Low Turnout for State of the Union Viewing on Campus

A small crowd of students, faculty and local residents gathered at the Institute of Governmental Studies library last night to watch President George W. Bush deliver his State of the Union Address on television.

Bush focused his speech on social security reform and the war on terrorism while reaffirming his commitment to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. He also lauded the economic recovery and thanked troops and their families for their sacrifice.

The audience on campus, primarily made up of Bush detractors, laughed at Bush's pronunciation of "nuclear" and criticized his stance on a range of issues, including gay marriage and social security.

The gathering of approximately 24 was a far cry from previous IGS events, said Michael Salamone, assistant program director of the IGS Center on Politics.

Last October's debates drew more than 100 students to the library, packing the space beyond capacity.

Salamone said he expected the low turnout and attributed it to post-election depression experienced by Democrats and liberals.

"Generally, the people who turn out don't agree with the Republicans," Salamone said. "We tend to get more liberal-minded people."

"The debates were big because there was more of a glimmer of hope for them that something would happen. (Bush's re-election is) something they're trying to pretend isn't happening. The speech won't change anything one way or another," he said.

UC Berkeley sophomore Zachary Hendlin also pointed to the demoralization that Democrats feel in the wake of the Republican victory.

"I think there's a little bit of an insular feeling among Democrats who think ‘we're stuck with this guy,'" he said.

But a few blocks away, about 40 members of the Berkeley College Republicans crowded the living room of BCR President Andrea Irvin's house to show support for the president.

"The speech was very good," said UC Berkeley student Amaury Gallais, a member of BCR. "He outlined in a direct manner his vision for the next four years and reminded the American people why he was elected and why he's the right man for the job."

Even the primarily Democratic crowd at IGS agreed that the president delivered his speech well.

"I think it did what it needed to," Hendlin said. "It was well written and it covered a lot of bases, from inner-city kids to social security."

Although he did not like Bush or his views, Hendlin said that "this speech makes me think a little more favorably about him."

"Maybe it's the timing," he said. "But it made a favorable impression and he delivered it well."

In spite of some good reviews, Democrats were not optimistic that Bush's address would signal an improvement in partisan relations.

"I have a negative opinion of Bush," Salamone said. "I feel like (the speech) was a lot of the same thing he's been saying, and I don't think he's going to get a lot done with it."

The event also attracted residents of nearby cities.

"I thought he was catering to our basic instinct to export liberty," said Vallejo resident Roger Kemp, who stopped by IGS on his way to Emeryville. "It was carefully worded so that few people would object."

Although it was his first time watching a political event at the IGS, Kemp said he enjoyed the experience.

"It was nice to hear the students' reactions and political commentary," he said.

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