THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008
NEWS
3A
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
KU student to represent Obama at national convention
BY FRANCESCA CHAMBERS fchambers@kansan.com
While other college students will attend back to school parties and settle into their classes, one KU student will help shape the future of the U.S. as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention.
Clarissa Unger, state coordinator of Students for Barack Obama, was one of only three students from the state of Kansas elected on April 12 to represent Obama at the convention.
Unger, Colby junior, was the only KU student elected as a delegate to the convention from the
Kansas Democratic Party's District Conventions.
Unger said her selection was significant because in the third dis-
tlict, two of the delegates elected were state representatives, another was a field organizer for Obama's campaign, one was an Iraq war veteran and one was a soldier's mother.
Hilary Tilkens, an Omaha, Neb., senior who attended the third district's convention as an Obama delegate but was not elected to
"I guess I gave a good speech. I guess it was just compelling enough that people voted for me."
CLARISSA UNGER Colby junior
"I guess I gave a good speech," Unger said. "I guess it was just compelling enough that people voted for me."
the national convention, said she would try for one of Kansas' 11 state delegate seats at the state convention on May 17.
Douglas County Fairgrounds caucus, said she was glad Unger was chosen at the district convention
Tilkens, who helped organize the
because Unger had put a large amount of time into Obama's campaign. She said Unger's election showed that the stereotype about college students and their lack of interest in politics was not true.
"This just kind of goes to prove that some of us do care and some of us are really, really passionate about this." Tilkens said.
State Rep. Paul Davis, a Lawrence Democrat who was also elected as a delegate to the national convention, said Unger's election was significant because traditionally, few youth from Kansas were elected.
the party for many years received spots. Davis said he was younger than the people who were usually selected.
"I'm really excited to see younger people get involved and get elected," Davis said. "They deserve to be represented at the conventions because there are so many young people who have gotten involved in the Obama campaign and have played a role in its success."
40 years old were chosen to represent Hillary Clinton.
In 2004, no KU students were chosen as delegates to the national convention.
Unger said she was excited to represent the youth of Kansas and be able to vote on the Democratic Party's platforms at the convention.
Unger said that Obama's campaign told her the trip would cost about $1,000, but that she would look into sharing costs with the other students from Kansas who were elected.
— Edited by Katherine Loeck
Gen. Petraeus to be promoted to U.S. Central Command
ARMED FORCES
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Army Gen. David Petraeus, the four-star general who led troops in Iraq for the past year, will be nominated by President Bush to be the next commander of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday.
Gates said he expected Petraeus to make the shift in late summer or early fall. The Pentagon chief also announced that Bush will nominate Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno to replace Petraeus in Baghdad.
Central Command overseees the wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
"I am honored to be nominated for this position and to have an opportunity to continue to serve with America's soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians," Petraeus said in a brief statement from Baghdad.
At a hastily-arranged Pentagon
news conference, Gates said the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and other problems in the Central Command area of responsibility, demand knowledge of how to fight counterinsurgencies as well as other unconventional conflicts.
"I don't know anybody in the U.S. military better qualified to lead that effort." Gates said.
WhilecongressionalRepublicans swiftly offered ringing endorsements of Petraeus' anticipated nomination, Democrats were more cautious.
rity needs."
A spokeswoman for Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), said only the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee was "hoping to schedule a prompt confirmation hearing." Sen. Joseph Biden, (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he hopes Petraeus "does not bring an Iraq bias to his new job, at the expense of America's broader secu-
GOP presidential hopeful John McCain (R-Ariz.), said he supports both Petraeus and Odierno. He called Petraeus "one of the great generals in American history."
Gates said he had consulted with Levin and other senior lawmakers about the nominations. The defense secretary said he anticipated no Capitol Hill obstacles to confirmation.
While Democrats are unlikely to block the popular general, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid noted in a statement Wednesday that any war commander must be committed to "implementing major changes in strategy" if directed to do so by a new president.
