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Show THE FORUM 4 Nov. 10, 2004 Mock Election Shows Griffins Supported Kerry Staff Writer While the electoral college threw all five points for the incumbent, if the decision was up to Westminster students, John Kerry would have turned Utah blue. During last weeks mock election, hosted by Follett Bookstore, 97 students voted for Kerry, 44 for George Bush and eight for Ralph Nader. Although the political minority on campus, Rebecca Givens is the majority on the since I was old enough to vote, and because of that Im very comfortable with my affiliation. Although Westminster is considered a liberal campus, my experience has been very positive as far as students who have different views than I do respecting my own beliefs and vice Being a Republican on a Democratic campus has sometimes been a challenge. Givens said, In classes I often feel ostracized, but it doesnt change my political standpoint Its one thing to discuss different views, Sabina Imanbekova cast her mock vote at the Westminster book store on day prior to real voting began across the nation. more conservative than me. But as my luck would have it, I ended up on the most liberal first time this election. I came to Utah expecting to be surrounded by people Westminster Election Reactions Election Continued from pg. 1 According to an article published on Nov. 7 in the New York Times, Bush won by keeping the votes of people who supported him in 2000 and gaining votes from some who did not. According to the New York Times article people who voted for Bush were mostly men, whites, church-goer- s, people with high incomes and conservatives. People who voted for Kerry were mostly people in an ethnic groups, women moderates, liberals, people with low income and young people. Many students are speculating what role the youth vote had in the election. All this choose or lose . . . really didnt do much for Kerry, said Taylor Nienstz, a Westminster College freshman majoring in business. The Choose or Lose web site reports 54 percent to 30-vear-- of 1 8- - voters voted for Kerry. Nearly 52 percent of people age 1 8 to 30 who were eligible to vote participated in the election, which is a 10 per- cent increase from the 2000 presidential election. A Nov. 3 Associated Press article presents a slightly differ ize the importance of opposing opinions, he added. Although being a Republican on campus may be hard, some believe being a Democrat in a conservative state is even more discouraging Ive been a Republican bigger scale. but its another to completely bash ones beliefs. It can get frustrating, she added. I tend to hear much more bashing than educating, and I know were all so much more intelligent and capable than that, Givens said. Mustafa Hussain, describing himself as one damn happy Republican, voted for the The war in Iraq was the deciding factor for Tillett, who said he does not mind being a minority on campus. I real- campus in Utah, Hussain said. However, he has found a few select individuals who have banded together to defend their minority views. Keeping resolute with his views, Jayson Estrada has been able to maintain his political views as well, even though he says some students feel the need to exert their personal views against his own. Stan Sarkisov consistent message. I dont think Kerry ever stood behind what he said, said Bree Riete, a Westminster College freshman majoring in business. defiBushs nitely does not reflect Westminster judging form the mock election, said Robinson. on Some students believe that Kerry lost the election because he did not develop a clear and According to Jamie Robinson, a bookstore employee and Westminster College senior majoring in psychology, Kerry received 92 votes compared to Bushs 44 votes in the Westminster College Bookstores Nov. 1 mock election. There were also a handful of votes for consistent messaged the same share as in the last presidential race. Voter turnout was higher among young people and every other age group. According to a Nov. 4 article published on Bloomberg.com, voter turnout was higher than it has been in three decades, with 59.6 percent of those eligible to vote participating in the election. Bushs drawl and inept professor of political science , independent party presidential candidates. Jeff Nichols, a Westminster College history professor, compares the 2004 election to the 1964 election w'hcre Republican Barry -- . Whether Republican, Democrat or third party, someone is always going to feel left out.CJ . ideology, Tillett said. Ijiinijii!. Voting Virgin Some students believe that Kerry lost the election because he did not develop a clear and 29 speech, seeming humility and down home manners, . . . professed Christianity' and solidarimoral caus- ty7 with right-win- g es and violent Im tough rhetoric was as mesmerizing to the Republican Party faith- ful in turning them out to vote, said Chuck Tripp, a party represents my political at Westminster College. ent perspective on the youth vote: An estimated 9 percent of voters ... were 18 to 24, about the same proportion of the electorate as in 2000, exit polls indicated. The youth vote accounted for 17 percent of turnout when broadened to the age group, also about 18-to-- versa, Estrada explained. Not everyone who reelected President Bush has strong convictions. Scott Tillett does not consider himself a Republican. He voted for the candidate whos world view is similar to his own, he said. I dont believe in party affiliation because neither Only 17 percent of young people (18-2- 9 yearsold) voted this election. Many Democrats feel as if their vote in this state is ignored. Many students said, Why should I vote for this mock election? Im not going to vote in the real thing, said Lela Rodriguez. Rodriguez said that she has felt disillusionment with the candidates and the voting system in general. Students feel their vote did not matter, she said. If this election was close, maybe the system will be examined, she concluded. Goldwater was defeated by Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson. It certainly looked in 64 like the Democrats were on top of the world. And they were, for a while. Now it looks like the Republicans are on top of the world. And they are, for a while. Well see Tracy A. Newby Staff Writer As a college senior, its embarrassing to admit, but last week was the first time Ive done it. Thats right, I was a virgin. A voting 35-year-- virgin. My first voting experience would have been in 1988 when George Bush senior was running for office. It seemed at the time that my vote did not really matter. Although everyone else was doing it, this was an important step and something that could not be taken lightly. With each passing election year, there was always an excuse as to why it was too soon. Im not ready. I didnt know the candidates. My voice is small and may not be appreciated. It was one reason after another but in the end boiled down to one thine, voter apathy. This year is different. Being on a college campus is exciting. Debates are held on campus. Lively political discussions break Out everywhere. There is no sidestepping the political energy. It is in the air. The day I decided to do it for the first time was a little over a month ago. There was a table set up in front of Gore with students asking for a promise to vote. Hesitantly walking up to the table, I did it, signed my name. There was no turning back. A promise to finally give something sacred, something that had been saved for 17 years, my vote. The next step was registration. As it turned out, one of the candidates was positioned next to our table at a community event. The opportunity to talk about the issues and register to vote was right there. A few weeks later my voter registration card came in the mail. Anticipation was building. Could it really happen this year? Could this be the beginning of a future as a voter? As a newly registered voter, I decided it was necessary to find out all of the facts about this election. Searcliing the Internet, reading news stories and attending political debates became an invigorating pass time. Voting without knowledge would certainly ruin this pivotal and life changing experience. Nov. 2 finally came. Waking up two hours early seemed to help prolong the See Voting Virgin pg. 8 |