UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 8, Page 12
October 19, 1995
Senior history major plays role in national politics

     Politics has always been a part of my life," Cecily Cutbill, a
senior history major from Lewes, Del., said. "I've always felt
interested in the world, and because my parents are very well informed
a lot of my interests stem from them."
     After a year off from college between her junior and senior years
to work on various political campaigns, Cutbill found herself running
against two opponents for the position as national vice president of
the College Democrats of America.
     After a number of both informal and formal question-and-answer
periods, including speeches at regional caucus meetings, Cutbill beat
her opponents by gaining 80 percent of the votes to their combined 20
percent. This year, she is one of two college students in the country
to serve on the Democratic National Committee.
     Cutbill's primary responsibility is to organize college-age
Democrats throughout the country and encourage them to become more
involved in upcoming elections, including the presidential campaign.
     To accomplish this goal, Cutbill is in contact regularly with the
six members of the national College Democrats of America executive
board as well as with regional organizers.
     "I've kind of become the troubleshooter of the group nationally,"
Cutbill said, "I spend a lot of time on the phone with students from
across the country who have questions or problems."
     In her current position, she has visited the White House and New
Orleans, where she held a seat at the Democratic National Convention.
     "I've met a lot of influential people who do listen to what young
people have to say," Cutbill said.
     Cutbill has had experience as a volunteer for the Clinton/Gore
campaign in 1992, as an intern in the office of Delaware's U.S. Sen.
Joe Biden, and as a staff member for the campaigns of Delaware's
attorney general candidate Charles Butler and current Delaware Gov.
Tom Carper.
     Cutbill also has been active in the University's chapter of the
College Democrats, serving two terms as vice president, as well as
terms as president, social director and regional director for the mid-
Atlantic Region.
     "I think that people are interested in politics but have no real
means to be active," Cutbill said, " There are not many ways for the
average student to make a difference, so they get turned off. We need
to find outlets to be heard."
     As for her political future, Cutbill said it depends on how
things go. "I always will stay active. I'll work for whomever has a
philosophy that I agree with the most," Cutbill said.
                                                       -Susanne Schott