WUSTL Student Leaders at the Debate

The following Washington University students are involved in political organizations and issues on campus and are available for comment to the media. Please use their direct contact information listed on each student's page or contact Debra Schwartz at schwarde@charter.net or (314) 791-0647 for help setting up an interview.

Also: Students with Tickets to the Debate Available for Interviews
Also: International Students Available for Interviews
Also: Medical Students Available for Interviews

•	David Ader, President, Student Union Ader Student Union President David Ader has his finger on the student pulse. "People are excited for the national attention, to see their school in the spotlight, to be able to tell their friends, Look! Turn on any news channel you want. That's my school. That's where I play basketball. That's my chancellor introducing people." Hometown: Strongsville, Ohio
•	Laurel Barrett, Co-President, WUSM Chapter of the American Medical Students Association Barrett Laurel Barrett is co-president of the WUSM chapter of the American Medical Students Association. She believes our health-care system is crumbling and wants the next president to tackle the number of uninsured and the rising costs of medical malpractice in the United States. Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
•	Nyla Batts, Involved in Design of Debate Memorabilia Batts Politics is not the first thing on my mind when I wake up in the morning," admits Nyla Batts. It wasn't the economy, health care, or the No Child Left Behind Act that drew her to the presidential debate. Rather, it was the special opportunity to use her artistic training and help design some of the memorabilia — pins, tote bags, and tee shirts — which could be seen all around campus in the weeks leading up to the debate. Hometown: Pacolet, South Carolina
•	Michael Bortinger, General Manager of KWUR 90.3 FM Bortinger It takes more than Democrats and Republicans to complete the political spectrum. With this in mind, Michael Bortinger, general manager of KWUR 90.3 FM, has produced a new campus radio show, "Uncensored," to coincide with the campaign season. "It is important for me to be involved with the debate through student media, since our media show more flexibility than mainstream media," says Bortinger. Hometown: Ridgewood, New Jersey
•	Katherine Fleming, Legislative Representative, WUSM Chapter of the American Medical Students Association Fleming Katherine Fleming is the legislative representative of the WUSM chapter of the American Medical Students Association. She was involved in a voter registration drive this past year at the medical school and is trying to make being politically active easier for her busy classmates. Hometown: Germantown, Tennessee
•	Zachary Friedman, Student Representative to Washington University's Board of Trustees Friedman Zach Friedman moves in high-powered circles. He's the student representative to Washington University's Board of Trustees, which, he says, includes "some of the most impressive and powerful people in the Midwest." He earned the post after a series of interviews with the university's top deans and administrators, which culminated in a one-on-one discussion with Board Chairman David Kemper. Among his responsibilities, he keeps the board apprised of student perspectives, organizes Student/Trustee Day, and prepares a university-related research report on a topic of his choosing. Hometown: Clemmons, North Carolina
•	Joshua Gantz, Washington University Coordinator for the Youth Oriented "Rock the Vote" Campaign Gantz Missouri may be a swing state, but Josh Gantz is determined to rock the Show Me State. He's the Washington University coordinator for the youth-oriented Rock the Vote campaign and is also working with the group's St. Louis Community Street Team, going to baseball games, concerts, malls, and other venues to get people registered to vote. He also works on campus with Project Democracy to register and educate his fellow students. Hometown: Northbrook, Illinois
•	Jackie Graves, Leader of Washington University's College Republicans Graves Jackie Graves is a young Republican leader. By the time she graduated as valedictorian from Monett (Mo.) High School, she had already worked as a page in the U.S. Senate. Since then she has interned with Missouri Senator Kit Bond's Springfield Constituent Services Office, and last summer she interned with the senator's St. Louis Campaign Office. Today she leads Washington University's College Republicans. Hometown: Monett, Missouri
