Governor Rendell draws mixed crowd

A mixture of undergraduates and graduates gathered in the lobby of the Barco School of Law… A mixture of undergraduates and graduates gathered in the lobby of the Barco School of Law Building Friday to hear Gov. Ed Rendell speak about education, employment and the upcoming election this November.

Pitt Law Democrats held the event as a part of “Meet the Candidates,” a series sponsored in an effort to reach young voters.

Rendell focused on big issues such as global warming, healthcare, early-childhood education and how these would affect young Americans. He then narrowed the scope to issues that would affect his audience on a more local level.

Mary Gibson, president of the Pitt Law Democrats, said that she was glad to see a blend of different people at the speech.

“We’re really happy to see everyone involved,” she said. “This event really brought everyone together.”

Gibson said that she thinks a lot of people in the Law School are concerned about the job market, and this issue attracted attention at the speech.

Rendell stressed economic growth as a means to increase tax revenue in Pittsburgh. He said that he thinks the economy is turning around in Pittsburgh and that the future depends on growth in Pittsburgh’s downtown region and good economic development.

Rendell also addressed issues that concerned undergraduates, such as Pitt’s increasing tuition. He said that Pitt has expensive in-state tuition because our state legislature is against raising taxes, and as a state-related school, Pitt doesn’t get much funding. He added that, as long as this continues, it will be tough to increase in-state subsidies.

Rendell said that he has fought back this raise in tuition, but hasn’t done well because the funding isn’t there.

“I wish there was an easy answer,” Rendell said, “but there really isn’t.”

Jamison Arimato, business manager of the Pitt Law Democrats, said that he was impressed by the turnout at the speech, which was standing-room only by the end. He found Rendell’s speech inspiring and hoped that attendants were inspired to be involved in politics.

“I hope they understand the political process is their process,” Arimato said. “I want to see the ordinary guy in the street get involved.”

Sarah Posner, a freshman at Pitt, hopes to see this as well. A member of the Board of College Democrats, she said that she thought Rendell was an excellent speaker, but wished that more undergraduates were present to hear him.

“I just don’t think that undergraduates care as much,” Posner said.

Even Republican law students attended the speech.

Nishat Hasan, a freshman law student, believes in hearing both sides of an issue before making a decision. She was impressed by what Rendell had to say.

“I must admit, I have a lot of respect for Gov. Rendell,” Hasan said. “I am a Republican who will probably vote for Rendell.”