Democrats: a time for change

ELIZABETH HANSON
President, Temple College Democrats

It was just over 20 months ago that Sen. Barack Obama announced his once considered long-shot candidacy for the White House. And yet, it is difficult to wrap my head around the fact that this day is finally here. Today, across the country, in small towns and large cities alike, Americans will cast their votes for who will lead our great nation in increasingly uncertain times.

Many of us Temple students were in elementary school or junior high when President George W. Bush first took office. In the past eight years, we have watched our government ignore the crises occurring in our environment, our schools and our healthcare system, choosing instead to send our friends and family members overseas to fight a war many of us don’t believe in, and saddle our generation with unprecedented debt. Most recently, we have seen our economy falter, the availability of student loans decrease and our job prospects disappear. I know that I, along with many other members of America’s youth, have spent most of my formative years feeling ignored and unrepresented by the current administration.

But today, on the ballot, we will finally be presented with a choice. We have the option to select Sen. John McCain, who has self-admittedly voted with this failed administration 90 percent of the time, or to select Obama, a man who is the embodiment of the American Dream, and knows that this country deserves better than the past eight years. So today is our day, as America’s youth, to stand up and vote for Obama, because it is our futures that are at stake.

An Obama-Biden administration will mean amazing things for students. Whether it’s an affordable college education, job creation, healthcare coverage or renewable energy, we know that with Obama, we will have the White House fighting on our side.

Obama knows that it is essential for America to invest in its students in order to secure the future of our nation. He will create the America Opportunity Tax Credit, which will provide students with $4,000 to finance their college educations, in return for completing 100 hours of public service a year. That’s $4,000 for you to ensure that you will be able to cross that stage after all your hard work, and 100 hours of service to further a cause you believe in.

And once your cross that stage? Obama will still be looking out for you. He will ensure you remain covered on your parents’ healthcare plan until you’re 25. This policy will lower the healthcare costs for new graduates entering the workforce. Not to mention that it will be a workforce supported by Obama, who will invest $5 million in green collar jobs. These jobs, part of Obama’s New Energy for America Plan, will put us on the track to energy independence and create and implement the technology to end our climate crisis to help save our planet.

Throughout this campaign, Obama has repeatedly said that the youth of America inspire him. We give him the most hope for the future of this nation. He has put a great deal of faith in us, and now it is time for us to put our faith in him. The naysayers and the pundits often repeat that students are “apathetic” and that we cannot be counted on to vote. I say they are wrong. But it is up to each and every one of you to prove it. In the words of our very own candidate, “We are the one’s we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” So go. Vote for Obama. And be the change.

Elizabeth Hanson is the president of Temple College Democrats.

Students in the midst of battleground

Though Temple is in the heart of a highly Democratic area, Pennsylvania as a whole is a heavily courted battleground state that both candidates want on their side when this election ends.

A recent poll by CBS News, UWIRE and the Chronicle of Higher Education looked at a representative sample of college students from Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina and Colorado. Temple was polled as the representative school for Pennsylvania.

Students in the battleground states have much in common. About half of the students polled said they are paying a lot of attention to the election. Pennsylvania ranked the lowest with 47 percent of students reporting they are paying attention, while Colorado ranked the highest with 58 percent.

Six in 10 participants favor Sen. Barack Obama as their candidate of choice. Of Temple students polled, 80.6 percent of said the Obama/Biden ticket is their choice, while 15.6 percent said they prefer the McCain/Palin ticket.

The effort to get students registered to vote has paid off. The poll of Temple students showed that 93 percent were registered, and about half of the registered students reported this will be the first time they are casting a ballot.

Even though the streets of campus has been dotted with clipboard-wielding volunteers urging students to register, only half of students reported being contacted by a campaign directly urging them to register.

Even though more than 90 percent of Temple students surveyed are registered to vote, only 85 percent of those registered said they will definitely be voting. Two percent of registered voters reported they will probably or definitely not vote today.

A 65.4 percent majority of Temple students polled reported that their parents will be voting for the same candidate, and 6.1 percent, said their parents will not be voting at all this election season.

