In 2008, an estimated 23 million American voters under the age of 30 voted in the presidential election. This was a 52 to 53 percent increase in the number of youth voters that voted in the 2004 election. With this surge in voting presence it seems youth voters are discovering they have a voice in politics and that it is important to exercise that voice.
Representative Rosa DeLauro was the first speaker to address the youth at the College Democrats of Connecticut Convention in November, urging students to take part in the election by voting.
“We need your help, as we have needed in the past. It starts with you, with your help. We need your energy,” she said. “There is a huge opportunity and we need to seize it. You ought to have a say and you need to have a say.”
Regardless of party affiliation, politicians are encouraging the further participation of college students in politics. “College students are a huge power in the state of Connecticut,” said Matt Lesser, who is the youngest member of the Connecticut House of Representatives . “If you don’t vote, if you don’t exercise power, then you shouldn’t expect your leaders to reflect what you want.”
Through student organizations such as QU Democrats, QU Republicans and QU Young Americans for Liberty, the Quinnipiac community takes great strides to ensure that political activism becomes a more prevalent force in the lives of college students.
“I believe that it is important for students to get involved, because the decisions that are being made in Washington will greatly affect our lives one way or another in the future,” said Chris Kito, Vice-President of QU Young Americans for Liberty.
Through these organizations, students have the chance to volunteer on local campaigns, plan and book important political speakers to bring to campus, hold voting registration drives or participate in the student government. The various on-campus political organizations make getting involved accessible to any student who is interested. However, students’ political activism does not have to stop at simply joining one of the political organizations on campus.
“We pay attention to current local and national events and will pursue opportunities to get students involved when they match the interests of the members,” said QU Democrats President Mark Bouchard. “The most direct thing we do is bring in speakers from the political world to talk to students about themselves and issues we face.”
The participation of college students in the voting process has the potential to greatly affect the outcome of our nation’s political future. Coming in such high numbers to the polls, youth votes have the potential to change the fate of crucial elections. “Being involved allows you to learn the players and actually become a part of your country through becoming involved on campaigns or in special interest events,” Bouchard said.
Regardless of party affiliation, youth voters are becoming more aware of their voice in politics and how to exercise that voice. It is important for college students to understand how politics affects them and how they can affect the world of politics.
“It is important for students to get involved with politics on a college campus because it keeps people aware of what is going around outside of our campus and our work we tend to absorb ourselves into,” said Alaina Caliendo, an active member of QU Republicans. “Also, there is a life after QU and electing officials, and although students might not believe it affects them now, in the future they will most definitely see the repercussions.”
Benjamin Stango, current President of the College Democrats of Connecticut and of the Yale University Democrats, stressed the importance of students coming together and rallying behind a cause. “Students will energize and mobilize other inactive members of their campus communities,” he said. “Students will lobby for meaningful progressive legislation in Hartford and Washington, D.C. In essence, we are moving into a new era of student politics. [Students] will make change a reality.”
The Next Generation of Leaders
Published: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Updated: Saturday, February 27, 2010
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