Quote:Ninjas urge to vote, cover key issues
MAY ADVINCULA
Issue date: 10/29/08 Section: News

An Asian-American group dressed as ninjas encouraged individuals to vote Tuesday.

A dozen ninjas ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­dressed in black snuck into Tate Plaza on Tuesday on a mission - to give flyers about voting to as many people as possible in 15 minutes.

This overt operation, coordinated by Sean Cuevo, co-president of the Filipino-American Student Association, was carried out by members of various Asian-oriented organizations to promote an upcoming seminar, "Don't Vote - You Don't Matter."

Cuevo approached the Asian-American Student Association with the ninja-flyering idea because he said he felt the organization was the best channel to use for promotion.

Because ninjas are perceived as "unseen and unheard" Cuevo used this analogy to apply to the misconceptions of the Asian-American voting population.

"We are targeting Asians, but Asian-Americans aren't going to be the only ones who are going to see us today," Cuevo said.

Through the ninja flyering event, Cuevo said he hoped to convey the message that all students should not be "unseen and unheard" in the upcoming presidential election.

"The underlying theme [of the flyering] is that all votes count," he said.

Meghan Flynn, co-president of the Filipino-American Student Association, along with Cuevo, volunteered as a ninja for the event promotion.

"I want our Asian-American community to unite and have our voice heard in this election," she said.

Debbie Ebalobo, president of the Asian-American Student Association, said the group will discuss five important political issues during the seminar, including immigration, the economy and the youth vote.

The seminar will be held tonight at 7:30 in the Tate reception hall.