In terms of whether or not students feel they can relate to a candidate, 75.1 percent of students said they can relate to Obama, while only 14.2 percent of students polled reported being able to relate to McCain.

The top hot topics for Temple students are the cost of higher education and the war in Iraq.

LeAnne Matlach can be reached at leannematlach@temple.edu.

Instead of voting, some staying home

The 2008 presidential candidates, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, have reached their goal: Election Day. One of the candidates will be declared the winner and take his place in Washington, D.C., in January 2009.

The nation’s economy has entered a recession, America has spent five years in Iraq and the Constitution has been challenged in the name of national security. But for some students, electing a new leader won’t change much.

Instead of exercising her right to vote, sophomore biology major Elizabeth Ort will avoid the polls.
She said she feels presidential candidates manipulate middle-class Americans to win their votes, and they do not fulfill promises made during their campaigns once elected.

The 30-minute TV ad Obama’s campaign ran last Wednesday night drew an estimated 33 million viewers.

The ad, however, raised a question with Ort.

“If he was really trying to change things, shouldn’t he have just donated the cost it took to produce the commercial instead of putting something before the World Series? I don’t know many regular people who can do that,” Ort said.

The emphasis placed on voting has recently been communicated through short commercial clips that often feature celebrities.

“I don’t like MTV having Pink telling me it doesn’t matter who I vote for, but to just vote,” Ort said. “Telling me to write in Mickey Mouse if I want is ridiculous. Is that how much my vote counts?”
Junior history major Phillip Figueiredo is going to vote, but he is going to do what a few Americans do. He is casting his ballot for a third party candidate.

Figueiredo researched political parties other than the Republican and Democratic parties when Democrats in Congress were not living up to promises they made.

He said third party candidates offer a better future for America. From their policies and ideologies to their defiant refusals of business as usual in Washington, D.C., Figueiredo said he feels candidates such as Chuck Baldwin and Cynthia McKinney are logical alternatives.

“It is time to stop picking the lesser of two evils because in the end you still get an evil,” Figueiredo said.

Zach Friend, press secretary for Pennsylvanians for Obama, said he can find no excuse for those who choose not to vote. Campaigns are the means of getting people elected to govern with favored policies, he said.

“You have a choice to affect the decisions made by our leaders, and you need to decide who will make those decisions,” Friend said.

Nicholas D’Arecca, professor of political science, said politicians have three goals in mind: get elected, earn positions of leadership and pass preferred policies.

Those who don’t vote are only letting others speak for them, he said, and it is the only way ordinary citizens can impact the directions taken by their government.

“It is their minimum civic duty as Americans,” D’Arecca said. “Just because you don’t know anything about politics, don’t let that stop you from voting.”

Greg Adomaitis can be reached at greg.adomaitis@temple.edu.

Would you take a break for Barack?

If you’re planning to work or attend class on Election Day, Sen. Barack Obama wants you to take a day off.

A new advertisement featured on Obama’s Web site urges voters to “take Election Day off for Barack” to volunteer for his campaign. The senator pushes for voters to talk to their bosses or professors about skipping work or school to knock on doors or volunteer at phone banks in order to help Obama supporters get to the polls.

Not everyone thinks this is a good idea. Sen. John McCain’s campaign reprimanded Obama for encouraging Americans to skip work or class.

“Apparently, Barack Obama believes that you can’t make history by doing your job, or going to school or caring for your kids,” said McCain’s spokesman Michael Goldfarb in a statement to foxnews.com. “Apparently, Barack Obama thinks the only way Americans can make history is by voting, and working, for Barack Obama.”

Senior theater major Nate Logue said students should be excused from classes on Election Day.

“I think if you show your professor your registration card, it should be an excused absence from class,” Logue said. “I’m done classes early, so I’m not going to skip, but I would. I’m pretty sure that picking our next president is more important than missing one class.”

Senior finance major Natalie Haller agrees.

