College-aged citizens are less likely to show up at the polls than any other age group.
In 2004, 47 percent of Americans between the ages of 18-24 voted in the presidential election, as opposed to 72 percent of Americans 55 and older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The majority of citizens in the 18-24 age group didn’t vote because they were simply not interested in the election or not involved in politics, according to the bureau.
Despite the stereotype of college students not caring about politics, many Western students are doing everything they can to get their fellow students registered and informed.
Saundra Ardrey, head of the political science department, said that Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign strategy of targeting young people and Gov. Sarah Palin’s energy are bringing more young people than ever to politics.
“People who haven’t been interested in politics before seem to be drawn to the idea of change,” she said.
Bowling Green junior Monique Braun said that it’s imperative for students to register and vote.
“We are the future,” Braun said. “We are going to be the next leaders and civil servants. It’s frustrating because a lot of students don’t know how to vote.”
Braun is the president of the College Democrats.
She said young people are showing more interest this year.
“History is going to be made this year,” she said. “You should be a part of that.”
More diverse groups of people will vote this year, Braun said.
“It’s not just white males voting anymore,” she said. “Younger people and different races and genders are voting.”
Union junior Shane Noem is the president of College Republicans. He said being politically active means exercising your right of freedom of speech and expression.
“It’s easy to go along with society and let other people deal with your problems for you,” he said.
Noem said it’s important now more than ever to get involved in politics.
“A lot of times, if you don’t get involved now, you never will,” he said.
Noem and other members of the College Republicans are working with the Warren County Republican Party and the Republican Party of Kentucky to help campaign.
He said one of the strengths of the Republican Party is its ability to get its members to the polls.
“We’re actually mobilizing,” Noem said. “We’re not trying to change minds; we’re just trying to get our people out there to vote.”
He said a lot of college students simply aren’t interested in voting.
“It’s just not on their radar,” he said. “For certain people, it’s just not their cup of tea. Some people don’t like football, some people don’t like politics.”
However, this election year is a little different for most young people, he said.
“A lot of it is due to the candidates,” Noem said. “Barack Obama is firing up the young base. Ever since the Republican National Convention, Sarah Palin has really fired up people.”
Noem attended the Republican National Convention and saw Palin speak.
“The way she carries herself really motivates and moves you,” he said. “It reminds you of why you got involved in politics in the first place.”
He advised students who aren’t necessarily informed about politics to get involved on a local level and learn about politics from the bottom to top.
The College Democrats are also trying to motivate voters during this election year.
The group is back in session this year passing out voter registration cards and informing students about the importance of voting, Braun said.
“Our main focus is getting people registered and making sure they know how to vote,” Braun said.
Braun said she thinks it’s easier for young people to relate to Obama than to past presidential candidates.
She said even though she doesn’t particularly like Sarah Palin, she can connect to her as a woman.
“It encourages me to know we’ve come this far,” Braun said.
Morganfield sophomore Charlie Harris is the head of political engagement for Americans for Informed Democracy at Western.
AID is a national organization that raises awareness about global issues like poverty, health, climate change, peace and security, according to its Web site.
“It’s our responsibility as citizens (to vote) because if we don’t voice our opinions and hold our leaders accountable, they’re going to make their decisions without us,” Harris said.
Ardrey said she feels Western is more politically active than other colleges around the country.
“As I travel to different universities, I see that our students are on the forefront of being politically engaged,” she said. “There’s an energy on this campus.”
Some of that energy has been channeled into this year’s political engagement project.
The seemingly graffiti-covered bus parked near the DUC South Lawn during Rock the Vote and Parents Weekend is the embodiment of Western’s Political Engagement Project for 2008-09, “Get on the Bus: 40 Years of Political Activism.”
It celebrates the 40th anniversary of students actively getting involved with politics at Western, Ardrey said.
“Because this is an election year, we wanted to do something that would be different,” she said.
Freshmen that attended MASTER Plan painted one side of the bus. Members of the Kaleidoscope arts program painted the other side with political phrases and expressions, Ardrey said.
The inside of the bus was gutted to created an exhibit about the past 40 years of political activism at Western, Ardrey said.
“It gives a sense of history,” Ardrey said of the exhibit.
Ardrey spoke at the Freshman Assembly Sept. 2 and encouraged students to become informed and active in politics.
At the assembly, Ardrey brought up the issues of the war in Iraq, gas prices, lower-paying jobs and the number of Americans who lack basic health insurance and explained to students it was imperative that they vote.
After the assembly, she received a large number of e-mails from freshmen asking how they could get involved, she said.
Today is the kick-off party for the “Get on the Bus” campaign on the Grise Hall lawn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food, music and giveaways will be available and students will be able to register to vote.
Debate Watch 2008 will take place on Oct. 7 on DUC South Lawn from 6 to 10:30 p.m.
Students will be able to watch the presidential debate projected on the side of the Academic Complex, Ardrey said.
“It’s BYOB – bring your own blanket,” Ardrey said.
Other events include an informative session on “How to Vote Green” and “Human Rights and Migratory Policies,” according to a flier provided by Ardrey.
Reach Emily Ulber at news@chherald.com.
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