The Kennedy Political Union kicked off its 41st annual lecture series Sunday with a performance by the political comedy group Capitol Steps at the Woods-Brown Amphitheater. Students from the Class of 2013 joined upperclassmen to experience the group's 22-act show.
"I think it's a good way for freshmen to get adjusted to campus because they can sit next to a junior, a senior or a sophomore and start talking," Kristen Park, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said. "It's good interaction; it makes us one unified body."
The Capitol Steps formed in 1981 by three staffers working for former Sen. Charles Percy, R-Ill., who wanted to provide comedic entertainment at a Christmas party. The group has since included staff from the House of Representatives and performers who have not been employed on Capitol Hill. The group performs every Friday and Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Building on 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., as well as other venues throughout the United States.
One of the Capitol Steps cast members, Richard Paul, is an AU alumnus who graduated in 1981. Paul has worked at WAMU-FM in a variety of producer roles, and was the national affairs press secretary for former Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska.
The Capitol Steps opened Sunday's show with a song that criticized the majority of the media for being biased in favor of President Barack Obama during his presidential campaign. Other issues the Capitol Steps spoke and sung about in jest included the health care system modification legislation under discussion in Congress, former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's July 26 resignation from serving as governor of Alaska and the federal government's multibillion dollar bailouts of automotive companies General Motors and Chrysler LLC.
Will Hubbard, KPU director for the 2009-2010 academic year, said he felt the annual Capitol Steps performance had a good turnout this year. The group has performed at AU since 2000. "It brings a lot of people outdoors when the weather's nice and offers a comedic look at some of the things the speakers will talk about," Hubbard said.
Kristen Fraley, a freshman in the School of International Service, said she believes the event was appropriate for a campus that is considered to be politically active.
"It's a good way to incorporate the news and current events into something fun for the students to do the night before classes start," she said.
The next event in KPU's 2009-2010 lecture series will feature former reconnaissance Marine Sergeant Rudy Reyes, who saw combat action in three tours of duty, including Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from 2001-2002, Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and Operation Iraqi Freedom II in 2004. The event will be held Sept. 9 at 8:15 p.m. in the University Club located in Mary Graydon Center.
You can reach this staff writer at hperlman@theeagleonline.com
