Yale College Democrats
Encyclopedia
The Yale College Democrats (YCD) is a chapter of the College Democrats of America located at Yale University
in New Haven, CT.
Campaigning in the 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010 elections, the members of the YCD have made thousands of calls and knocked on doors from Connecticut to New Hampshire to Pennsylvania and throughout the Northeast. Having built a working relationship with the New Haven Board of Aldermen and Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.
, as well as members of the Connecticut General Assembly, the YCD has worked successfully with these local and state officials in lobbying efforts for a state Earned Income Tax Credit
; the passage of SustiNet
, Connecticut's affordable health care plan; ensuring that supportive housing funding not be cut from the state's budget; and New Haven education reform efforts. Most recently, the Yale College Democrats have been working to repeal Capital punishment in Connecticut
and to enact the CT DREAM Act, which would provide in-state tuition at state universities to undocumented students.
During its weekly meetings, the YCD has played host to politicians, panels of experts, and other speakers including Howard Dean
, Richard Blumenthal
, Susan Bysiewicz
, Sheldon Whitehouse
, and Martin Frost
, former Texas Congressman and head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
.
The YCD has also formed a close relationship with Blue State Coffee
in New Haven, hosting multiple joint speakers and events.
Past Presidents: Charles E. Borden ('96), Josh Kagan ('98), Jonathan Thessin ('99), Lex Paulson ('00), Abbey Hudson ('01-resigned), Michelle Mayorga ('01), Samantha Jay ('02), Alicia Washington ('03), Nirupam Sinha ('04), Alissa Stollwerk ('05), Brendan Gants ('06), Eric Kafka ('07), Ben Shaffer ('08), Sarah Turbow ('09), Ben Stango ('10)
Notable Alumni: Senator Amy Klobuchar
, Michael Morand, Lewis "Scooter" Libby
Committee and the Elections Committee. Members of the YCD elect to serve on any or all of these committees.
The Lobbying Committee focuses on promoting progressive
legislation through student activism. In the past, the Committee has organized campaigns advocating for universal health care in Connecticut, education reform, campaign finance reform, and supportive housing for Connecticut's homeless population. The Lobbying Committee's activities have included rallies, discussion panels, phonebanks and direct persuasion campaigns aimed at legislators responsible for enacting policy. Most recently, the Lobbying Committee has been working to repeal Capital punishment in Connecticut
and to enact the CT DREAM Act. On February 26, 2011 the Yale College Democrats held a rally at City Hall in New Haven in favor of the CT DREAM Act; notable speakers at the event included State Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney
, student DREAMers, and Senator Richard Blumenthal
.
The Elections Committee works to support the campaigns of Democratic candidates running in local, state and national races. In addition to more traditional field work and Get Out the Vote (GOTV
) operations, the elections committee runs campus voter registration and issue education projects. In 2009, the Elections Committee organized a primary debate for the Democratic Aldermanic candidates. In 2010, the Elections Committee worked to elect Governor Dan Malloy
and Senator Richard Blumenthal
,
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven, CT.
History
While the Yale College Democrats has existed in some form or another throughout the late 20th century, the modern model of the YCD was formed in 2004. Since that time, the YCD has led undergraduate political efforts on campus as the official representative of the Democratic Party, growing to a steady active membership of 150 students members.Campaigning in the 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010 elections, the members of the YCD have made thousands of calls and knocked on doors from Connecticut to New Hampshire to Pennsylvania and throughout the Northeast. Having built a working relationship with the New Haven Board of Aldermen and Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.
John DeStefano, Jr.
John DeStefano, Jr. is the current mayor of New Haven, Connecticut. He was the Democratic candidate in 2006 for Governor of Connecticut, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell. He was also the named defendant in the landmark 2009 U.S. Supreme Court case of Ricci v...
, as well as members of the Connecticut General Assembly, the YCD has worked successfully with these local and state officials in lobbying efforts for a state Earned Income Tax Credit
Earned income tax credit
The United States federal earned income tax credit or earned income credit is a refundable tax credit primarily for individuals and families who have low to moderate earned income. Greater tax credit is given to those who also have qualifying children...
; the passage of SustiNet
SustiNet
SustiNet is a Connecticut health care plan passed into law in July, 2009. Its goal is to provide affordable health care coverage to 98% of Connecticut residents by 2014.-Provisions of the legislation:...
, Connecticut's affordable health care plan; ensuring that supportive housing funding not be cut from the state's budget; and New Haven education reform efforts. Most recently, the Yale College Democrats have been working to repeal Capital punishment in Connecticut
Capital punishment in Connecticut
Capital punishment in Connecticut currently exists as an available sanction for a criminal defendant upon conviction for the commission of a capital offense. Connecticut, along with New Hampshire, are the only two New England states that maintain a death penalty. Since the 1976 United States...
and to enact the CT DREAM Act, which would provide in-state tuition at state universities to undocumented students.
