For the first time since 1968, Oberlin students will vote their fantasy ballots at a Mock Democratic Primary Convention to be held from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Science Center on Saturday, Feb. 28.

“You won’t be able to vote for Carol Mosley-Braun on Tuesday because she won’t be on the ballot. But if you really wanted her to be the first woman president, Saturday is your chance to vote for her,” senior Oberlin College Democrat organizer Abigail Deats said.

The convention will open with candidate boxing. Starting at 1 p.m., students can cloak themselves in the campaign T-shirt of their favorite candidate and enter an inflatable ring. “If you have always been a Kerry supporter and I have always been for Dean, here is our chance to duke it out,” junior Oberlin Democrats organizer Renata Strause said.

The Candidate Debate will begin at 3 p.m. Oberlin College professors will impersonate all nine of the original Democratic candidates, with College President Nancy Dye playing Dennis Kucinich. A late addition to the game, Dye agreed to play the Ohio Congressman this week after a time conflict forced Computer Science Professor Daniel Bilar to drop the role. While early in the casting process several professors showed interest in playing Kucinich, the OC Democrats handpicked Dye.

“After hearing her speak at Kucinich’s talk, we thought she would be happy to participate, and she is,” Deats said.

OC Democrats have been working with the professors for about a month in preparation for the debate. “Some of the professors have been signing their e-mails with their candidate’s names,” Strause said.

Voting will follow the debate. Students will form state delegations. Each of the 50 states will be allotted 100 votes. Geographic realities will bear no impact on the convention; participants are free to register in the state of their choosing.

“Your only concern is having your candidate win,” Strause said.

For Strause, Saturday’s ballot is already reserved for Kucinich. As for Tuesday’s vote, the organizer isn’t quite ready to say.

“I know he won’t win. I’ll see how I want to vote closer to Super Tuesday,” Strause said.