Hidden in the shadows of Glenn Poshard’s Democratic Governor party victory Tuesday were a handful of student volunteers who worked vigorously, campaigning throughout the year for the three-time SIUC graduate.

About 20 SIUC students volunteered for the Carterville native spending hours every week making telephone calls and going door-to-door recruiting support for Poshard.

Jennie McCamish-Braun, a junior from Carbondale in speech communication, said she volunteered for Poshard as a requirement for a Campaigns and Elections class, but found herself getting more involved than she thought she would.

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It started out as class credit for political science then I got bit by the bug, Braun said. When I realized what Glenn was all about, I realized that we had to get Southern Illinois on the map again. It became very personal.

Braun said that her involvement helped her fulfill an inner desire.

“The reason I am a Speech Communication major is because I want to make a difference in the world and [Tuesday] I helped make a difference, she said. Now that the primary is over, SIU students have the opportunity to join forces from different candidate supporters to make a difference.”

Brett Knight, a freshman from West Franfurt in political science, was a volunteer who had to deal with juggling school, volunteering and a family.

Knight lives with his wife, 3-year-old daughter and they have a child on the way at the beginning of August. He too is a student in the Campaign and Elections class.

Knight said his wife may not have been as supportive if he was campaigning exclusively for class.

If this was just for class then she might not have understood, Knight said. But she understands that this is my passion.

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Knight admits he will take some time off from his campaigning efforts when his second child is born.

I’ll have the youngest Poshard supporter in the bunch, he said.

Knight said there was a time where he may have been a little discouraged when he saw the numbers two weeks before the election.

The polls were showing Poshard was behind Burris, he said. His numbers were not gaining momentum like we hoped or expected.

The frustration was not at the campaign like I was wasting my time, but whether or not Southern Illinois’ numbers could make an impact in a state-wide election.”

Braun said even though the campaign took up hours of her extracurricular time, it helped her in class more than it hurt.

“I gained so much knowledge that it adds to my educational experience even more,” she said. “My school never suffered, but it profited.

“It made what we learned in class real.”

Barb Brown, the instructor of Campaigns and Elections, said it is common for her class to have students like Knight and Braun.

“For many of the students this really does become something larger,” she said. “I’m never surprised at that. It had the same effect on me. It’s clearly a side effect.”

Brown said she took this class in the mid-1970s and it helped inspire her to get into politics.

Both Braun and Knight say they plan on working with the campaign until the November election against Republican candidate George Ryan.

“I’m here, they have my number, I have their number and I’m in for the long haul,” Braun said.

Knight said he has confirmed his commitment with the Poshard campaign.

“I’ve told them all along that I am here for the long run,” Knight said.

During his Democratic victory speech, Poshard acknowledged all of the help he received that assisted him in winning the election.

I am so thankful for all my friends, Poshard said. I am so thankful and so happy to stand before you as your Democratic candidate.

Knight said he is proud to have worked on Poshard’s campaign He said electing Poshard will benefit him in the long run because of Poshard’s views and beliefs.

“My family is the most important thing to me, and this is the most important thing to my family.”