News > August 28, 2008

By Alex Osteen | Opinion editor

Student group Wake For Change is playing host to “Politics with Penn,” an event that will bring actor Kal Penn to campus. He is coming to discuss the current presidential race and why he will cast his vote for Barack Obama. The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on August 30 in Pugh Auditorium in the Benson University Center.

Penn, whose real name is Kalpen Modi, is most recognized for his roles in the movies Harold and Kumar and Van Wilder.

He has also starred in The Namesake and acts in the television series House.

Since 2007, however, Penn has dedicated his time to working on Obama’s campaign. In fact, he moved to Des Moines, Iowa to campaign for Obama during the caucuses there.

He’s appeared in television ads for Obama and has traveled across the United States to events such as this one.

Wake For Change is a new organization on campus that was formed as a subgroup of the College Democrats with the purpose of promoting Obama’s presidential campaign. Sophomore Alyssa Ray, leader of the group, has teamed up with the North Carolina Democratic Party’s “Campaign for Change” group to organize this event.

In her own words, Ray describes her organization as responsible for “encompass(ing) both students on campus and local Obama coordinators.”

As of now, it is unclear to Ray whether this is the first event of of a continuing series by her group or not.

Penn is expected to take questions from students, faculty and members of the community at large after a short speech about the election and politics.

All students are invited to go and watch, listen and participate.

There is an event posting on Facebook.com with more details on the event. Students can RSVP on the Web site as well.

For information beyond what’s been listed above, contact the group at rhuber@ncforchange.com.

This is certainly not the only time that celebrities, pundits or candidates themselves have come to campus to discuss campaigns and politics.

Last semester both Hillary Clinton and John McCain made appearances, along with former senatorial candidate Jim Neal.

Prior to that, College Republicans hosted Ken Starr.

John Edwards also made a stop here.

Most likely Penn will not be the last big name to come to the university as the election season enters crunch time in the months of October and November.