“I think people should take off of school or work,” she said. “Election Day is one time every four years, and it is such an important election, especially to first-time voters. It doesn’t matter whether you’re campaigning or voting. Teachers shouldn’t be against their students getting involved in the election.”

Conversely, financial services consultant Josh Seifert said it’s ridiculous to be asked to take off work, especially because of the current economy.

“This country has a big issue right now with the economy, so I’m pretty sure taking a day off of work to campaign for Obama is going to do nothing positive for the country,” Seifert said.

Obama’s call for the day off could bring back a long-running debate about whether or not Election Day should be a national holiday. Some advocates say Congress could boost voter participation in the United States by holding elections on a holiday or weekend. That way, no one would need to skip work.

Michael Maynard, professor and chair of the advertising department, does not feel Election Day should be its own holiday.

“That would just cause more confusion,” Maynard said. “We need to keep things consistent.”

Maynard will not be canceling class on Election Day, either.

“I have a good reason,” he said. “The best experience a student will get at a university is face time. I treasure the time I have with my students, and it is our obligation to meet for class every week. Students will be missing classes throughout the semester for other reasons, and Election Day is something that can be worked around. It is a known, fixed time.”

Every Election Day, there are bosses and professors who cancel class or give days off for work. And this year is no different. It will be up to the individual to decide whether or not he or she will be cutting class or skipping work to vote or campaign.

When it comes to Obama calling for the day off, Maynard said it’s not necessarily the right thing to do.
“It’s not needed,” he said. “People who are in favor of him will find a way to get to the polls.”

Amanda Hill can be reached at amanda.hill@temple.edu.

Republicans: right way forward

BRIAN MCGOVERN
President, Temple College Republicans

Many Americans seem to have the idea that this election is the most important one to occur in a lifetime. They happen to be right. The choice we make today will be felt for years. As a college student, you are clearly a forward-thinking individual. Someone who, instead of graduating high school and attempting to make a living now, has taken four or more years to better yourself through education and open up a wide range of opportunities for the future. This forward-thinking mentality should be applied to the crucial decision you make today as well.

Sen. John McCain has shown through his lifetime of sacrifice and service to this country that he is the common sense conservative leader we need now. A McCain presidency is the only way America can pursue reform that will lift the burden of excessive spending, finally get America to a state of clean energy independence and most importantly, especially from the perspective of a soon-to-graduate college student, restructure this economy in a way that is pro-growth, pro-innovation and allows for job creation.

Through McCain’s Lexington Project, America will see a dawning of innovation in the energy market with investment being made into new technology and new jobs for a cleaner America. For this to be possible, we will have to drill here and now to unlock our own resources and stop the transfer of wealth to other nations. From this will come the investment needed to transition to cleaner forms of transportation and power generation. There is no sense in forcing underdeveloped technologies on the marketplace, as another candidate wishes to do, when further development will create jobs, increase efficiency and decrease costs. These changes will also improve the environment, knocking emissions of pollutants down to pre-1990 levels.

McCain will do this, and more, without raising taxes on any American. Instead of playing Robin Hood with American’s income, McCain will restructure the federal budget by vetoing any bill that includes pork-barrel spending. McCain has also proposed a spending freeze across the board, except in the case of unforeseen crisis or important programs. This will allow government programs to be evaluated to decide what needs to be cut and what needs more funding. Controlling spending will allow McCain to cut taxes on business and capital gains and restore confidence to our financial markets. These measures will allow our economy to grow, create jobs instead of killing them with new taxes, mandates and regulations and ensure that prices remain low, which is the greatest “tax cut” of all for Americans.
Americans understand that throwing money at our problems cannot solve them for the long term.

Taxing success into submission hurts everyone. An unfunded government handout helps no one. And pretty rhetoric with catchy slogans will not pave the way for prosperity. That is why we need McCain. Make no mistake, change is coming this January. However, the choice comes down to a forward-thinking approach, or a shortsighted disaster waiting to happen. We cannot gamble with America’s future. Like no other candidate, McCain will fight for this country with the foresight necessary to not only preserve, but also enhance the greatness of what it means to be an American for generations to come.

