The Report Card

Thursday afternoon UNC-Chapel Hill Young Democrats hosted Baracktoberfest outside of the Morehead Building, the early voting site for students and local residents. The event included painting faces, decorating "cookies for change," painting pumpkins and bobbing for apples.

Appearances by Valerie Biden Owens, Joe Biden's sister, and Ashley Judd began the festivities. Before speaking to the crowd Owens shook hands, told jokes and asked students their names, majors and hometowns.

"This is so much more important than any one dream," Owens said about the upcoming election. "We are talking about electing the leader of the free world. ... It is a heck of a responsibility, the candidates responsibility and your responsibility."

Owens recounted childhood stories and the morals passed on by her parents. She concluded by encouraging the audience to vote and bring others to the polls.

"We've got to bring everyone in the universe into this," she said. "Let's go give 'em hell and vote."

Judd began by joking with the crowd. If UNC-CH delivered North Carolina blue on Nov. 4, she would sit in the Tar Heel student section for the basketball game between Carolina and her alma mater, the  University of Kentucky Wildcats, she said.

"The world is watching North Carolina," Judd said. "You have the opportunity to turn it blue for the first time since 1976."

When she finished speaking, she gave the audience an opportunity to ask questions. What brought her to UNC-CH was the first question.

"Students are notoriously unreliable voters," she said. "Reach out to your friends and peers and invite them to give a shit."

Judd finished by leading the crowd in a chant for Obama.

"We are a large demographic that goes mainly unrepresented," UNC-CH student Molly Matthews said. "We are America's future."