Politically-affiliated campus groups hosted a voter registration drive to give students a chance to participate in the 2012 local and national elections.
The event took place in the Hoosier Room on Oct. 1 and 8.
The College Democrats sponsored the registration drive along with the ONE organization. College Republicans and the IUS Civil Liberties Union also had tables at the event.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re blue or red or in the middle, just register,” Victoria Bennett, political science and international studies senior and president of the College Democrats.
Stephon Moore, political science sophomore and president of the IUS CLU, worked the voter registration table with Micaela Dale, marketing and communications junior, and member of the ONE organization.
“It’s something the CLU really encourages,” Moore said. “We want everybody to be active in their community, to vote and to be informed members of their community.”
However, Moore said very few students came to the voter registration.
“You can look at it as a good thing,” Moore said.
Moore said he thinks there are many political issues in this election that will affect young people but also said he is concerned about their motivation to vote.
“Young people aren’t as [politically] active,” Moore said. “They’re kind of apathetic, so they don’t really see things that will affect them.”
Bradley Cooper, advertising junior and member of the College Democrats, said he also understands the general apathy among young people concerning politics.
“It’s really easy to get complacent and disgusted with the whole political process,” Cooper said, “but, if you don’t vote, then you have no voice at all.”
Cooper also said government education reform will affect students.
“We believe Obama probably has your better interest at heart because Romney doesn’t want to invest as much in education,” Cooper said. “He also plans to reduce Pell Grants.”
Dale said health care is another important issue for students.
The health care bill promoted and passed by Democrats includes an extension to the age cut-off for young people who qualify to stay on their parent’s insurance.
Dale said she qualifies for this age extension.
“That means I have more time to pay off student loans without having to pay for insurance,” Dale said.
Cory Schunemann, accounting and finance senior and secretary of the College Republicans, said the state of the economy and the health care bill are also important issues for Republicans in the presidential election.
“I would like to see Obamacare repealed,” Schunemann said. “There are very few provisions that I agree with.”
Frank Glover, business and political science freshman and member of the College Republicans, said there is a clear difference between the solutions for health care proposed by both of the political parties.
“Mitt Romney’s plan forces businesses to provide basic coverage for employees,” Glover said. “Obama’s plan goes mostly through the government and taxes.”
Glover also said health care relates to the economy.
“If there’s no economy left, then there is no health care provided,” he said.
Bennett said she enjoyed hearing differing political opinions.
“It’s once in a four-year term that we can do something like this,” Bennett said.
Cooper said being informed is crucial to the political process. He also said the best way to get informed is to consume media from independent sources.
Bennett said the key is getting accurate information.
“Don’t just hear it from us,” Bennett said. “Go out and get informed. It doesn’t matter if you vote this way or that way, just be informed.”
By SAM WEBER
Staff
samweber@ius.edu
