"The lure of LaRouche: A Union mainstay" is the headline of the article in the Feb. 7 edition of Univ. of Maryland daily campus newspaper, referring to the LaRouche presidential campaign's  frequent presence in front of the Student Union, which is accompanied by two large pictures. To see a picture of the front page, click here.  The page 2 jump page continues on top of the page under a big jump page headline 'LaRouche: Will run for eighth time in 2004."

The article reads as follows:

"The temperature dropped below freezing Monday afternoon as strong gusts of wind toyed with Eric Thomas' buffet of literature, flyers and homemade posters for seven-time presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche. The brief, explosive snowstorm that carpeted the campus Monday put Thomas's plastic bags and paperweights to work at the LaRouche table at the Student Union.
"For any campus student in the last 15 years, seeing the LaRouche table bustling is no surprise, even in inclement weather. Thomas said campaign volunteers first set up on the College Park campus in 1987 as LaRouche prepared for his fourth of seven consecutive attempts for the White House. LaRouche volunteers also regularly campaign at other local schools, including Towson University, Howard University, George Washington University and Prince George's Community College.

"Daria Cleinman, a senior art and graphic design major, has campaigned for the unorthodox Democrat since the fall. Her colleague Maria Channon left the university after one year for a full-time campaign job and a small weekly stipend. The money, she said, is not her focus her focus is helping the world avoid a "clash of civilizations.

"Thomas, 30, a volunteer from Baltimore, said he usually talks with about 75 to 100 interested students each time he staffs the group's table outside the Student Union. The university does not charge the group to set up its information table, which volunteers said can be found on the campus three to five days a week. LaRouche supporters do not have a registered on-campus student organization and do not receive support from the campus chapter of the College Democrats. However, the university gives them a permit to solicit potential supporters.

"I'm not an advocate of LaRouche's stance and he's not recognized as a leader within the party,' said Stephen Cobb, president of the College Democrats. Cobb, a junior history major, said while he may not agree with their platform, he supports the group's efforts to express its views on the campus.

"Although making his seventh run for the Democrat presidential nomination in 2004, LaRouche's political platform throughout his 25-year presidential chase breaks with typical Democratic Party ideals.

"He advocates dramatic changes in the U.S. government such as the replacement of central banking by a national banking system originally proposed by Alexander Hamilton and a reordering of worldwide economic organizations such as the World Bank.

"Currently, LaRouche's policy includes the belief that Osama bin Laden was not responsible for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that instead the attacks were part of an ongoing United States military coup to create war between Islamic nations and the West.

"Tuesday, the group's table displayed a sign proclaiming `No, we're not anti- Semitic. Yes, Ariel Sharon is a Nazi butcher,' defending their claim that Israel wants to `rape' the Islamic world.
"LaRouche chose the Democratic Party not because of its specific tenets, but because the ideals of the party are supposed to represent the general welfare, Thomas said.

"In the 1980's LaRouche became the only known presidential candidate to be convicted of a federal crime, which led to a five-year imprisonment in charges of tax fraud and conspiracy.
"Some students who frequently pass the table outside the Student Union said they are turned off by LaRouche's supporters campaign methods.

"`The way these people campaign, it's almost cultish,' said Jake Ouslander, a 1998 university graduate who is assistant trade manager for the University Book Center. Ouslander said he had spoken with LaRouche representatives at other locations and looked at the candidate's website. `It looks like they have good goals, but their manner is shady.'

"Thomas said joining LaRouche's campaign would help students achieve more out of their college careers than what he calls a `glorified food stamp' -- a diploma. Students need to decide not be `mental prostitutes,' he said, referring to students who compromise their mental integrity in return for careers.

"The extreme views of LaRouche supporters and members' total devotion to the group's goals, have led LaRouche's opponents to brand the campaign as anti-Semitic or a cult.
"Thomas said people use the world `cult' and other slander to intimidate others from attending meetings or becoming interested in LaRouche.

"`There's no basis to [these] statements,' Thomas said. `It's like students don't have intellectual integrity anymore to fight for their own ideas. When they feel they are in a weak position, they resort to name calling.'

"Channon said the intention of the campus presence is to recruit people to join the movement, but not in a forceful way.

"`It's not like we say you have to join or you are immoral swine,' she said. `People can throw out all the words they want, but they can't dispute that we're out here trying to make a difference.'"

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