The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

The Grand Ole Party in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS-Before heading back to Carbondale Friday night, the SIUC College Republicans had one more thing to take care of.

At about 9 p.m., about 50 SIUC students gathered incognito within St. Louis' American Center.

"I feel really dirty right now," said Jason Jording, a third-year law student from Eureka, Ill.

Pretending to support Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry is not Jording's idea of fun on a Friday night.

In fact, it's humiliating.

Nonetheless, the group dutifully took heed of College Republicans president John Teresi's advice earlier on the bus.

"Just be real low-key, be really respectful," Teresi said. "We're going to hear a lot of Democrats [say Bush is bad]. Just try not to laugh at them."

Jording, along with the SIUC College Republicans, marched down the pro-Kerry rally to disrupt the scene and hail President Bush.

After using the washrooms, purchasing some food and taking group pictures, the rebels slowly gained momentum for the deliberate exit.

They revealed their true colors, shedding the sweatshirts covering their Bush/Cheney T-shirts and ripping their Kerry posters to pieces.

"Four more years! Four more years!" the students yelled on their way back to the front doors as some incoming Kerry supporters sneered at them.

The minute-long pro-Bush march in Kerry territory went without a hitch.

This was one of many highlights of the day capping off Friday's trip to St. Louis, where the second presidential debate took center stage.

All aboard

Promptly at 2 p.m., the charter bus arrived in front of the SIU Arena to take the students to St. Louis. The two-hour long ride, a $1,100 service paid for by the Illinois College Republicans and the Bush/Cheney campaign, was, for the most part, subdued and calm.

John White, a senior studying cinema and photography, busily sketched his "Flush the John" poster-a picture of Kerry's head in a toilet bowl. Some seatmates discussed politics, which included comparing the candidates' wives, and schoolwork, while others took naps to rest up before the pending showdown with Kerry supporters.

The trip marked an introduction to a political activism of sorts for some of them. And, for many of them, getting involved with the political circus is especially relevant as the upcoming presidential election in which they will vote in for the first time.

"I thought it seemed like a really rare opportunity," said Carl Jones, a freshman in automotive technology from Ellery. "I don't know what to expect, but I think it'll be exciting,"

Not everyone on board was a Republican. Meagan Gashi came along for the ride with Jones.

Though she's undecided about whom to vote for, Gashi said she plans to exercise her right to vote for the first time in November.

"It's probably one of the biggest elections of my lifetime," said Gashi, a sophomore studying theater from Bloomington-Normal.

Confrontations and camaraderie

After a quiet ride, the time to be loud arrived. The bus parked near the Washington University campus. Armed with Bush placards, the group proved to be a reckoning force as they moved toward Skinker Boulevard, where Bush supporters from Missouri had been waiting for their arrival.

Laura Koelling, a senior studying political science from Irvington, knew what she was getting into.

"I expect a lot of resistance and a lot of love from the Republicans," Koelling said.

Two men greeted the students, handing out small Bush/Cheney posters.

"Keep it going all the way down," a man yelled, pointing his hand toward the opposite end of the intersection.

"Stretch it out as far as we can," said another.

For almost three hours, the SIUC Republicans stood their ground cheering at the top of their lungs as more fellow Bush supporters and Kerry supporters alike streamed in. Some drivers honked to show support. Others gave them a disapproving thumbs-down in response to the rowdy Bush supporters.

Across the intersection, pro-Kerry supporters were just as passionate about their presidential choice.

Anura Cheryan, a Washington University graduate student from Urbana, Ill., and Rev. James Rupert Lee, Jr. of an African Methodist Episcopal church in Springfield, Mo., stood side-by-side holding their Kerry signs up high.

Amid the blaring scene of ongoing chants, car horns and scattered confrontations, Tim McNabb, 38, of St. Louis offered a somewhat neutral take on the situation the nation faces.

"It's just an election," said McNabb, a longtime Republican. "Whatever happens Jan. 20, [inauguration day] America will go on, America will continue to be great. I think it'll be better if my guy wins but you know what, the world didn't end when Clinton won. It won't end if Kerry wins."

"Fun for a free trip"

As it grew dark, the rally geared up for the awaited motorcades of Friday's town-hall debaters.

By 7:30 p.m., Kerry's line was first to pass through the university entrance.

"I saw Kerry's nose," said Aimee Engel, a freshman studying advertising from Salem.

Then, a few moments, later President Bush's motorcade quickly cruised through the entrance.

Soon after the motorcade's passing, the rally dispersed. Rather than watch the debate, the students made a stop at the American Center Arena to pull the undercover prank.

While waiting for the bus to pick them up outside the arena, William Strauthers, a junior studying aviation from Fox Lake, said he was pleased to see the good turnout of young voters at the rally display their interest and passion for the upcoming elections.

"This was pretty spontaneous," Strauthers said. "It's been fun for a free trip."

 

 

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