Anisa Jibrell – General Assignment Reporter
As the congressional elections draw closer and the incessant campaign commercials rattle television screens, millennials like Monique Beason, senior and public health major, have grown blasé to the political landscape.
“Unless it has to do with a class assignment,” said Beason, “college students are checked out of midterm elections.”
A new national poll of America’s 18-29-year-olds administered by Harvard’s Institute of Politics, otherwise known as IOP, finds that less than one in four young Americans report that they will, “definitely be voting” in November, a 11 percent drop from five months ago.
Margaret Ukah, senior and public health major, suggests the mismanagement of issues like the Ferguson shootings, homelessness in America, and police brutality might be to blame for the disconnection between some students and the government.
“Obama had a lot of baggage to carry and it took a toll on him,” said Ukah. “But his ‘make a change’ campaign didn’t really go as planned.”
IOP polls also found that 44 percent of Mitt Romney voters said they would “definitely be voting” in upcoming November elections in comparison to 35 percent of 2012 Barack Obama voters saying the same.
Beason believes students are disengaged from congressional politics, and said students underestimate the impact of congress’ role in their lives.
“It’s not that I don’t like politics, I just don’t understand it so I don’t participate,” said Ukah.
Meg Ziomek, senior nursing major, said it would be helpful if the political science club educated students on congress so students would be more likely to vote in the midterm elections.
“Students,” said Ziomek, “would be more inclined to vote for senators if they know he or she is in line with their views.”
Senior education major, Brianna Eisensmith, does not identify with a political party and chooses to remain neutral on the political spectrum. However, she said she will definitely be voting for republican candidate, Tom Foley for his promise to get rid of the Common Core curriculum.
The curriculum consists of a set of English language arts and math standards designed to further student achievement by standardizing what’s taught in classrooms K through 12 across the United States, according to the Common Core initiative’s website. 43 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories have adopted the Common Core standards.
Eisensmith expressed the difficulties she faces while tutoring a third grade student who is currently struggling to learn what Eisensmith believes to be fifth grade level math.
“That’s the one thing I know that I’m not OK with, and it affects me directly,” said Eisensmith. “These poor kids.”
Meanwhile, in efforts to heighten young voter turnout and simplify the senator selection process, the digital news organization, Vocativ, has released a new web-based application called Votr, also known as ‘Tinder for Politics.’
The app allows people to evaluate all 161 candidates for the 36 open U.S. Senate seats based on controversial topics like abortion, or personal matters like Sunday morning activities, according to the app’s website.
“This would be good for students who don’t have time to follow who believes in what,” said Eisensmith. “I think it’s a great way to reach the younger generation.”
Before a user starts their search for their political soul-mate, users are required to answer a diverse set of questions like, “How extensive is your schoolin’?” and “What is your follicular situation?” Users are then shown pictures of their political matches along with a “fast fact” and a short list of the candidate’s views.
Eisensmith said her last decision to vote for Obama wasn’t thought out, and an application like this would have great educational benefits.
“I think a lot of it has to do with time,” said Eisensmith. “And we don’t want to end up voting for the wrong person.”
Photo Credit: arbyreed
