Spring Break
Primary electorate: students
Todd Wilson and Vanessa Johnson
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
Sacramento State students and faculty were hard at work to get the campus community involved in Tuesday's presidential primary election.
Student government
Associated Students Inc. President Christina Romero worked with Your Vision Your Voice, a program dedicated to get students active in the election process. Fliers were handed out to students with information on the process, Romero said.
Romero, along with other ASI members, worked with the California State Student Association to better excel the program. Like other California State University schools, Sac State has its own CSSA on campus. Romero said the association helps students to be politically active.
She said in addition to CSSA's efforts, the Office of Governmental Affairs will scatter around campus to ask students to register if they have not already.
Students will be able to receive a notebook from ASI that will advertise the importance of voting, in addition to information regarding the election. What public officials do now will inevitably affect us in the future, Romero said.
Faculty
Beyond student government, professors have also attempted to reach out to their students. Kimberly Nalder, assistant government professor, said because turnout among college students has always been low, she promotes voting to her students.
"I usually give extra credit to students for voting," she said. "I also go over the ballot measures in class; we usually spend a whole class session discussing them. I am always finding more ways to get students to vote."
Campus clubs
College Republicans President Kara Greene said the group has a great impact because of its availability to students. She said the campus Republicans do not represent a particular candidate; instead, they reach out to students by helping with political campaigns and functions.
"We like to foster conservative activism," Greene said. "Students can use our club as a springboard to getting involved with political events on or off campus."
Its counterpart, the College Democrats, tried to get more students involved in the election process, said Eddie Kirby, co-president.
The club had a booth on the Library Quad where it tried to get new members. Some days, it discussed the primary election with students.
The College Democrats went so far as to have Sen. Hillary Clinton's, Sacramento campaign office agree to co-host an event at 4 p.m. on Thursday in the University Union Ballroom. The campaign withdrew from participation the morning of the event in order to focus efforts on that evening's democratic debate, Smith said.
The campaign sees college students as a key base of support, said Lauren Levinson, media coordinator for the Sacramento office of Hillary Clinton for President 2008. "Clinton believes that students are some of the best ambassadors for her campaign," Levinson said.
Like the College Republicans, the College Democrats does not endorse any candidate in the primary, but will work with campaigns to plan campus events, Kirby said.
The College Democrats also attempted to get Michelle Obama, wife of democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, to appear on campus, but was unsuccessful, Smith said.
Kirby said the club spent the weekend calling prospective democratic and independent voters. He said club members will walk precincts the day before the primary election, going door to door to make sure people get out and vote.
Students for Barack Obama set up a table in the Library breezeway to get out information about the candidate. Carlos Rojas, representative for the group, said he spoke with students about Obama in hopes of getting them to sign a pledge to vote for the Illinois senator. Aside from this effort, Rojas said he gave out Obama campaign literature, buttons, yard signs and bumper stickers.
Guest speakers
Massachusetts Senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry held a town hall meeting at the Sac State Alumni Center on Saturday in support of Obama's candidacy. Kerry repeatedly brought the crowd of over 400 people to its feet as he spoke.
Obama is a young leader that can unite America, he said.
It is thrilling to see college students and young people participating in the campaign and coming out and voting in state caucuses and primaries, Kerry said.
As the crowd cheered and chanted Obama campaign slogans, Kerry told the audience that cheering and yelling were great, but what people did when they left the meeting was more important. Kerry then asked the crowd to call and e-mail friends to get them to vote in Tuesday's primary and become involved in the political process.
He was only able to take a small number of questions from the crowd because he had a plane to catch for Connecticut, where he is speaking Sunday.
Sac State alumnus James Shelby said it was exciting to come back to the campus and see someone like Sen. Kerry speak.
Student reactions
While many students have encouraged the campus community to vote, some students said they found no interest in the election.
"Yeah, it is important to vote, but I don't really have to worry about topics like social security right now," said freshman undeclared major Amy Jonston.
Another student, senior business major Versha Patel, said she did not follow the campaigns or proposition issues enough to consider voting, and instead, will focus her efforts on school.
Other students on campus would not pass up the opportunity to vote.
