Democracy Matters is a non-profit, non-partisan grassroots student political organization that is dedicated to deepening democracy by promoting Clean Elections as a replacement to campaign corruption, and campaign finance reform.
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Origins
The organization was founded in 2001 by NBA player and Colgate alumnus Adonal Foyle, with the assistance of his adoptive parents Jay Mandle (professor of economics at Colgate) and Joan Mandle (professor emeritus of sociology at Colgate).[1]
The NBA has twice recognized Foyle for his commitment to democracy with nationally televised presentations of their “Community Assist Award.” The Greenlining Institute presented him with their prestigious Change Agent Award for his commitment to campaign finance reform. And he received the City of San Francisco’s Sports Hero Award.
Foyle’s commitment to Democracy Matters has been widely hailed in the press, including in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, The Nation, Congressional Quarterly, Mother Jones, ESPN Magazine, the Chicago Tribune Magazine as well as numerous local newspapers.
Foyle is passionate about activating young people to be civically and politically engaged. In an op-ed piece, Foyle recounted the tremendous energy and creativity Democracy Matters students have brought to the work of deepening democracy.[2]
Raising awareness
Democracy Matters members raise awareness and educate others on their campuses and communities by organizing campaigns that link Clean Elections (CE) to other important issues such as the environment, civil rights, foreign policy, and rising college tuition.
The slogans for Democracy Matters are Change Elections, Change America as well as Taking Money Out of Politics and Putting People Back In.
Clean Elections, also known as "Voter-Owned Elections," provide an alternative for a candidate to be publicly funded if she/he refuses to accept private donations from individuals or groups. This allows ordinary citizens, who lack the fiscal means, to run for office. In theory, CE makes officials more responsible to their constituents than to their campaign donors.
Growth
By offering paid internships to undergraduates to start a chapter on their campus, DM has spread to about 71 different college campuses across the U.S., and even a few high school chapters. Due to a new emphasis on politics from America's youth, Democracy Matters has become one of the fastest growing college groups in the United States.
The current list of chapters as of Fall 2004:
- Arizona: Arizona State University West
- California: California State University/East Bay, Fresno State, Head Royce School, Junipero Serra High School, Laney College, Loyola Marymount, New College San Francisco, Sacramento State University, Saratoga High School, Scripps College, Sonoma State University, University of California/Los Angeles, University of San Diego, University of Southern California, University High School, Whittier College, California Lutheran University
- Colorado: University of Colorado/Boulder
- Connecticut: Eastern Connecticut State College, Yale University
- District of Columbia: American University
- Georgia: Morehouse College
- Maine: University of Southern Maine
- Massachusetts: Boston College, Boston University, Emerson College, Harvard University, Holyoke Community College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts/Amherst
- Maryland: St. Mary's College, Towson University
- Michigan: Calvin College,WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
- Minnesota: Gustavus Adolphus College, Mankato State University, St. Cloud University, St. Olaf College, University of Minnesota/Morris, University of Minnesota/Twin Cities
- Nebraska: Wayne State College
- New Hampshire: Dartmouth College
- New Jersey: Stockton State University
- New York: Barnard College, Colgate University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Hamilton College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Sage College, St. Lawrence University, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Cortland, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oneonta, Ulster County Community College, Union College, University at Albany, Vassar College
- North Carolina: University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University
- Ohio: Kenyon College, Miami University, Ohio State University
- Oregon: Eastern Oregon University
- Pennsylvania: Bloomsburg University, Bryn Mawr College, Dickinson College, Lafayette College, Temple University, Villanova University
- Rhode Island: Brown University
- Texas: Texas State University/ San Marcos
- Virginia: University of Virginia, Virginia Tech
- Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Marquette University
Claims of political bias
There have been several accusations of political bias made against the Democracy Matters organization. The latest of these claims was made through a series of anonymous commentary chain emails launched in early January 2010. The author of these emails cites the "Money In Politics Quiz" on the organization's official website.
Several questions not related to clean election or campaign finance reform appear in this quiz, including one that asks about the number of Americans without health insurance and has no follow-up questions tying healthcare reform to the organization's mission. [3]
The author also cites a question regarding the percentage of contributions that come from "non-Hispanic, White zip codes" as unfounded profiling and reverse-racism, accusing the organization of targeting Caucasian individuals simply because some may or may not be wealthy.
Democracy Matters has yet to respond to inquiries of why these questions were included in their online quiz.
Notable alumni
- Adonal Foyle, Colgate, NBA basketball player
- Daniel Weeks, Yale, New Haven City Councilmember
- John Latini, Bloomsburg University, Democratic Congressional Caucus
References
- ^ Mandle, Joan. Why We Need Reform.
- ^ Foyle, Adonal. "My Generation Is Far From Apathetic"
- ^ Money In Politics Quiz [1]
External links
Foyle press releases
- So What Does Basketball Have to do with Campaign Finance Reform?
- Sports Illustrated - Adonal Foyle, Renaissance Man
- NYTimes.com - Our Athlete Speaks Up for the Right to Do That}
- The Nation - Where are the Jocks for Justice?
- Congressional Quarterly - Five Questions with Foyle
- ESPN - We the People
- Chicago Tribune - Foyle: Rising Activist
Chapter Links
Educational Links
- Bill Moyers - Lesson Plans on Campaign Finance Reform
- University of North Carolina - Links to Elementary & Secondary Lesson Plans
- OpenSecrets.org
Related organizations
- Public Citizen
- Public Campaign
- Clean Elections Institute (Arizona)
- Common Cause
- Fair Elections
- You Street
- Citizens for Clean Elections
- Clean Elections Rhode Island
- California Clean Money Campaign
- www.MAPLight.org
- Project Vote Smart