MTV helps gets out the vote, among other things, at event

Kris Hill

Monday, Oct. 2, 2000 | 11:03 a.m.

A voter registration table drew a steady crowd on one side of UNLV's North Field Friday night while across the field free AIDS tests and condoms drew equal interest from teens drawn by the sounds of punk bands Pennywise, Common Sense and others.

MTV brought its "Choose or Lose" drive to Las Vegas, but the choices were more varied than whether to vote. Besides MTV's voter registration, booths ranged from Free Tibet and Nader for President to fraternities, sororities and College Republicans.

Still the emphasis on young people becoming part of the political process was not lost on the 5,000 whom organizers said showed up.

"I think I can make a difference," high school student Jason Creed, 18, said. He planned to vote because he wanted politicians to address education. He wants to learn, he said. "I don't want to be pushed aside."

UNLV student Lindsay Tuls, who plans to become a teacher, was concerned about teachers' salaries and registered to vote because she felt that politicians need to make sure educators get paid better.

Others signed up because it was convenient.

"I'm really lazy and this a really good opportunity because it's right in my face," Alix Snyder, a UNLV student, said.

UNLV freshman Leon Samuels said he signed up also because it was convenient.

Chris Reynolds of Aid for AIDS of Nevada understood the power of convenience and provided condoms and free AIDS tests.

At times there were more youth crowded around the AIDS booth than were at the voter registration table.

When university officials told him that they expected anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000 to attend, he didn't think the event would draw a crowd that size.

"I'm really impressed with the turnout," he said. And the students lined up for the free services.

Between the occasional crush of teens grabbing the 5,000 free condoms Reynolds personally handed out, the AIDS activist spent the evening explaining how to use them properly.

He said he spoke with more than 100 youths about sexual health issues and information the agency offers.

Reynolds thought it was important that the AIDS organization be present at the concert and voter registration drive, because the disease "is so prevalent in people under the age of 24."