DENVER, 3:01 p.m. — With three bangs of his gavel, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean ’71 officially opened the convention.

“During our national convention, we will demonstrate to all Americans why we need Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the White House,” he said. “Looking out from this podium tonight, I see this diverse assembly of Democrats as a testament to the strength and unity of our party and the fruition of our 50-state strategy.”

Interestingly, attendees to the convention appear to take a very similar approach as do students at the Yale-Harvard game. As Dean set the convention into action, only a smattering of seats in the Pepsi Center were filled. Most delegates did not seem to be in a hurry to file in, either.