SAMANTHA BLONS
news assistant
Sen. John Kerry’s highly anticipated speech in Smothers Theatre on Monday centered on his faith and the responsibility of Christians in politics, followed by a question and answer session with pre-selected student leaders. Some students stood outside the theatre for hours that morning, waiting for tickets to the event, which were allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
During the lecture, Kerry answered questions from students and faculty on campus, including the presidents of the College Republicans and Young Democrats.
Questions were collected from the crowd to be reviewed and selected to be addressed by Kerry. These questions were not answered at the lecture, however, because of time constraints.
After the lecture, Kerry spoke at an event in his honor hosted by the Pepperdine Young Democrats, at which he responded to student questions about his policies and positions on controversial global issues.
“For some time, I have looked forward to this opportunity to talk about my faith and the role of faith in public life,” said Kerry at the beginning of his lecture in Smothers.
Dean of Seaver College David Baird, who invited Kerry to speak, said he thought it was because of the religious context of the speech that Kerry chose Pepperdine.
Kerry’s first lecture in Smothers focused on his religion, on how it impacts his political beliefs and on issues where people of faith can find common ground, even with contrasting political views.
Kerry spoke about his Catholic upbringing and schooling, his struggle with his faith during his Vietnam service, and the solace he found in the peace and civil rights movements following his return from Asia.
He also highlighted what he believes are the four greatest challenges of this generation: “fighting poverty and disease, taking care of the earth, reducing abortions, and fighting only just wars.” Kerry explained how we could find common ground on these issues across the political and religious spectrum.
“Christianity requires a lot of assumptions of personal responsibility. It’s not about one issue, or two, or three,” Kerry said. He stressed that Christians must evaluate all political issues from a Christian context.
Baird thought the speech on faith was appropriate for the Pepperdine audience.
“I was touched by his transparency and his sharing of a dimension of his life that is typically muted,” Baird said. “New Englanders just don’t say ‘Praise the Lord’ a lot.”
Kerry attested to this idea that liberals silence their religious beliefs while answering questions from several student leaders following his main speech. “Democrats, and I include myself in this, have not been good enough at sharing with people openly where they’re coming from. We have to do a job of letting you know what we’re thinking, why, and where our foundation is.”
Kate Black, the president of College Republicans, asked Kerry how he reconciled his anti-war, pro-abortion rights views. Black said she did not believe he addressed her question.
“He addressed the age-old argument of when the baby is conceived and that he doesn’t have the right to tell a woman what to do, but he did not talk about it in contrast to his other policies and his faith,” Black said.
Black also said she was glad that Kerry visited campus and that turnout was high. She said she hoped his visit would spark political debate on campus.
Students began lining up outside Smothers Theatre early that morning to get tickets for the event. Seniors Julie Dlugokecki and Molly McVay arrived at about 11:50 a.m., more than two hours before the speech was to start. However, they said, students ahead of them had been there much longer. At its longest point, the ticket line reached all the way to the area between dorms 1 and 2 on Upper Dorm Road.
While waiting outside for tickets, Dlugokecki said, “I’m a political science major, and I feel it’s a really great opportunity that our school is sponsoring such a powerful political player, and I wanted to take advantage of hearing him speak.”
Many students who did not get tickets waited in line outside anyway, in case more seats became available. Diana Jannuzzi, a junior broadcasting student, waited outside long after the tickets ran out, in hopes of possibly getting into the speech anyway.
“I wanted to hear him speak, and I didn’t have class,” she said. “I’m also kind of curious to see how he looks in person.”
Jannuzzi did not get a ticket, and although the speech was broadcast outside Smothers on audio, she did not stay to hear it. About 100 other students listen to the speech outside.
Following the lecture, the Pepperdine Young Democrats invited members of the campus community, to a fundraiser program in the Fireside Room in the Waves Caf. Admission was $10.
According to Sean De Torres, President of Young Democrats, about 150 people attended the post-speech event.
The Fireside Room event was the first of this year for the Pepperdine Young Democrats. The club used the event to recruit new members, as well as give students another chance to ask Kerry uncensored questions.
Students asked Kerry about his position on the Mid-East crisis, the war on terror and liberal politicians calling for impeachment in the administration.
One student questioned Kerry about his potential candidacy for the 2008 Democratic nomination for President.
“If I decide to run, whether or not you see me on the ballot depends on you,” Kerry said.
He said although he is considering it, he has not decided whether or not he will campaign. “I believe I can win. I came within 59,000 votes of winning.” However, he said, it will take more resources and more deflection of the partisan attacks on his character and politics.
Kerry also spoke about the role young people have in shaping public policy. “I come [to colleges] to speak to the students,” Kerry said. “I believe these are healthy exchanges — I learn from you, and I hope students can learn from me.”
Kerry’s visit to Pepperdine was the first program in the 2006-2007 Distinguished Lecture Series, presented by Seaver College. Pepperdine students, faculty, Board of Regents members, and local community members attended the speech.
“I think it was a marvelous speech and certainly met all of my objectives; to get a buzz, to get people engaged, to get people to think,” said Baird.
09-21-2006