"If someone is going to represent me and what I believe as an American, there is no way that I am not going to vote," said sophomore business major Jimmy Bloom.
Registered republican Sylvan Mejia, senior mass communications major, said he finds the sociological aspects of the primary race to be interesting. He said he had difficulty making up his mind about which Republican candidate to vote for, because he was too intrigued by the democratic race.
While the race excites him, he questions whether Americans are ready to have a woman or an African-American in the Oval Office. Obama's win in the South Carolina primary has led him to believe that maybe voters are ready to elect a woman or African-American, he said. Mejia said he believes presidential depictions in the media have made the idea a little more palatable to the American public.
Many students placed heavy emphasis on particular issues candidates stood for. Mohamed Omar, senior biology major, said he is going back and forth between voting for Clinton or Obama and will base his decision on who he feels will do best in fixing the failing economy. He said he is planning on watching the Democratic Party debate on Thursday to help make up his mind.
"I work hard for every dollar I earn," he said. "I want to make sure that if I am this hard for my money, it is going to be safe."
Junior government international relations major Kimberly Jones was most concerned about funding for education and social security reform. She said she cast an absentee ballot for Obama. Jones said she is tired of the way the country has been run over the past eight years and believes Obama can bring the change America needs.
Ruben Perez, senior mechanical engineering major, said he cast an absentee ballot for Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.
"He was able to fix New York City's economy when he was mayor there," Perez said. "If he can fix New York's economy, why can't he fix the U.S.?"
Giuliani dropped out of the Republican primary race last Wednesday.
Stephanie Lewis, senior psychology major, said she is supporting Clinton because she believes Clinton has the best chance of winning the general election for the Democrats. She said Clinton has the political experience and best arguments for the issues.
Sophomore business administration and marketing major Paramveer Dhoof has taken an opposite view. He said he worries that if Clinton wins the democratic nomination, it will bring out republican voters in the November general election en masse to defeat Clinton.
What public officials do now will inevitably affect us in the future, Romero said.
Todd Wilson and Vanessa Johnson can be reached at news@statehornet.com
Student government
Associated Students Inc. President Christina Romero worked with Your Vision Your Voice, a program dedicated to get students active in the election process. Fliers were handed out to students with information on the process, Romero said.
Romero, along with other ASI members, worked with the California State Student Association to better excel the program. Like other California State University schools, Sac State has its own CSSA on campus. Romero said the association helps students to be politically active.
She said in addition to CSSA's efforts, the Office of Governmental Affairs will scatter around campus to ask students to register if they have not already.
Students will be able to receive a notebook from ASI that will advertise the importance of voting, in addition to information regarding the election. What public officials do now will inevitably affect us in the future, Romero said.
Faculty
Beyond student government, professors have also attempted to reach out to their students. Kimberly Nalder, assistant government professor, said because turnout among college students has always been low, she promotes voting to her students.
"I usually give extra credit to students for voting," she said. "I also go over the ballot measures in class; we usually spend a whole class session discussing them. I am always finding more ways to get students to vote."
Campus clubs
College Republicans President Kara Greene said the group has a great impact because of its availability to students. She said the campus Republicans do not represent a particular candidate; instead, they reach out to students by helping with political campaigns and functions.
"We like to foster conservative activism," Greene said. "Students can use our club as a springboard to getting involved with political events on or off campus."
Its counterpart, the College Democrats, tried to get more students involved in the election process, said Eddie Kirby, co-president.
The club had a booth on the Library Quad where it tried to get new members. Some days, it discussed the primary election with students.
The College Democrats went so far as to have Sen. Hillary Clinton's, Sacramento campaign office agree to co-host an event at 4 p.m. on Thursday in the University Union Ballroom. The campaign withdrew from participation the morning of the event in order to focus efforts on that evening's democratic debate, Smith said.
The campaign sees college students as a key base of support, said Lauren Levinson, media coordinator for the Sacramento office of Hillary Clinton for President 2008. "Clinton believes that students are some of the best ambassadors for her campaign," Levinson said.
Like the College Republicans, the College Democrats does not endorse any candidate in the primary, but will work with campaigns to plan campus events, Kirby said.
