The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 8/26/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Rachel Dembrun Erica Hixson stands along the floor side railing at the Pepsi Center for the Democratic National Convention, Monday. Hixson is a delegate representing Colorado.

For many college students, the first week of the semester is the most important. But not for CSU student Erica Hixson. She's playing hookie all week.

Instead of collecting syllabuses, making a good first impression or organizing binder tabs, she'll be cavorting with some of the most influential politicians of the day.

Monday the sophomore business major had breakfast with Colorado Superdelegate Federico Peña and Congressman Ed Perlmutter. Last night she had a front row seat to see Hillary Clinton address a packed Pepsi Center. Tonight, it'll be vice presidential nominee Joe Biden.

Hixson will be one of 70 delegates representing Colorado at this year's Democratic National Convention, supporting Barack Obama, the charismatic senator from Illinois who might be the man most responsible for the rash of young truants this week.

In this political season, the "main thing" Hixson hopes to do in her role as a delegate is to influence others to become involved, something she said is sorely lacking in her group of friends and in her entire generation.

"I just wish that that people, especially college kids, would care about politics," Hixson said. "The things that are going on now and the things that we're voting on now end up affecting everyone's life, especially ours."

Though the young delegate seems excited to be in the thick of a history-making presidential nomination, she can't help but be a bit anxious.

"Right now, I'm kind of worried about protesters," Hixson said. "We have private buses that take us to the Pepsi Center every day, and we're basically escorted around by police … I'm glad they're there, but the fact that they have to be is a little nerve-wracking."

Then there's the socializing.

Delegates are often invited to a number of activities outside of the basic voting duties of the average citizen; on Sunday, Hixson joined other Colorado delegates for brunch at the Governor's Mansion.

As a college student, Hixson said she has had some trouble in staying up-to-date on the happenings of the politico realm. There have been instances, she said, where reporters will put her on the spot, asking for her thoughts on matters she knows little about.

Continued...

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