OCR Text |
Show STUDENTS APATHETIC ABOUT ELECTIONS HITCHIN' A RIDE TO THE POLLS BY STEFANIE AREVALO /STAFF WRITER PHOTO BY DANE GOODWIN E lections are right around the corner, but students seem uninterested in voting. Matthew Burbank, a professor in political science, said there seem to be patterns in student voting across the country. "You either have students that are very interested and involved, while on the other end, you have students whose priority is not voting': Burbank said. Apathy ranks among the top reasons college students don't turn up to vote, according to Campus Vote Project, a website dedicated to improving voting rates across school campuses. The website states that students do not vote for reasons that include issues with registering or a lack of interest in local politics and candidates. "The focus for many students is college. Whoever is running for the state legislature is not going to help them in their chemistry class:' Burbank said. Amber Davis, an undeclared freshman, said she doesn't think voting makes a difference. "I live in Utah, which is the reddest state in the union:' Davis said. "Why would I vote for a democratic candidate if it won't even make a difference? Honestly, for me, the only place I'm even around is the U, so I couldn't care less what happens in the city." Davis is not alone in her feelings. On average, college students typically have less of a voter turnout than any other voting group. Candidates on a national level are also having to modify their efforts in order to engage younger voters. During the last presidential election, President Obama was praised for utilizing Facebook and Twitter as a way to reach younger voters. These social media campaigns 6 { THECHRONY I NEWS have become the norm as candidates now often have Twitter accounts and active Facebook pages to aid during elections. Chris Smith, a junior in economics, said he follows the political scene with fervor. "I love politics': Smith said. "The money, the intrigue, the power is all very appealing to me. I follow Politico, The New York Times, The Washington Post and every single candidate's page. It's an easy way for me to keep them honest." Smith said his fascination with politics carries over to his political involvement across Salt Lake City. "I would love to intern for a candidate, especially with how much bigger their profiles are getting," Smith said. "Mia Love, for example, really stepped out into the scene during the Republican National Convention during the last election, and now her name is recognizable all across the country:' Smith said he plans to make his passion a career. "I'd like to one day become a lobbyist since they seem to be the ones who actually run Washington," he said. "Econ makes it really easy for me to apply logic and apply what I know to pushing my issues on the floor In regards to students who don't vote, Smith said he is disappointed in his peers. "It doesn't make sense not to take advantage of the ability to be a part of local government," he said. "These elections matter more immediately than the presidential elections because they are directly in our community." s.arevalo@chronicle.utah.edu @ArevaloStefani OPINION I ARTS I SPORTS I WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 2014 } BY JULIANNE SKRIVAN /STAFF WRITER PHOTO BY CHRIS AYERS n past years, ASUU has shuttled students from the Heritage Center to voting polls. This year they will not. ASUU generally only buses students to polling locations for a presidential election, not a midterm. But that's not going to stop Jordan Hutchinson, a freshman in business management, from voting. He's going to carpool. "I plan on going with a group in one car': he said. "It's exciting to be a part of the process:' Naeshelle Vanotten, a freshman in nursing, said she appreciates the idea behind the ASUU transportation, but said the lack of a ride for the midterm election wouldn't have deterred her from heading to the polls anyway. "Every vote counts, even in a state that typically votes a cer- tain way': she said. "It's important to pick a candidate that you believe in:' The Utah midterm elections this year include representatives for U.S. Congress, the Utah Senate and the Utah House of Representatives, as well as candidates for state attorney general. Austin Tatom, a freshman in business, said even though the Republican party dominates Utah politics, students should still consider "voting the other way." "It is important to vote because if you assume one side will win, that isn't helping your state in any way': he said. Tatom, who said he will vote Republican, thinks every student should read the voter ballot before picking a candidate based on party affiliation. "Take a fresh look at the candidates, be informed [and] make sure who you are voting for is actually who you want to vote for': he said. Hutchinson said getting involved in with the political process outside of campus is important for students. "Our generation will eventually have to step up and take over the country, and it starts now:' he said. "We need to be a part of the decision-making for our state." For Vanotten, like other freshman students, this is the first election she is eligible to vote in. "I'm finally old enough," Vanotten said. "I'm so excited to get to the polls on Nov. 4." ASUU encourages students be involved, but they have not confirmed whether or not they will shuttle students to the next presidential election in 2016. j.skrivan@chronicle.utah.edu @JulianneSkrivan 7 |