Rocking out for change

On Friday night, Blair students gathered at 7:00 p.m. in the SAC to enjoy performances by other students, as well as speeches by Heather Mizeur, manager of the local Kerry/Edwards campaign, and the chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party, Ike Legget. The event, which was sponsored by the Young Democrats, SGR, the Caribbean Club, the Hispanic Club, Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Gay-Straight Alliance, Diversity Workshop and the Animal Rights Club, solicited around $1,000 (minus security costs) in donations for Haitian relief, according to Blair senior and event co-producer Hannah Fegley.

Act I performances included dancing by the Step Team, Stephen Millett, members of the Hispanic Club and the Blair breakdancers. Musical acts included original and cover songs by Spence Dye, junior Lily Jaffie-Shupe and junior Emily May. Act II performances stepped up the rock level with three-song sets by Blair bands Bad Luck, Burn Before Nightfall, Back Alley Platoon, Aeris, Not Vesuvius, Razor and finally a closing act by Blair graduate band Jaeggi.

Legget and Mizeur riled up the liberal audience with anti-Bush sentiments and urges to vote and flush out local Democratic voters during their pro-Kerry speeches. Teacher sponsor George Vlasits also encouraged students to accompany him on a trip to a key Pennsylvania county on Tuesday to flush out Democratic voters.

As evidenced by the exuberant moshers and crowdsurfers during the second band's set, as well as its large donation sum, Rock for Change certainly did rock for change.