Activist Gloria Steinem speaks at Adams Playhouse

Activists relived their glory days of the 60s and students put a face to the movement when Gloria Steinem, a longtime social activist, spoke Monday afternoon at the Adams Playhouse.

Steinem commented on how the debate got students “into history and out of classes.”

In her talk, Steinem addressed politics in general, along with the status of social movements and what they should do next. She said labeling does not help the electoral process. "Republicans were the first to introduce the equal rights amendments," Steinem said.

Steinem said that when a social justice movement begins, the people in it are told by critics that it can’t be done and it’s against nature. Now, feminists and other activists are told that their efforts are not necessary anymore, she said.

Steinem felt there was still a lot of work to do before everyone was regarded as individuals and biases were removed. However, she she also said culture is now at a turning point where steps can be made.

She strongly endorsed Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, saying he is a “miraculous candidate who will help make this transition in a positive way.” As for Palin, she said electing her is a step back for feminism.

--Lindsay Christ

Rabinowitz rings NASDAQ opening bell

University President Stuart Rabinowitz just rang the NASDAQ's opening bell for today's trading, with other University officials and Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murry at his side.

The trading day lasts from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and yesterday the stock market saw its largest single-point gain in history. That rally followed the worst week ever on the stock market, which lost 18 percent of its value last week, and 22 percent of its value over eight trading days.

"At the NASDAQ, that's Hofstra University, site of the third and final presidential debate tomorrow and a major lacrosse tournament next month," said CNBC's anchor as the bell rang.

--Samuel Rubenfeld

PSU: Clean coal as real as 'Santa Claus'

Protesters dressed as elves handed out pamphlets to students explaining the myths behind clean coal.

“Make fossil fuels extinct,” the Progressive Student Union cheered on Monday as they held a protest against the use of “clean coal”. “Clean Coal is as real as Santa Claus,” they added.

The 40-minute protest held by PSU strove to enlighten students about the harmful effects of “clean coal.”

“Clean coal is dirty, both in the mining of it and in the burning of it,” said Laura Comer, a junior who is president of Students for a Greener Hofstra. Comer also said they want to educate people so they aren’t susceptible to illusions about coal being clean.

As for a safer, greener alternative? “We need to look towards safer, renewable energies such as wind and solar power. These types of energies are not only renewable, but are safe, and wont destroy the environment.” Comer said.

Along with protesting for a greener environment, the PSU also urged young people to vote through the organization Power Vote, an organization striving towards getting one million young people to not only vote in the upcoming election, but to make a greener earth their principal reason for voting.

“Hopefully the power vote will show the candidates that we are serious about this and it will make them look at smarter, safer alternatives," Comer said.

A non-political political battleground

Students donned red and blue shirts on Sunday for a “Battle of the Parties” held in the Recreational Center on North Campus. It was the first time since the formation of Educate ’08 last spring that a political event on campus did not actually involve politics.

At the contest, Democrats were far outnumbered by Republicans, but that didn't seem to bother them much.

“The Democrats are too busy working to participate in such things,” said Robin Doublebower, the president of the College Democrats. “I’m glad the Republicans have nothing better to do.”

The "battle of the parties" included an assortment of athletic events. Participants first served volleyballs over a net in an effort to hit a variety of prizes on the floor, including “soda” bottle holders, t-shirts, bags and coffee holders. Next, the teams competed over who could score the most lay-ups after placing their forehead on a bat and spinning around it five times. The Republicans won that one. Then came the tug-of-war, won by the Democrats. The GOP won ping-pong spoon relay; the Democrats took the timed free-throw competition, tying the competition at two victories apiece.

After a break during which all interested participants could win individual prizes using Frisbees instead of volleyballs, Republicans won the overall two-hour tournament in a heated game of dodgeball.

With the focus of Sunday’s event on good old-fashioned fun and friendly competition, the politics of the upcoming debate, and the election, were put on hold. There was no campaigning during the tournament, no speakers to talk about the issues. Aside from the red, white and blue balloons, and the participants' t-shirts, there was not even a remote hint that the games were scheduled due to politics.

--Erin Furman

PSU blockades Student Center for hunger strike

In an attempt to raise student awareness of poverty issues, the Progressive Students Union (PSU) and with the One Campaign, performed a 92-second blockade in the Mack Student Center dining hall Monday to symbolize the 923 million hungry people in the world.

“We chose the Student Center because it’s the main dining location, but also because many people have to walk through here, too,” said Anna Rawlins, a junior who is a member of PSU. “It’s a heavily concentrated area.”

Despite lasting for less than two minutes, Rawlins said the length of 92 seconds was chosen as a ratio to the worldwide hunger statistic.

“I was actually approached by people who said ‘Wow, I never realized that,’” she said. “Some people really listened to the whole speech.”

The actual blockade was formed at both of the main entrances to the eatery and cafeteria area, while a banner was dropped from the upper level of the student center. According to Isabelle Goodman, a junior who is president of PSU, Lackmann services even agreed to refuse serving food during the 92-second barrier.

“Lackmann, Student Affairs and Public Safety were all really supportive of our efforts and actions,” Goodman said.

--Chrissy Smith

Issues debated amid music festival

During a free Jason Mraz concert on Saturday afternoon at the Intramural Fields, where he endorsed decriminalization of marijuana, ending all wars, eliminating handguns and calling for the U.S. to break its oil addiction, clubs with a political bent spent time lobbying students.

The Progressive Students Union, along with Students for a Greener Hofstra, planned six days worth of activism and protests during a Youth Issues Convention. They debuted green hardhats symbolizing green-collar jobs and had a graduate student dressed as Santa Claus decrying clean coal in the issues tent on Saturday.

"They talk about the economy, they talk about the war, they talk about the environment but they fail to see how they all connect," said Laura Comer, a junior who is president of Students for a Greener Hofstra. "Saturday was a push for us to inform the student body about the issues before the media gets here and asks questions."

Republicans tried to get out the University's Republican vote.

"We added about 10 more members to our roster," said Anthony Lucci, the treasurer of the College Republicans who is also president of "Students for John McCain."

"The point was to get our voice heard on a liberal campus, and to show there is a conservative side to Hofstra," he added.

The College Democrats gave students a "political quiz" so they could find out whether they were in fact Democrats or Republicans, and signed students up for a canvassing trip the club is taking to Pennsylvania in November.

"We registered 11 people for our club," said Robin Doublebower, the president of the College Democrats. "We got some good exposure. We were happy to be there to participate in the Jason Mraz concert because he holds ideals consistent to ours."

--Samuel Rubenfeld

Liveblog: The Town Hall Debate

The live blog of the second presidential debate, held at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. is a town hall-style debate where voters will ask the candidates questions:



--Samuel Rubenfeld