Welcome and welcome back, all, to a new year!

Once the Class of 2014 came through the gates of Yale, settled into their Old Campus suites, and made new friends, they began to explore everything this campus has to offer them, many of them turning up en masse to the Dems’ first major events of the year: bluebooking, our annual kickoff, and hosting Dan Malloy and Blue State.

The year looks to be off to a great start with the Dems, old and new. A packed Dwight Hall Common Room played host to our kickoff, where Dems President Ben Stango, Committee Coordinators, and other Board members spoke to the new class, outlining the plans for the coming semester, focusing especially on electing the first Democrat to the Governor’s mansion in over two decades.

The very next day following the kickoff, that next Governor, Dan Malloy visited Blue State Coffee with his running mate, Nancy Wyman, and other prominent Connecticut supporters, including State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield. All three spoke about the importance of this fall in determining the direction of Connecticut’s future. Malloy spoke of his experience in revitalizing the town of Stamford and the importance of building ties with businesses, especially entrepreneurs, in bringing jobs to Connecticut. He fielded questions ranging from carbon emissions commitments to bringing Hartford’s budget back in line.

News coverage, pictures, and video of the Malloy/Wyman event:

Can Malloy Break The Curse?

Malloy discusses hopes for future with Yale crowd

Malloy at Blue State

On Monday, the Dems hosted a candidate forum for two candidates competing for the 96th District General Assembly seat, a seat being vacated by Cam Staples as he runs for attorney general. The candidates, 9th Ward Alderman Roland Lemar and Debra Hauser, outlined their reasons for running and then were asked questions by the students in attendance. The topics, ranged from statewide issues such as utility cost control and taxes to more local problems such as New Haven’s murder rate and homelessness.

Press coverage below.

Hauser, Lemar Square Off On Homelessness

Dems host state rep. candidates in debate

This past Friday, the Yale Dems, joined by students from the University of Hartford and Trinity College, traveled to Hartford to lobby Connecticut state legislators to support various education reform bills currently before the General Assembly. To kick off the day, the Dems hosted a kickoff event where State Representatives Toni Walker (D-New Haven), Jason Bartlett (D-Danbury), and State Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo spoke about the importance of education reform and student involvement in the political process.

The bills (HB05491, SB0440, HB05421, SB0438, and HB05066) focus on reducing the achievement gap, alternative routes to certification for school educators and administrators, the establishment of data gathering on effective teaching methods, teacher evaluation, lifting the cap on charter school funding, and providing educational stability for foster children. Besides being efforts that will improve the state’s educational system, the plans should better Connecticut’s application for federal Race to the Top funding.

The Dems delivered petitions gathered from Yale students and New Haven residents in support of education reform to House Speaker Chris Donovan (D-Meriden) and met with legislators and their aides to speak about the importance of the bills’ passage. After doing so and leaving literature for the representatives, the Dems called it a day and headed back home. A major thanks to all who planned the event and to all who attended!

Hartford

This past Tuesday, Congressman Jim Himes, the first Democrat to be elected to the 4th district’s seat since 1966, journeyed to New Haven to speak to the Dems. The Representative spoke for about half an hour about his experience in Congress, the passage of health care reform, and the prospects of the Senate passing an energy reform bill to further the House’s efforts. He then fielded questions from the audience and engaged in a discussion on a wide range of issues. Pictures below.

Himes

On Monday, the Dems hosted Mary Glassman, First Selectman of Simsbury, who is currently exploring a run for governor of the state. Glassman spoke about her background as a native of Connecticut and the importance that education played in her own upbringing and success, using it as a basis for her call to improve education and opportunity in the state so as to prevent the current “brain drain” of young graduates leaving the state. She highlighted ideas such as increased transportation to Boston and New York and a Connecticut “Research Triangle” between Yale and UConn as proposals that would help to counter the current problems.

Press and pictures below:

She Wants YOU to Stay in Connecticut

Glassman

On Thursday, February 25th, the Dems hosted “Racing to the Top: Education Reform in New Haven and Connecticut” to kick off efforts for education reform in the state of Connecticut. Featuring performances from WORD, Yale’s spoken word performers, and an address from New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr., the event was a major success. Numerous students showed up to listen to the progress of education reform in New Haven, which is serving as a model for some in the state legislature, as well as others nationwide. Lobbying Coordinator Mike Gocksch ‘12 then spoke to the students about how they could become more involved in encouraging the state legislature to reform education, gathering petition signatures and letters from the students to send to leaders in Hartford.

This evening, the Yale Dems gathered at Blue State Coffee to phonebank for Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts special Senate election. After two hours, fifteen volunteers made 570 calls to help elect the State Attorney General on January 19th. See some of our awesome volunteers in action:

Coakley Phonebank

This evening, the membership of the Yale College Democrats elected the 2010 executive board. The races featured well-qualified candidates and many were decided by very close margins. The outgoing board would like to thank all who ran, and express their hope that all Dems members will continue to be involved in the coming year. Check out the board page for the new board, and below for photos.

Board Elections

The Dems have been up to a lot this semester, shown here in two albums, one from our event with Howard Dean, and the other with pictures from a number of Dems events.

Howard Dean

Fall Semester 2009

This past Wednesday, the Dems held a rally to show student support for health care reform that ensures coverage for all Americans. We heard from Dr. K.J. Lee, a renowned ear, nose, and throat doctor and health care policy advisor, who urged us to fight for reform and listed some ways that our health care system can be made more efficient. After the rally, we called Sen. Joe Lieberman to tell him why it’s imperative that he support comprehensive health care reform, and why it matters to us as college students.

Yale Student Democrats To Hold Health Care Rally

Yale Dems keep up the activism [Cross Campus]

Health care reformer describes cost-saving options

May They Please Speak With Joe?