The Triangle

Issue date: 2/25/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Morgen Rossmair

United States Senator Rick Santorum, R-Pa., was on campus to talk to students and others about Social Security Feb. 22.

Held in Behrakis Grand Hall, the event began at 10 a.m. and had several hundred in attendance. Those seated in Behrakis saw University President Constantine Papadakis introduce Santorum while Dean of the LeBow College of Business George Tsetsekos moderated the event. Also attending was Deputy Commissioner for the Social Security Administration Jim Lockhart.

"I am glad to have had this opportunity to discuss with the Philadelphia community why our current Social Security system needs to be strengthened for our children and grandchildren," Santorum said.

"It's essential for individuals born before 1950 to understand that they will experience no change in their benefits as a result of reform, which includes current retirees, those individuals nearing retirement, and those receiving Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income."

"I think the event was great," Secretary of the Drexel Republicans William Mulgrew said. "A lot of people attended it. I personally wished that it was a closed forum for only Drexel students so that they could ask more constructive questions, but it's my understanding that Senator Santorum insisted on having an open forum."

Still, some students were not pleased with the Senator or his message. "We felt as though the presentation wasn't very effective," President of the Drexel Democrats Brad Levinson.

"Senator Santorum used quite a number of graphs, charts and numbers that we felt were very confusing, and quite honestly, boring. I don't think he charmed or captivated the audience in any way."

Members of the Drexel Democrats held a demonstration before the event, along with the Penn Democrats, Philly for Change and the Action Alliance of Senior Citizens, making several dozen protesters present.

Levinson and the Drexel Democrats wrote to the LCoB to request that a Democrat attend the event as well, claiming that it would combat any partisanship in the presentation.

"LeBow did contact us regarding our request, and I had several meetings with them regarding it," Levinson said. "LeBow felt as though we could be given an opportunity of a forum at a later date, but given Santorum's use of words like 'crisis' and 'bankrupt,' a forum at a later date is ineffective in providing those who attended with an immediate response. We felt as though both our protesting and our information packet that we handed out served to provide that immediate feedback that Drexel denied us."

Still, Mulgrew feels that Santorum did a good job. "As far as partisanship was concerned, I believe Santorum did an exemplary job in being courteous to students, even ones who showed him disrespect," Mulgrew said.

"He opened his remarks [with] how we need to address Social Security reform in a bipartisan manner."

Levinson was still not convinced that Santorum was being bipartisan. "His entire presentation was partisan. Any time a politician plays the number game like Santorum did, you have to realize that they use numbers that benefit them, adjusting for inflation where it suits, not adjusting when it doesn't," Levinson said.

Santorum recognized that there are many different opinions on Social Security.

"The issue of Social Security is an important one to all Americans, especially younger Americans who face uncertainty about whether benefits will be available when they retire. I appreciate those who voiced their opinions ... at Drexel University. It's important that we continue to have conversations and forums about saving and strengthening Social Security for future generations," Santorum said.

"Senator Santorum was one in a series of speakers which will visit Drexel to address Social Security," Assistant Director of the Drexel News Bureau Niki Gianakaris said.

"By learning the many sides to major public policy issues students have the opportunity to participate in the political process at its most basic level. Such events support the University's commitment to civic engagement, which encourages involvement in and service to the community."

For more photos, click here.

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