UNC students represent at DNC

CHARLOTTE — The Democratic National Convention kicked off Tuesday, and UNC students were among the thousands flocking to the area.

The convention, which will continue until Thursday, has focused on increasing young voter participation in hopes that President Barack Obama will again dominate the youth vote this November.

Sam Spencer, president of the Young Democrats of North Carolina, said there are delegates from UNC-CH, East Carolina University, Duke University, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Greensboro and Western Carolina University.

“We wanted to make sure the delegation reflected the changing face of North Carolina,” he said.
Spencer, who is 27, said that out of the 157 delegates from North Carolina, there are 32 delegates, four alternates and two pages younger than 35 — composing 20 percent of the state’s delegation.
“We are twice as youthful as the convention as a whole,” Spencer said.

Vibhav Kollu, 18, is a UNC freshman and the youngest N.C. delegate: “It’s pretty awesome,” he said.
The delegates’ vote on the Democratic platform was his main delegate duty of the day.

The platform, which was unanimously approved Tuesday, included a plank on the Democratic Party’s support of same-sex marriage.

“We’re going to have a historic moment as the Democratic Party becomes the first to endorse same-sex marriage in our platform,” Spencer said. “A lot of the young delegates are excited.”

Matt Hughes, a UNC graduate student and chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party, said being a delegate at the convention brought excitement of “prom times 10.”

“Being a delegate at the age of 21 is a pretty amazing feat, I think,” he said.

Hughes, who graduated from UNC last May, said he was used to feeling like the youngest person in the room when it came to political activism: “(Now) I have peers with me to experience this.”

UNC senior Holly Holbrook, who volunteered with the DNC, said she was excited to see college-aged delegates representing the Democratic Party.

“That’s something really cool to see — young people that are involved,” she said.

Holbrook volunteered Sunday and Monday, and she is attending different women’s rights events during the week.

“I just feel like it’s really important for youth to get involved, especially college students,” she said. “The DNC in Charlotte is a one-time opportunity. I’ll never be this close again — or be able to take a week off.”

Holbrook tried to attend the Planned Parenthood-sponsored rally Tuesday, but she was blocked by a police motorcade after anti-abortion protesters tried to reach the rally.

“So much of the conversation, especially today, is about how women are battling the same things they did 56 years ago,” she said, adding that this challenge has led to her to pursue a career in activism.

Spencer said the presidential race will be close, but he thinks young college students would be an “amazing part” of Obama’s re-election against Mitt Romney.

“Young people are really willing to do all this to make the effort and really make a difference,” he said. “It’s going to come to young people … if Obama wins North Carolina.”

Contact the desk editor at state@dailytarheel.com.