It’s bad enough Al Gore turned to negative ads aimed at Ralph Nader, but what’s even worse is that he came to Iowa State and insulted citizens. Friday, ISU Students for Nader and ISU GREENS decided Al Gore’s presence on campus was a prime opportunity to inform voters on the issues. When we decided to continue helping voters make educated decisions, we were showing consistency in our campaign.

While passing out fliers before Gore spoke, we noticed a small injustice that we thought we should address. The IUPAT (International Union of Painters and Allied Traders) volunteers (a union group helping with “crowd control”) decided that people who had our informational fliers in their hands could not enter the event. Two people were refused so rudely, they left the premise and went home.

But that wasn’t the worst part. I wanted to know if I could see Al Gore speak if I had a ticket and a Nader sticker on my shirt. I stood in line and waited patiently. Soon enough, David Jones, an IUPAT volunteer, demanded I remove my stickers. I told him I only wanted to hear Al Gore and see what he had to say. I told him I supported making educated decisions and wanted information from Al Gore. He went into a rage and said, “I’ll be frank with you. I’m not gonna take any of your shit! If you want to protest, go over there,” as he pointed to the assigned protest zone.

Thinking he may have misunderstood my purpose, I reassured him I was not protesting, but attempting to educate myself on the issues like an ideal voter should. Again he swore at me and told me if he had to physically remove me from line, he would. What nerve.

I was upset. Luckily, there were lots of reporters around. I figured they had to hear this story, especially since Gore had come onto the stage to talk about diversity and education.

I spoke to a Nashville newspaper following Gore on his quest to become the most powerful man in the world. Some of my friends talked to a paper from St. Petersburg, Florida. They ran our story the next day. (www.sptimes.com/News/110400/Worldandnation/With_time_running_out.shtml)

I visited the IUPAT Web site and found they support educating voters. David Jones should read this. They say, “We educate our members to be politically active, building a network of people trained to take action on issues and in campaigns.” That’s exactly what the Nader campaign has been doing from day one.

If you want to have a voice, be sure it is the correct voice or you may be threatened or sworn at. If you think you have a right to support candidates and try to hear what others have to say, don’t try to attend a Gore function. And if you support educating yourself before elections so you can make good decisions, be careful who you tell, because they might be hypocritical and try to scare you.

Derrick Hochstatter

Senior

Liberal studies