Some Claflin University students who support presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama say they felt compelled to participate in a press conference this past week in support of Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The students claim they participated in the event because they were asked to do so by their professor as a part of a class activity.

Claflin's Assistant Vice President of Communications and Marketing Vivian Glover said in a statement that no student was coerced into attending the event or holding signs in support of Clinton. The press conference was conducted by state Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman, to outline Clinton's plan to make higher education more affordable to students.

Three students, who are also Obama supporters, gave varying accounts as to whether their participation in the event was a mandatory class activity. They all spoke under the condition of anonymity.

The students said they went to the class like a normal day, but the focus was to attend the press conference.

One student claimed she told the professor she did not support Clinton for president. She said the professor's response was that her political affiliation did not matter and the students' presence was to make it appear people were present. She said her participation was not required but expressed dismay over the situation.

"Personally, I wasn't pleased because it made it look like I'm throwing my support toward her (Clinton)," she said.

She added that most of the students ended up taking part in the event because it was an opportunity to participate in political proceedings.

Another student said it was a requirement for class and the teacher told her it was necessary for them to be there. She said class attendance is a part of determining the final grade for the semester.

"Every student wants to stay on the good side of the teacher," she said.

A third student said the class was simply invited to participate, which the university says is the case.

The decision to invite the students was made by former Director of Public Relations Helene Carter, according to Glover's statement. No other members of the administration had a hand in either the decision or actual invitation of the students.

The university statement said Carter suggested students stand behind Matthews, which prompted several of them to say they felt that gave the impression they were endorsing Clinton. The university said student concerns were listened to and immediately addressed.

Reports that Claflin students who supported Obama participated in the Clinton event first surfaced in an article by the online publication FITSnews.com. The article suggested a student asked the university's administration about forming an Obama supporter group on campus and was denied.

"I suggested to the student that he work within the Young Democrats, an association under Student Development," said Claflin Vice President for Student Development and Services Dr. Leroy Durant.

The Young Democrats is the largest youth-controlled partisan organization in the United States that has chapters over college campuses across the country, according to its Web site.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com and 803-534-1060. Discuss this story online a www.TheTandD.com.

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