During its weekly meetings, the YCD has played host to politicians, panels of experts, and other speakers including Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
, Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he served as Attorney General of Connecticut....
, Susan Bysiewicz
Susan Bysiewicz
Susan Bysiewicz served as Secretary of the State of Connecticut from 1999 to 2011. She was briefly a candidate for Governor of Connecticut in 2010, before dropping out to run for Connecticut Attorney General. She was disqualified from running for the office by the Connecticut Supreme Court and...
, Sheldon Whitehouse
Sheldon Whitehouse
Sheldon Whitehouse is the junior U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, and Martin Frost
Martin Frost
Jonas Martin Frost III is an American politician, who was the Democratic representative to the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas's 24th congressional district from 1979 to 2005.-Personal life:...
, former Texas Congressman and head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
.
The YCD has also formed a close relationship with Blue State Coffee
Blue State Coffee
Blue State Coffee runs coffee stores in Providence, Rhode Island, New Haven, Connecticut, and Boston, Massachusetts. The company donates 2% of sales to "local, progressive" causes, and has given over $250,000 to date.-History:...
in New Haven, hosting multiple joint speakers and events.
Past Presidents: Charles E. Borden ('96), Josh Kagan ('98), Jonathan Thessin ('99), Lex Paulson ('00), Abbey Hudson ('01-resigned), Michelle Mayorga ('01), Samantha Jay ('02), Alicia Washington ('03), Nirupam Sinha ('04), Alissa Stollwerk ('05), Brendan Gants ('06), Eric Kafka ('07), Ben Shaffer ('08), Sarah Turbow ('09), Ben Stango ('10)
Notable Alumni: Senator Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar
Amy Jean Klobuchar is the senior United States Senator from Minnesota. She is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, an affiliate of the Democratic Party...
, Michael Morand, Lewis "Scooter" Libby
Activities
The YCD has two established committees: the LobbyingLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
Committee and the Elections Committee. Members of the YCD elect to serve on any or all of these committees.
The Lobbying Committee focuses on promoting progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
legislation through student activism. In the past, the Committee has organized campaigns advocating for universal health care in Connecticut, education reform, campaign finance reform, and supportive housing for Connecticut's homeless population. The Lobbying Committee's activities have included rallies, discussion panels, phonebanks and direct persuasion campaigns aimed at legislators responsible for enacting policy. Most recently, the Lobbying Committee has been working to repeal Capital punishment in Connecticut
Capital punishment in Connecticut
Capital punishment in Connecticut currently exists as an available sanction for a criminal defendant upon conviction for the commission of a capital offense. Connecticut, along with New Hampshire, are the only two New England states that maintain a death penalty. Since the 1976 United States...
and to enact the CT DREAM Act. On February 26, 2011 the Yale College Democrats held a rally at City Hall in New Haven in favor of the CT DREAM Act; notable speakers at the event included State Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney
Martin Looney
Martin M. Looney is an American politician. Looney, a Democrat, has been a state senator from Connecticut since 1993. Since 2004, Looney has served as Majority Leader of the Senate....
, student DREAMers, and Senator Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he served as Attorney General of Connecticut....
.
The Elections Committee works to support the campaigns of Democratic candidates running in local, state and national races. In addition to more traditional field work and Get Out the Vote (GOTV
GOTV
GOTV may refer to:* Get out the vote, the final phase of a political campaign* GoTV Networks, a mobile content company* Gathering of the Vibes, a music festival* GoTV, an Austrian music channel...
) operations, the elections committee runs campus voter registration and issue education projects. In 2009, the Elections Committee organized a primary debate for the Democratic Aldermanic candidates. In 2010, the Elections Committee worked to elect Governor Dan Malloy
Dan Malloy
Dannel Patrick "Dan" Malloy is the 88th and current Governor of Connecticut. He was the Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut from December 1995 until December 2009. Malloy had been endorsed by the Connecticut Democratic Party on May 22, 2010 over 2006 Democratic U.S...
and Senator Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he served as Attorney General of Connecticut....
,
See also
- Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
- Democratic National CommitteeDemocratic National CommitteeThe Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
- Young Democrats
- Young RepublicansYoung RepublicansThe Young Republicans is an organization for members of the Republican Party of the United States between the ages of 18 and 40. It has both a national organization and chapters in individual states....
- College Democrats of America
- College RepublicansCollege RepublicansThe College Republican National Committee is a national organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States...
- Yale International Relations AssociationYale International Relations AssociationThe Yale International Relations Association, Inc. is a registered, 501 non-profit student organization at Yale University. Founded in 1969 by a group of individuals who wanted to promote a better understanding of global affairs after the events of the turbulent 1960's, YIRA's mission is to...
- Yale Political UnionYale Political UnionThe Yale Political Union , a debate society now the largest student organization at Yale University, was founded in 1934 by Professor Alfred Whitney Griswold , to enliven the university's political culture of the time. It was modelled on the Cambridge Union Society and Oxford Union...