members. |
A member of the Albany Bernie Campaign, Guptill arrived on campus the first day of fall term in hopes of sparking some fervor and a successful student-run campaign.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do nearly as much as I’ve been doing without his help,” said Nobiletti. “He’s always willing to take time out of his day to help us with our tablings or with events. He’s at every meeting.”
Both Bert and Bernie, it seems, have inspired the devotion of the students.
“I did my research, and I knew I wasn’t satisfied with Hillary,” said Guptill. “In fact, I wasn’t satisfied with any of them, and I’m a conservative. I’m a conservative business person. I’ve always voted the person, not the party.”
Guptill believes that, like himself, many independents registered as Democrats to vote in the primaries, and may go back to their original parties if Bernie doesn’t win.
“If Bernie doesn’t get elected we’re all gonna be serfs, working for ‘the man,’” said Guptill.
Newly involved in politics, club member Cynthia De La Torre counts herself lucky to have attended the most recent Sanders rally in Portland.
“I’d never been to a rally before and I always think its middle class, middle-aged people, not really young people. There was a bunch of young people there, all different ages and colors, and everyone was really excited,” said De La Torre.
And yes, she saw the bird that caused so much hype when it landed on Sanders' podium mid-speech, to the delight of the crowd.
“I trained that bird,” said Guptill. “And Hillary’s got her bird in a cage, and Trump is giving everyone the bird.”
While the political stage is still at play, the club’s future doesn’t depend only on Sanders’ success to continue to lay the political pavement at LBCC.
“I’d like to see the club become a grassroots launching pad for progressive politicians in the Linn County, Benton County, in the local area,” said Nobiletti.
Count on Students for Bernie participating in the upcoming “Liberty Tree Faire,” a political extravaganza thrown by LBCC’s Democracy Club on Oregon’s primary day, May 17.
Though the Bernie Sanders campaign hasn’t found recent sweeping success on the political playing field, the Students for Bernie Club hang on to their heart in the face of political adversity.
“Win or lose, we are working to ensure a strong finish for Bernie over here on the west coast!”
At a Glance:
- Students for Bernie meets in North Santiam Hall 209, Mondays at 4 p.m.
- Students for Bernie advocates on LBCC campus for candidate Bernie Sanders, a Vermont senator running against Hillary Clinton in the democratic primary elections.
- Their advisor, Dr. Robert Harrison, can be reached through email at harrisr@linnbenton.edu.
- Bernie Sanders won the Oregon state primary on May 17 by 55 percent to Hillary Clinton's 44 percent, according to oregonlive.com.
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