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T H E P U L L O F P O L I T I C Sground states on how to build volunteer networksand organize field operations. But she’snow taking a different path to political involvement—asnational organizing director andinterim state director for the Massachusettschapter of Stand for Children, an advocacygroup that focuses much of its efforts on publicschool reform.Ansara considers herself pragmatic andstrategic, and like other CA alumnae/i who areinvolved in the political system, she is driven bya basic belief in the value of that system. “I’mnot naïve. I realize decisions are based on whatgets people reelected,” she said, “but I do thinkthere’s potential for change. I’d rather be inthere trying to make it happen.”How CA Votedby Christeen Savinovich ’08Spurred by curiosity and aneffort to spread aware ness aboutthe presidential candi dates, themulti cultural student groupMOSAIC organized a mock electionin February.Of 424 students and faculty,261—or 61.5 percent of the community—voted.Barack Obamawas the winner (though fewwould have predicted by howmuch).100%0%73%Obama15%Clinton7.2%McCain 2.2%Romney1.5%HuckabeePhotos courtesy of Jim ParkerCAMPUSPOLITICSCA’s mock Republican Convention, 1964.Top: Faculty coordinator Jim Parker at left,convention chair Drewdie Gilpin ’64, center.Teacher Emeritus Bill Baileysays that campus activismat CA has mirrored thenational climate over the years.“In the seventies, the kids wereincredibly active,” said Bailey, whotaught at CA for thirty-five years.He recalled a “teach-in” onVietnam organized by an Asianstudies teacher and a speech byGeorge Wald, a prominent MITscientist who was one of the firstprofessors to speak against thewar. “[Former Headmaster] DavidAloian deserves significant creditfor getting kids interested in politics,”said Bailey, noting that Aloianinvited not only Wald to speak,but also Chester Atkins, the firstDemocrat since the 1860sto win a Congressional seatrepresenting the Concord-Acton area. The headmasteralso hosted a reception at CAfor Father Robert Drinan, anoutspoken priest who was runningfor Congress—which Baileyremembers as a “wonderful” butcontroversial move.Bailey says campus activismwaned in the eighties, but it did notdisappear. Mike Rodman ’91remembers letterwriting campaignsto free Nelson Mandela, as well asenvironmental efforts. “Nick[Evans] and I started the YoungDemocrats Club,” said Rodman;the club organized students tovolunteer for Michael Dukakis’s1988 presidential campaign.CA students were politicallyactive in earlier years too. In 1964,History Department Head JimParker immersed students in thestudy of presidential politics byorganizing a mock Republican convention(LBJ was already theDemocratic nominee). Virtuallyeveryone on campus participated.Parker said his history students didthe organizing, and students andfaculty signed up to be delegatesfrom different states, eventuallynominating Nelson Rockefeller. “Iremember they were very enthusiastic,”Parker said of the delegates.“They were very anxious totwist people’s arms, lightly, to getthem to vote for their candidate.”There were speeches, debates,and votes—all the features of areal convention—and a chair whowould go on to assume other leadershiproles. “Drewdie Gilpin wasour convention chair,” rememberedParker, who was invited to GilpinFaust’s inauguration as Harvard’spresident last year. “She ranthe show.”25WWW.CONCORDACADEMY.ORG SPRING 2008