Brian McGovern is the president of Temple College Republicans.

McCain, Obama ignoring the bigger picture, economist says

Maybe it’s the financial crisis that drew hundreds interested in America’s economic future to crowd into Room 13 in Gladfelter Hall last Thursday.

After all the seats in the room were taken, students and professors sat in the aisles and huddled near entranceways to hear Robert Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute, discuss ways Americans can take back the nation’s economic future.

Reischauer presented his lecture, “Taking back our economic future: What the candidates aren’t telling us, as part of the Leonard Mellman Visiting Scholars Program.
He opened his speech by saying “we are no longer in normal times.”

Reischauer accused presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain of “Santa Clause and tooth fairy talk” because of the numerous promises they’ve made to Americans.

Reischauer, who received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a doctorate from Columbia University, served as the director of the Congressional Budget Office and was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute.

He said there are different options available for repaying the U.S. federal budget deficit, but each has implications.

Printing more money creates inflation, Reischauer said.

Reischauer said Obama and McCain avoid discussing the fiscal imbalance.

The Clinton administration ended a declining public debt as the Bush tax cuts, $700 billion bailout bill, our current recession and the next economic stimulus package estimated around $300 billion are all internal reasons why our country is acquiring a “frightening”, debt he said.

His speech also focused on Medicare and Medicaid and how health reform in quality, price and universal coverage has been ignored by the candidates.

Reischauer said if oil prices stabilized, the result would be equal to a $250 billion tax cut.

“I don’t stay up at night worried about energy prices, I worry about our consumption,” he said.

The “shrill cacophony” on the 24-hour news networks isn’t helping voters either, Reischauer said.

He also said he was surprised the younger generation is willing to dive into debt and live without any financial safety net.

“I’m not trying to be critical. I’ve got a son who is the poster-child for this kind of activity,” he said.
Reischauer closed his speech with changes Americans can carry out to redirect the country.

He said Americans need candidates to be honest in reforming the nation’s public education system, which Reischauer said may close the wealth gap that exists between social classes.

Reischauer encouraged students to be fiscally responsible individuals.

“Learn about finance and don’t insist on a free lunch,” he said. “Vote for candidates who will make tough decisions.”

Greg Adomaitis can be reached at greg.adomaitis@temple.edu.

Endorse Dissent

The Temple News has decided to endorse Sen. Barack Obama as the next president of the United States.

With the election just one week away, our decision is late in comparison with other newspapers. Many newspapers published their endorsements two weeks ago.

The choice to endorse Obama for president was not a unanimous one in our newsroom. There were arguments about which candidate is best qualified, who has better policies and who will bring change to our country.

It is unreasonable to assume that a 20-person staff – or even a four-person Editorial Board – can agree on a topic as sensitive as presidential politics.

For that reason, newspapers should not endorse candidates for public office. If a small staff of 20 cannot agree on a candidate, then how can the staffs of larger regional or national publications be expected to do so?

When readers pick up the newspaper and see an endorsement for a candidate, that support reflects the views of the paper as a whole. Readers may not be aware of or care about the thought process, discussion and disagreement that go into the endorsement. In a heavily Democratic city like Philadelphia, it is probable that readers believe a newspaper’s support for Obama is the result of a unanimous staff-wide decision.

This is not the case at The Temple News. More importantly, it would be best in the name of public responsibility if newspapers did not endorse candidates at all.

It is the responsibility of journalists to report the news in an unbiased fashion – to represent all sides and tell every story from as many perspectives as possible.

It is not our responsibility to publicly support candidates for office.

Presidential elections are important on a societal and individual level. People who do not have strong opinions about this election, or who haven’t decided which candidate to vote for, can be easily swayed by empty promises, advertisements, discussions and, yes, newspaper endorsements.

This dissenting opinion is not an endorsement for Sen. John McCain. Rather, it is a way to express objectivity and neutrality.

It is irresponsible for newspapers whose staff members have different political views to present a united front to their readers by endorsing a presidential candidate.

