Spring Break
Facebook co-founder speaks at voter rally
Stephanie Takach & Noah Cohen
Issue date: 3/14/08 Section: News
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Hughes spoke to the important role of social networking web sites in the election process.
"It's [the Internet] definitely helping … there is a lot more information available to people who are interested in politics and government," Stalberg said.
The abilities to get information out immediately and raise money were benefits of the Internet, Stalberg said.
"I'm not sure the Obama candidacy could have gotten off the ground without the web," he said, in regards to Obama's ability to fundraise and communicate via the Internet.
Supporters of the Obama campaign were able to use Facebook to express support for the candidate, then go to the campaign web site to make a donation, Hughes said.
Hughes is credited with coordinating the My.barackobama.com site to raise money and awareness for the campaign. Hughes also said the Obama campaign was the only candidate to have an official Facebook application and continually urged the audience to visit Obama's Facebook profile.
For Hughes, Facebook should be a critical part of any political campaign.
"Politicians will increasingly understand that there are a lot of people who are active voters and they are logging on to Facebook," he said.
John Lloyd, chairman of the Drexel Democrats, said, "It was a unique opportunity to hear the amazing story of roommates founding Facebook and telling students how to use Facebook to organize politically."
The roommates, Hughes included, launched Facebook Feb. 4, 2004 as a web site where students could upload their basic information. Hughes stressed that applications such as bumper stickers, photos and wall posts were not a part of the original Facebook and the site would continue to grow.
Stalberg praised the work of Drexel Votes 2008 and the University-wide voter registration initiative.
"Drexel is way ahead of the crowd on this [voter registration]," Stalberg said. "There is no other college or university [in the area] that is putting this much emphasis behind getting people registered and getting people to vote."
The event was a last-minute decision when Lloyd received a call from the Obama Campaign about the event, according to Lloyd.
"Drexel administrators were really interested and set up in record time," Lloyd said.
Drexel Votes 2008 and the Drexel Democrats will continue to encourage students to register to vote for the Pennsylvania primary until the last day, March 24, according to Lloyd.
The Pennsylvania primary is April 22 and voter registration forms can be downloaded from a link on The Triangle's web site, www.thetriangle.org.
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Skip Shuda
posted 3/15/08 @ 8:27 AM EST
Not only are social media sites key to successful campaigns, but integrating the events calendar with "on the ground" local activity is a new synthesis which amplifies both the field work AND the cyber-work of a campaign. (Continued…)
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