A student-operated publication at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The Oak Leaf

A student-operated publication at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The Oak Leaf

A student-operated publication at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The Oak Leaf

Student Voters. Despite public opinion, participation makes a difference in 2012 election

In the middle of campus on Monday Oct. 15 at SRJC, some students sat, some relaxed and others rushed to class. There was a voting registration booth near Bertolini but no one ran in to ask questions, register or gain election information.

“I don’t think voting really counts,” said SRJC student Rose Nunez as she sat on a bench near the bookstore texting. “I’m open to people having their own opinions.”

Across the U.S., 89 percent of 18-to- 29-year-olds say the economy impacts their day-to-day lives. Such a statistic should-presumably-directly motivate students old enough to vote to go out and make a difference.

Though a majority of students on campus lean toward the Democratic caucus and plan to vote, there remains a minority who either prefer not to participate or lean Republican respectively.

National polling results from Generation Opportunity, a non-profit organization with the mission of educating, organizing, and mobilizing 18-to-29-year-olds on the economic challenges facing the nation, deeply show the concerns of students, and graduates alike, on some of the prominent challenges facing them today.

With four million fans on Facebook, the organization is currently a major force in poking at the sleeping giant of students who are unsure or choose not to vote in the upcoming elections.

With a broad focus on students and their particular life situations, Generation Opportunity has given a voice to many issues young people face today. Under a poor economy, students and anyone between the age of 18 to 29, have had to cut back spending in their lives. This means driving less, changing living situations, selling personal items and even adding a second job.

Voting can seem like a bleak chance at change during hectic times, but it can directly effect the election if a minority joins the majority. “Students mainly focus on the top of the ballot. They can have an impact on the local level too,” said Julie Combs, who is running for a seat on the Santa Rosa City Council.

“Everything comes down to policy,” said Paul Conway, president of Generation Opportunity. “The power and creativity of young people isn’t something to be ignored.”

Conway worked under four U.S. presidents and three governors. He served as chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Labor, the Office of Personnel Management and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

His motivation to reach as many young people as possible through social media is something to take note of. By reaching more than a billion individuals on Facebook, Generation Opportunity has a perpetual growth in its ability to create awareness of the issues that matter most in this election.

Students who vote for either party need to remember that local elections matter too, and those who aren’t participating should reconsider how much impact they can have. “People should realize their own power,” Conway said.

A vote can go a long way and affect many things. Propositions can play a negative or positive role in your life and affect the majority, or get thrown out the window all together. Job prospects can look better, or they can remain the same due to a lack of policy change or complete do-over in a particular department.

Voting does a lot more than you’d expect; it’s one more voice for something that matters. “First, let me just say propositions can be confusing. I think the most important one is 37. Labeling our food is essential. I want to know exactly what I’m putting in my body,” SRJC student Becca Payne said.

The voting booth at the Petaluma campus had 25 registrations and SRJC’s had 189. Students stopped by at different times during the day, which opposed the relaxed atmosphere that was present earlier in the day. “We saw a lot of first-time voters register to vote at SRJC. A lot of students who have moved and needed to re-register due to change in address,” said Jessica Jones who’s Associated Student Body president at SRJC.

As a wise man once wrote, “You can’t be neutral on a moving train.”

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About the Contributor
Peter Njoroge, Staff Writer, Spring 2014

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