Asked if moving Petraeus from the Iraq command could interrupt momentum against the insurgency, Gates said that by waiting until late summer or early fall he hoped to "ensure plenty of time to prepare
for a good handoff." He said it also would help that Odierno has had experience as "Petraeus' right-hand man" over the last year.
stepped down magazine reported that he was at odds with President Bush over Iran policy. Fallon said the report was not true but had become a distraction
If confirmed by the Senate, Petraeus would replace Navy Adm. William Fallon, who abruptly read down in March after a
Odierno, currently commander of the Army's 3rd
nated for promotion to full general and assignment as the Army's vice chief of staff, but Gates said the Fallon resignation changed the plan. With Odierno tapped for a return to Baghdad, Gates said Bush will nominate Gates' senior military assistant, Army Lt. Gen. Peter
"I don't know anybody in the U.S.military better qualified to lead that effort."
Corps based at Fort Hood, Texas finished in February a 15-montl tour as the top deputy to Petraeu in Baghdad. He had been nomi
ROBERT GATES Defense Secretary
Chiarelli, for the Army vice chief of staff job.
of some 30,000 additional troops that dramatically improved security.
Petraeus, 55, is widely hailed by the Bush administration and members of Congress for implementing a new strategy in Iraq, including the deployment
Gates said he expected that
Petraeus would make an initial recommendation in late summer on when to resume pulling U.S. forces out of Iraq, following a several-week pause to evaluate the security situation in August.
Central Command, with headquarters in Tampa, Fla., is responsible for U.S. military operations throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and the horn of Africa, and thus oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Fallon relinquished the command March 28 to his top deputy, Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, and retired from the Navy earlier this month. Dempsey was in the unusual position of having already nominated to take command of U.S. Army Europe when Fallon bowed out. He appeared to be among those considered as Fallon's permanent replacement, but it now appears he will go to Europe once Petraeus leaves Iraq.
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April 24, 2008
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
DANCE N'DODGE
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Nothing But Nets
DODGEBALL TOURNMENT!
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PRIZES!
SAVE LIVES!
Sat April 26th, 2008
Robinson 12-4pm
Refreshments Served
$6/Person $36/Team
Register at: kunothingbutnets@gmail.com
ATTENTION STUDENTS!!!
DON'T FORGET TO PAY YOUR CLASS DUES
DURING ENROLLMENT
BOARD OF CLASS OFFICERS
Spring Art Sale
DURING ENROLLMENT.
CLASS DUES CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE LIST OF OPTIONAL CAMPUS FEES. THESE CLASS DUES HELP TO FUND THE BOARD OF CLASS OFFICERS, WHICH DISTRIBUTES THE H.O.P.E.,C.L.A.S.S., AND CAMPANILE AWARDS AT KU AND HELPS TO FINANCE MAJOR CAMPUS EVENTS.
GRADUATING CLASS OF 2009-YOUR SENIOR DUES HELP TO PAY FOR THE SENIOR CLASS GIFT, SENIOR MOTTO, AND SENIOR BANNER, SO MAKE SURE TO CHECK THESE DUES OFF UNDER OPTIONAL CAMPUS FEES.
B O C O THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
BOARD OF CLASS OFFICERS
Featuring the works of: Metals/Jewelry • Textiles • Ceramics
Thursday May 1st
Wednesday April 30th
10AM-7PM
Kansas Union 4th Floor
Malaysian Students Association at
KUJ [M'SIA KU] proudly presents
2nd Annual
KAOKE Nite '08
April 26, 2008 (Saturday)
2.00 P.M. sharp
Jayhawk Room, 5th Floor Kansas Union
YOU DECIDE - Pick your top 3 favorites!
KARAOKE Nite '08
FREE Admission!!!
Register online at http://www.geocities.com/misiaku
by April 24th (Thursday) & 8:00pm
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saturday april 26 6pm
"ROCKIN' FOR RELIEF" BENEFIT CONCER
SATURDAY, MAY 3 - 8:30 PM
THE BOTTLENECK
FEATURING...
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Comedian John Gibbons
Coca-Cola
pearson lawn rock-a-thon
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18+up show
Drawing for AWESOME PRIZES
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