At the forefront
MSU student participates in convention this week
By Jacob Carpenter (Last updated: 08/26/08 11:42pm)Denver — Michael Mersol-Barg has arrived on the national political stage at the Democratic National Convention.
Mersol-Barg, an international relations senior, is wearing several hats this week as one of about 10 Michigan delegates at the College Democrats of America convention.
In between voting on the association’s platform and representing several state and campus organizations, Mersol-Barg is schmoozing with the state’s most prominent political names and working for the national Obama-Biden campaign.
At state events, name recognition isn’t a problem for Mersol-Barg — he knows the names of all 38 state senators and most of the 110 state representatives. He ran ragged during the College Democrats of America convention, all while mixing in tours of the downtown and a concert featuring Sheryl Crow and Dave Matthews Band.
“You never know what’s going to happen, or when it’s going to happen, or how it’s going to happen,” he said. “Everything is happening all at once, and it’s just chaos. But it’s good chaos.”
Late last week, Mersol-Barg braved a 27-hour Amtrak ride through the dull central Plains and eight hours of sleep during three “miserable” days, to get to the Democrats’ largest rally in 2008.
“I realized I’m not going to get this opportunity for another four years, so I figured I should take advantage of it now,” he said. “To sort of a political wonk like myself, this is like the Super Bowl, so this is a must-see.”
Back in East Lansing, Mersol-Barg is secretary for the MSU College Democrats, executive director for the MSU Progressives and a member of the Michigan Federation of College Democrats’ executive board.
“I can’t even keep up with all of the things he’s into,” his sister, Amy Mersol-Barg, said. “There’s always some other position or some new campaign he’s getting fired up about.”
Mersol-Barg serves as the sole liaison between MSU Democrats and the Michigan Federation of College Democrats, which works with Michigan’s Democratic organizations on campus. In Denver, he is pushing higher education and voter accessibility for youth with the federation.
“Having people like (Michael) on campuses makes our job a whole lot easier,” said Chris Stergalas, president of the federation and a junior at University of Michigan-Dearborn. “There’s nobody better to be a liaison than someone directly on campus.”
Becoming involved with politics was almost a given for Mersol-Barg, considering his family’s interest in politics — his mother, Mary Jo Mersol-Barg, watches C-SPAN for fun.
Mersol-Barg will return to MSU later this week after missing the first week of classes. His professors, with the exception of a French teacher following academic protocol, were accommodating and worked around Mersol-Barg’s absence this week.
He aspires to become a diplomat or involved in finances but admits “I’m one of those people who wants to do everything and do it before I’m 30.”
For now, Mersol-Barg will finish his tour this week and looks forward to attending the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
“I’m hoping to gain a lot of great insight and ideas and hopefully be able to report back on all of the exciting things that are happening here in Denver,” he said.
Originally Published: 08/26/08 11:11pm
Ben
08/27/08 6:32amOnly a true jackass would have a hyphenated lastname. I’m sure he’s right at home at the DNC.
Kevin
08/27/08 10:22amWhat a great article. Thanks for showing someone who’s getting involved instead of sitting back and complaining. Michael is an inspiration.
David
08/27/08 10:31amWhat happens when he marries Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s daughter? What do they name their kids…Eliot and Hannah Mersol-Barg-Joyner-Kersee?
Tiffany
08/27/08 1:46pmI find it funny how those who are leaving negative comments about this young man’s name are supposedly educated college students. I can tell by Ben and David’s comments that they must not be persons of high integrity (or a reasonably high IQ).
To stick with the issue at hand, I find it wonderful that a young person has such a passion for government and for the future of our country. Keep up the good work!
JR
08/27/08 2:35pmLet’s see if the state news provides equal coverage of the RNC, I’m sure we’ll have a spartan there.
Mike
08/27/08 5:13pmI am pleased and proud to see Mike Mersol-Barg actively participating in our political process. My hope is that his actions raise awareness to other young people inspiring them to engage in the politic of our society. Michael and people like him, irrespective of political party can inspire a new generation to carry our country safely into the future. He exemplifies the true MSU SPARTAN SPIRIT and reminds me of the following quote familiar to many:
The credit belongs to the man or woman who is in actually in the arena, who strives valiantly;
...Who errs and comes short again and again,
Because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
But who does actually strive to do the deeds;
Who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
Who spends himself or herself in a worthy cause;
Who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
And who at the worse, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
So that his or her place shall never be with those who know neither victory nor defeat.”
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David
08/28/08 10:07am@Tiffany: I challenge your charges of negativity, lack of integrity, and low IQ. Read my comment again closely: I speculated on a hypothetical scenario (the marriage of two people with hyphenated last names) and a possible (probable?) outcome if their union were to bear issue. I used no pejorative terms; I gave no indication that I think any less of one of the students of James Madison (of which I am proud alumnus) merely based on his parents’ Marriage Certificate choices, and I am reasonably confident that my syntax and vocabulary provide some degree of confidence that I indeed have a higher IQ than an imbecile.
Toodles!
Truth
08/29/08 7:54pmDo any of you know why he’s at MSU? Because he was accused of committing financial improprieties in a student organization that most likely would have been a felony in the working world if not at Oakland University. What a great role model, and as a Democrat, I’m ashamed he represents anything that I identify with.
Justice
09/02/08 12:09amMike Mersol-Barg is a stand-up guy. Your ill-advised comments do not change this fact. I’m sure he’d agree, but since he’s not one to stoop to bandying stupidity with fools on the internet at 12:30 in the morning, I’ve decided to do it for him. He’s not one to lose sleep because someone is wrong on the internet.
He who sows lies, in the end, will not lack for a harvest. It’s unfortunate that you should be the latest link in this foul chain.
Greg
09/09/08 3:31pmRe Truth’s comment: You fail to mention that Michael was not actually found guilty of the charges. Being personally aware of the circumstances, and can tell you that the accusation was based on a misunderstanding and personal differences with the person making the accusation, not on actual impropriety.
If someone falsely accused you of a felony, should we think worse of you for it?