By endorsing candidates for public office, newspapers are crossing a line they shouldn’t be straddling in the first place.

Cindy champions for husband John McCain

“The time for choosing is drawing near,” said Cindy McCain, at a rally at the National Constitution Center yesterday.

McCain, the wife of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, appeared with former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and First Lady of Louisiana Supriya Jindal in front of a few hundred supporters.

McCain praised her husband’s attributes. She said a good president needs experience, leadership and character, and he has those characteristics. McCain added her husband has been serving his country since he was 17 years old and noted his prisoner of war experience in Northern Vietnam.

“It takes a man like that to be a president,” McCain said. “It takes a man like that to give us what he has, and my husband is that man.”

Giuliani introduced McCain at the rally and said America has challenging times ahead and the country needs a man like her husband.

“John McCain is a great man. He’s a great man by the things he’s done for our country,” Giuliani said. “He’s proven that his country comes first.”

Jindal said America is the greatest country in the world with the hardest working and the most caring people. She said the presidential nominee is a great American to serve the country.

The crowd cheered as McCain called her husband a reformer who is more than talk and will bring change to the nation.

“Only my husband is offering change and can bring us change,” McCain said. “We need a president who will stand up for the interests of Joe the plumber, and this is John the reformer.”

She discussed her husband’s plan for energy independence, the need for more off-shore drilling, nuclear and solar power and clean coal technology.

“Thousands of Pennsylvania jobs depend on clean coal technology and our opponent is against it,” McCain said. “John McCain and Sarah Palin have a different view and you can count on them.”

Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin and her family received high praises from McCain. She said Palin’s family is refreshing.

“Isn’t Sarah Palin a wonderful choice for vice president?” McCain said. “She is the perfect choice. She is a reformer and a maverick.”

McCain said between her family and the Palins they have three sons serving currently in the military.

She said she never had been prouder and more honored to be an American than when she saw her son leave for deployment. McCain thanked Pennsylvanians who have children serving all over the world.
Janet Burleigh, a Republican supporter, said she attended Monday’s event to learn more about the McCains. She said she thought Cindy McCain was wonderful.

“She really emphasized the need for someone with John McCain’s experience, and how he physically served our country,” Burleigh said.

The man known as “America’s Mayor” discussed the importance of taking care of the country first and McCain’s charitable works.

“She’s a woman who has given back so much to the United States and the world,” Giuliani said.

Before the rally began, a presentation featured photos and videos of McCain’s humanitarian efforts. In 1991, during a trip to Bangladesh, she met a baby girl who needed medical treatment and later adopted her. Photos of McCain’s childhood and marriage to the senator were also shown.

Jonathon Jacobs, on vacation from Lansing, Mich., said he attended the rally to learn more about the political process.

“I’m not really sure if I’m for or against her,” Jacobs said. “But I wanted to know about what she’s going to do because I want to be proud to be an American.”

McCain’s closing comments focused on her husband’s determination and love of his country.

“This is the man who said he would rather lose an election than lose a war. He is the man I want my sons serving under on active duty,” McCain said. “I am proud and honored to call him my husband, the father of my children and my best friend.”

LeAnne Matlach can be reached at leannematlach@temple.edu.

Polls show Obama getting GOP support, law professor says

Op-Eds do not reflect the opinions of The Temple News, its staff or its writers. To submit an Op-Ed, please e-mail letters@temple-news.com.

JAN TING
Op-Ed

According to the most recent Pew Research Center poll, Barack Obama has less support today among Democrats and Independents than John Kerry had four years ago. But at this point in the campaign four years ago, John Kerry trailed George W. Bush by two points. Today Barack Obama leads John McCain by eight points.

This polling anomaly is because Barack Obama has significantly higher support from Republicans than John Kerry had four years ago. Recent press reports have enumerated a surprising number of recognizable Republicans – former U.S. Rep. Jim Leach, former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, Bush fundraiser Rita Hauser and more – all rallying to support Barack Obama. Even Jenna Bush, President Bush’s daughter, says she’s undecided!

