Campus gears up for November
By Ben Baynton, contributing writer     
Posted on September 11, 2006
           
After one remark, on one day, in a town in southwestern Virginia, Republican Sen. George Allen has been trailing his Democratic opponent Jim Webb. A recent Wall Street Journal/Zogby poll has put the two contenders in a tight race with Webb leading by almost one percentage point. The word “macaca” is more widely known than the fact that elections will be held in November.

“A lot of people don’t even know there are elections in November,” said sophomore Adelle Garesock. In fact, she only knows a few people who are voting.

As election day approaches, however, many students did know that they would spend at least several hours looking up the candidates, although few had begun to research the elections.

Most were unsure as to which positions were up for election.

“I wish I watched the news more,” said Irina Rasner, a sophomore who does think the Democrats need to try harder, but says they have a chance. 

The problem for many students is where to apply for an absentee ballot. For others, it is not that they are unaware of the November elections, but that they feel alienated from the political system.

“Students should have a stronger voice in politics,” said Rasner.

Having a voice or no voice, is a moot point when it seems there is no choice.

“Although both parties are polar opposites, they will pretty much do the same thing,” sophomore Erin Whitman said.

Despite such disillusionment, even students who were not sure they would vote at all agreed that voting is important in a democratic system, and that everyone should vote.

Even with such belief in voting, there has been an overall decline in the number of students voting. Even in 2004, when most analysts predicted a massive outpouring of votes for John Kerry from college students, fewer students voted than ever before. Junior Anthony Jacoway said he doesn’t blame disillusionment. He blames impatience.

 “Our generation is so hand-to-mouth, we expect to see results immediately,” he said. Some others said college students are politically lazy and are looking for instant gratification.

In order to curb perceived apathy among students, OrangeBand, a nonprofit organization that promotes discussion about “what matters,” will host a debate Oct.18 at 7 p.m. in ISAT room 2301 between the College Democrats and the College Republicans.