Despite a low turnout, the ASU chapter of Run Against Bush kicked off its first run Monday morning from the Student Recreation Complex to Tempe Town Lake.
Only three people attended, but chapter coordinators Craig Magee and Kirstin Hendrickson, both chemistry graduate students, are optimistic about future runs.
"This is our first run and we hope to try and get the word out and get people involved in this year's presidential election," Hendrickson said.
The students met in front of the SRC at 7:30 a.m. where they began their run to Tempe Town Lake and back to campus. Magee and Hendrickson handed out Run Against Bush stickers and invited passers-by to join them.
The two wore blue T-shirts bearing the name of the organization "Run Against Bush." On the back of the shirt is the message: "I'm running for change."
According to the organization, Run Against Bush is a group of volunteers across the country that use outdoor activities such as running and jogging as a way to voice their dissatisfaction with the Bush administration.
Hendrickson said there were attempts to organize a local chapter during the summer, but said the summer heat made her and Magee decide to start the club in the fall.
Hendrickson said the important aspect of Run Against Bush is meeting with students and trying to get them involved in the coming elections.
"The aim is trying to get first-time voters to register," Hendrickson said. "I feel this is the most important election of our lifetime and we, the young voters, must participate if we need to have a voice."
Magee said Run Against Bush supporters would have weekly runs every Monday at 7:30 a.m. until the end of the semester, meeting at the SRC and running the same route.
Hendrickson is also selling Run Against Bush T-shirts for $10. The proceeds will go to the Run Against Bush national organization to fund campaigns supporting Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
Magee said the group would have voter registration forms at their next run so they can get students to register to vote. He said if there is strong support, they could have afternoon runs or other outdoor activities.
Eva Wingren, a freshman theater major, said she read an announcement about the Run Against Bush event and decided to join the run.
"It's a good way to get the message out about Bush and also get in shape," Wingren said.
Hendrickson said one of the reasons she helped start a local campaign was because the group believes there is a better person to lead America than Bush.
"In the past ten years, I've noticed that a lot of students are politically apathetic," Hendrickson said. "If we need change, we should definitely participate in the political process."
Reach the reporter at laosamoa.poasa@asu.edu.