The College Democrats also attempted to get Michelle Obama, wife of democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, to appear on campus, but was unsuccessful, Smith said.
Kirby said the club spent the weekend calling prospective democratic and independent voters. He said club members will walk precincts the day before the primary election, going door to door to make sure people get out and vote.
Students for Barack Obama set up a table in the Library breezeway to get out information about the candidate. Carlos Rojas, representative for the group, said he spoke with students about Obama in hopes of getting them to sign a pledge to vote for the Illinois senator. Aside from this effort, Rojas said he gave out Obama campaign literature, buttons, yard signs and bumper stickers.
Guest speakers
Massachusetts Senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry held a town hall meeting at the Sac State Alumni Center on Saturday in support of Obama's candidacy. Kerry repeatedly brought the crowd of over 400 people to its feet as he spoke.
Obama is a young leader that can unite America, he said.
It is thrilling to see college students and young people participating in the campaign and coming out and voting in state caucuses and primaries, Kerry said.
As the crowd cheered and chanted Obama campaign slogans, Kerry told the audience that cheering and yelling were great, but what people did when they left the meeting was more important. Kerry then asked the crowd to call and e-mail friends to get them to vote in Tuesday's primary and become involved in the political process.
He was only able to take a small number of questions from the crowd because he had a plane to catch for Connecticut, where he is speaking Sunday.
Sac State alumnus James Shelby said it was exciting to come back to the campus and see someone like Sen. Kerry speak.
Student reactions
While many students have encouraged the campus community to vote, some students said they found no interest in the election.
"Yeah, it is important to vote, but I don't really have to worry about topics like social security right now," said freshman undeclared major Amy Jonston.
Another student, senior business major Versha Patel, said she did not follow the campaigns or proposition issues enough to consider voting, and instead, will focus her efforts on school.
Other students on campus would not pass up the opportunity to vote.
"If someone is going to represent me and what I believe as an American, there is no way that I am not going to vote," said sophomore business major Jimmy Bloom.
Registered republican Sylvan Mejia, senior mass communications major, said he finds the sociological aspects of the primary race to be interesting. He said he had difficulty making up his mind about which Republican candidate to vote for, because he was too intrigued by the democratic race.
While the race excites him, he questions whether Americans are ready to have a woman or an African-American in the Oval Office. Obama's win in the South Carolina primary has led him to believe that maybe voters are ready to elect a woman or African-American, he said. Mejia said he believes presidential depictions in the media have made the idea a little more palatable to the American public.
Many students placed heavy emphasis on particular issues candidates stood for. Mohamed Omar, senior biology major, said he is going back and forth between voting for Clinton or Obama and will base his decision on who he feels will do best in fixing the failing economy. He said he is planning on watching the Democratic Party debate on Thursday to help make up his mind.
"I work hard for every dollar I earn," he said. "I want to make sure that if I am this hard for my money, it is going to be safe."
Junior government international relations major Kimberly Jones was most concerned about funding for education and social security reform. She said she cast an absentee ballot for Obama. Jones said she is tired of the way the country has been run over the past eight years and believes Obama can bring the change America needs.
Ruben Perez, senior mechanical engineering major, said he cast an absentee ballot for Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.
"He was able to fix New York City's economy when he was mayor there," Perez said. "If he can fix New York's economy, why can't he fix the U.S.?"
Giuliani dropped out of the Republican primary race last Wednesday.
Stephanie Lewis, senior psychology major, said she is supporting Clinton because she believes Clinton has the best chance of winning the general election for the Democrats. She said Clinton has the political experience and best arguments for the issues.
Sophomore business administration and marketing major Paramveer Dhoof has taken an opposite view. He said he worries that if Clinton wins the democratic nomination, it will bring out republican voters in the November general election en masse to defeat Clinton.
What public officials do now will inevitably affect us in the future, Romero said.
Todd Wilson and Vanessa Johnson can be reached at news@statehornet.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Natalye
posted 2/07/08 @ 1:47 PM PST
Just a heads up: the last sentence is also at the end of the 5th graf.
It's sad that professors have to offer extra credit as incentive for students to vote, but good for them for taking the time to make sure students are informed about the issues. (Continued…)
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