There are many reasons why so many Republicans support Barack Obama. For one thing, he proves that Republicans have been right all along in saying that America is getting better, not worse. And racism is becoming less of a problem, not more of a problem. Barack Obama is the proof.

Republicans like his personal history. Raised by a single mother and his grandparents, Obama became successful by working hard, staying in school and getting a good education. Republicans respect that story. It’s a Republican story.

Republicans who believe in traditional marriage appreciate that, of the two Presidential candidates, Barack Obama is the only one still married to his first and only wife.

Republicans are reassured by Barack Obama’s willingness to compromise on renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, to continue efforts to protect America from terrorism. Republicans appreciate his common sense embrace of faith-based organizations as allies in the effort to transform America. Republicans approve of Obama’s analysis of recent Supreme Court opinions, in which he supported both the 2nd Amendment and the right of states to impose the death penalty for rape of a child.

While the ideologues of the left bemoan the fact that Obama does not predictably take knee-jerk leftist positions, Republicans appreciate that Obama is not an ideologue, that he uses his intelligence and education to think through the issues one at a time, and to seek workable compromises across partisan divides.

Republicans are reassured by the story of Barack Obama’s election as the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Out of an ideologically factionalized editorial board, Obama emerged as the victor when the conservative minority faction on the board decided that though he was not one of them, he was someone who would give them a fair shake, and was therefore the recipient of their votes. By all accounts Obama successfully led a politically divided editorial board through an unusually challenging year.

Like the majority of the American people, increasing numbers of Republicans regard the invasion of Iraq as a U.S. foreign policy disaster, and doubt that even more deregulation and privatization will solve our economic problems. Democratic Party control of Congress has proven inadequate by itself to reverse policies of a Republican President determined to “stay the course” in both Iraq and in the domestic economy. Only the election of a president committed to change can provide the leadership necessary to change policies in Iraq and at home, and to re-focus our military effort on the war we must win in Afghanistan.

In previous Presidential elections, “Reagan Democrats” were the swing voters who decided the outcomes. In 2008, it may be the turn of the “Obama Republicans.”

Jan Ting is a law professor at Temple University.

Campus campaigners get the vote out

With the primary election coming to Pennsylvania on April 22, it’s easy for student voters to become overwhelmed. Where do they go to vote? Who do they want to support?

These questions cannot even be asked unless a student is registered to vote — a situation that can be complicated and confusing. Luckily, there are many organizations at Temple that will help students along this arduous process of understanding how politics work today.

Ryan McCool, president of Temple College Republicans, said that campus campaigning is a great way for students to get involved, and also a great way to get the Republican candidate out there.

“We feel that Sen. [John] McCain can appeal to all college students with his experience and ability to reach across the aisle,” he said. “Many students are beginning to see that while [Sen. Barack] Obama is an excellent speaker, he has no substance.”

Temple College Republicans was originally founded during the Reagan administration. The group saw a resurgence of interest with the election in 2004, and its membership has since increased every year. With more than 30 active members, the group is determined to mobilize the students for the Republican Party by the November election.

“Temple College Republicans are kind of sitting back and letting the two Democratic candidates beat each other up,” McCool said. “We are taking the time to organize our resources, and to be ready to mobilize when the Democrats finally pick their nominee.”

While Temple College Republicans is waiting for the next big chance to mobilize students, the Temple College Democrats group is busy helping students decide between the two candidates who are causing such a stir – Sen. Hillary Clinton and Obama.

“This is the first time in history that we have two different minorities running for the Democratic nomination,” said Sean Goldman, parliamentarian of Temple College Democrats. “It is such a pivotal year, and students are becoming more engaged. It is ever-growing, and hopefully will not stop any time soon.”

Temple College Democrats was founded in 1917, and has since then partaken in events that help to express the party’s platform.

“We provide a place for college students that identify themselves as Democrats, a place to go and speak with like-minded individuals,” Goldman said.

Since fall 2006, the group has grown to 60 active members, and has since stayed active during campaigns.

Goldman said that campus campaigning is a pivotal part of the political process.

