The Hawk

Issue date: 11/10/06 Section: News

Gerlach was one of the few Republican incumbents in toss-up districts able to hold their seats in the House.

When the lawns and sidewalks are riddled with colorful signs, it is that time of year again - elections. With elections come, of course, campaigning, slogans, debates, and a touch of scandal.

Student attitudes were divided on voting. A number of students at St. Joe's, not being Pennsylvania natives, did not express an opinion on this state's races. Some even claimed a lack of interest in casting absentee ballots for their own states. In addition, some local students also bore no interest in voting. A few were acting out of apathy or uncertainty; others were abstaining from voting out of disgust for both parties, citing corruption and an abandonment of principles among their reasons. A senior at SJU, wishing to be identified as "C.D.," chose not to participate due to refusing to support either candidate, and as a rejection of both parties' growing desire to increase the government's influence in the individual's life.

Key issues affecting students' decisions included abortion, gay rights, possible recession, and the violence in Iraq and Afghanistan. Locally, students on campus related concerns for the crime in Philadelphia, as well as the need to attract new business and tourism.

Due to various controversies and hot-button topics in the nation, this election presented a particularly crucial slate of races. So heated was this race that violence even erupted at the polls.

A church and community center at 6135 Market Street serving as a polling station was the scene of unrest when an apparent riot erupted Tuesday. Ed Furman, '10 and Greg Norton, '08, members of the SJU College Republicans were the first people to arrive at the center at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Throughout the day, Furman and Norton observed highly irregular practices at the polling station. The representative sent by the Democratic Committee, referred to as "Ron," opened the polls himself (an allegedly illegal act) and questioned Furman's and Norton's certifications to be present, going so far as calling in his boss to force Furman to leave. After contacting their lawyers, who contacted Fox News and negotiated with the Democratic representatives, Furman was allowed back in; Furman also stated that during the negotiation, Norton was not permitted to join the debate.

Continued...

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