•	Jonathan Greenberger, Editor-in-Chief of Student Life Greenberger A budding journalist, Jonathan Greenberger already has an impressive resume. Yet, he's still looking for a way to stand out. The editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, Student Life, says covering the debate will be a challenge. "On most stories, we have a media monopoly. No other news outlet is interested in covering them. Here, the opposite is true, as thousands of journalists will descend on campus for the few days around the debate. To stand out, we have to find ways of making our coverage unique and of interest to students. We have to offer something that ABC News and The New York Times cannot. We have already spent countless hours brainstorming effective ways to do this." Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
•	Danielle Matilsky, Speaker of the Congress of the South 40 (CS40) Matilsky You might call Danielle Matilsky a "home girl," because she's taken a keen interest in the quality of life on the South 40, the residential village that most Washington University students call their home away from home. Among her many activities, she has served as vice president of her residential council and been a member of the Undergraduate Council Committee, the Undergraduate Committee on Alcohol, and the National Residence Hall Honorary. She was also a student interviewer for prospective residential college directors. Hometown: Setauket, New York
•	Meredith Nadler, Involved in Art Work for the Presidential Debate Nadler Meredith Nadler has discovered some new national pride. "I'm feeling much more patriotic than I have in quite a while," she says. Like many students, Nadler was not that interested in politics until she got involved in debate preparations this summer, working in the University's Publications Office. Being an art student, she was asked to create a debate pin for students to tack on to their backpacks and jackets. Hometown: Harrison, New York
•	Mark Reddish, Campus Programming Council Comedy Series Coordinator Reddish The presidential election is no joke. But just try telling that to Jon Stewart, Jay Leno, Chris Rock, or any other comedian who can find plenty of humor on the campaign trail. And try telling that to the millions of Americans who rely on TV personalities for their election news. No wonder then that Washington University's Student Union turned to Mark Reddish, Comedy Series Coordinator, to add an off-beat but valuable perspective to the presidential debate. Hometown: Momence, Illinois
•	Aaron Abramson Seligman, Co-founder of "Project Democracy" and Forum editor at Student Life Seligman "We are Americans who can't vote." Aaron Abramson Seligman still recalls these strong words from a Spanish journalist, which he read when he was a study abroad student in Madrid. The journalist was referring to Europeans who closely watch — but cannot participate in — the American elections. "I realized how much the president matters, not just to us, but to everyone around the world," Seligman says. He argues that students and young people here at home need to be equally engaged. Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin
•	Nicole Soussan, President of Washington University's College Democrats Soussan As a 10-year-old, Nicole Soussan hit the campaign trail for the first time. Her mother was running for a seat on the Harris County (Texas) Civil District Court. On the night of the election, Nicole went to bed thinking that her mom had won, but she woke in the morning only to learn that she had lost by the narrowest of margins. Soussan says it was "the most frustrating experience" of her life. Since then she has worked on many campaigns, trying to make sure that her favorite candidates come up winners and today Soussan leads the College Democrats. Hometown: Houston, Texas
•	Teresa Sullivan, Founder of the "Project Democracy" Chapter in St. Louis Sullivan Not all first-time voters are 18, as Teresa Sullivan learned last spring when she helped an 80-year-old man register for the first time. It happened when she was working with Project Democracy's Alternative Spring Break in Florida. Sullivan says her Florida experience "gives me hope, and the energy I see in my peers and colleagues inspires me to keep fighting this fight to make our voices heard." Hometown: Aurora, Illinois
•	Evan Susser, President of WUTV Productions Susser Washington University's very own version of "Meet the Press" will make its debut on WUTV, Cable Channel 22, in time for the presidential debate. The show is called "Political Bearings," and according to Evan Susser, president of WUTV Productions, the show "will capitalize on the excitement surounding the debate and do something that will be positive for the station and for the campus." Hometown: Potomac, Maryland
•	Jonathan Wolfson, Captain of the Washington University Forensics Team Wolfson Jonathan Wolfson is no stranger to political debate. He is a national debate champion, captain of the Washington University forensics team, and author of The Great Debate! a textbook used by college and high school programs across the country. Hometown: Naperville, Illinois