“The youth vote is so important in these crucial elections, and candidates need to speak to that,” he said.

Anna Walker, president of Temple College Democrats, agreed with Goldman.

“Campaigning allows students to access key issues in politics and society, as well as provide an outlet for personal political development and networking,” she said.
Temple College Democrats are ready to activate the students come primary day.

“We will be sending teams of students around campus the day of and before to help students find a polling place around campus,” Walker said.

Temple College Democrats also set up tables to reach out to students during the month before the Pennsylvania voter registration deadline.

“Our goal is to assist and provide access for students developing their sense of politics, activism and ideology,” she said.

Student participation in campus campaigning is so prevalent, even professors are taking notice. Kevin Arceneaux, assistant professor of the political science department, said he considers student-led campus campaigning to be a positive development.

“It demonstrates the depth of interest that many of our students have in politics and the political process, to the extent that it emanates directly from the campaigns,” he said. “It shows that politicians are beginning to take seriously again the votes of young adults. Until the past few campaign cycles, major political campaigns have tended to ignore voters between 18 and 30.”

Arceneaux said that this election is different than previous ones in terms of mobilizing the students.

“The first big difference is that Pennsylvania is actually in play this year,” he said. “The second big difference is that campaigns have begun to actively reach out to college students.”
And perhaps candidates have begun to campaign to college students because their voices count now more than ever.

“In this upcoming election, 25 percent of the electorate is the youth vote,” Goldman said. “By campus campaigning, candidates have the opportunity to engage that electorate block and motivate them to get out there and vote.”

Campus campaigning is not the only thing that will motivate students to vote this year. There are many prevalent issues hitting close to home to mobilize the students.

“The war touches many college students’ lives in a more direct way than these other issues,” Arceneaux said. “Soldiers in Iraq are about the age of the traditional college student. It’s not uncommon for students to have a friend or relative who is in the military or even Iraq.”

Goldman said every issue is vital. However, he has done his research in terms of student opinion.

“Statistics have shown that the top three issues students care the most about are the war in Iraq, funding for college and jobs,” he said. “These all affect students directly in the now.”
Walker considers different issues to be at the heart of the campaign.

“The biggest issues for students revolve around equality, such as the equality of social status, economics, healthcare and education,” she said.

When McCool asked his fellow Temple College Republicans what they considered the biggest issue to be, they answered national defense.

“We don’t hear anything from the Democrats on what actions they plan to take to prevent another terrorist attack and that makes us uncomfortable,” he said.

Despite the mixed array of opinions, students still have to make the choice on whether or not to be involved. Once they pick the candidate they want to support, they need to make sure they are registered. Thankfully, there is help in that department.

Temple Votes is a nonpartisan student organization that registers students to vote. Its goal this year was to register 1,000 new voters, but the organization fell short of that goal by 100 to 150 voters.

“It was very encouraging because we found that a lot of students were already registered,” said Vivek V. Jayaraman, media representative of Temple Votes. “We had students from Temple Democrats and Temple Republicans involved as well.”

They publicized themselves with DJs in the Student Center, various residence halls and any other high-traffic area. They also registered students on the spot – with tables, forms and complete instructions.

Students who registered were given prizes and T-shirts as a reward and to excite them about the primary election.

“It was a pretty even split in terms of getting students to register,” Jayaraman said. “At times we had to call people over, the ones that needed the extra push, but others were much more eager to find out themselves.”

Jayaraman explained that it became clear that students wanted to register – they just didn’t know how to go about it.

“Temple Votes just helped make it easier for students who didn’t know where to go or who to trust,” he said. “A lot of people really see this election as a crucial point. The interesting candidates make college students more mobilized than before.”

These campus groups greatly facilitate student participation in this upcoming election. Whether they are biased or nonpartisan, there are many outlets for students to get involved in and change the stereotype that college students do not care.

“Campuses contain one of the most historically apathetic voting blocks,” Walker said. “Campaigning provides students an opportunity to discover and express their political voice.”

Melanie Menkevich can be reached at melanie.menkevich@temple.edu.