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U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 and 29 have been indifferent and inactive in previous presidential elections, according to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), a group that promotes research on the civic and political engagement of American youths. Heightened access to information and technology increased voter turnout in youths by 11 percent in the 2004 elections.
With the 2008 president race underway, some University of Massachusetts students are using technology to their advantage, abandoning their spot in the backseat for early involvement in the upcoming election.
One way students on campus have increased their involvement is through the popular networking Web site Facebook.com. The site, which is typically used socially to share pictures and messages among students, is now being utilized to mobilize student support for their favorite candidates. Other forms of participatory Internet use, such as YouTube.com and weblogs, have also provided students with easy access to information on 2008 presidential candidates.
James Breen, UMass student and vice president of the UMass Democrats, said he feels confident about the younger generation's participation this year.
"I do believe that our generation will be playing a much more important role," Breen said. "With the advent of things like YouTube, anybody with a camera can put helpful information online for the entire country to view. Even with Facebook last year, we saw students showing their support for candidates," he continued. "This year, nearly a year before the first primary, there are already Facebook groups for candidates."
Breen brings up an important issue with the presidential campaign that many students are not discussing - voting. UMass Political Science Professor Michael Hannahan agrees with the issue.
"I've been teaching and involved in politics, and every year they talk about the youth votes," Hannahan said. "I don't think this election will be different in the amount of youth voting. This election will not be as hot as the last one because there's no one to hate. Where young people make a difference is volunteering in campaigns and primaries."
Although the end result of student involvement may not lead everyone to the ballot box in 2008, some UMass students already feel strongly about certain issues, such as global warming, the war in Iraq and the cost of education.
Global warming is the cause célèbre for Erin Casey, a sophomore, who wishes candidates were as involved with the matter as former presidential candidate Al Gore has been recently.
"I do like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as of right now, but I wish I could vote for Al Gore, even though he's not officially running," she said. "I just like the fact that a lot of people thought he was through when he lost the 2000 election, but I think it's very respectable that he's taken a break from mainstream politics and put his time and money into something he truly believes in - global warming."
Professor Hannahan agrees that the war in Iraq will be a primary issue for candidates to address, along with the use of energy. Hannahan does state however, that President Bush will not be an issue for candidates.
"I don't think George Bush will be an issue for candidates because he's gone," he said. "There's a clean slate for Republicans."
Yet some students, such as junior Katie Connelly, still seem to keep President Bush in mind when making decisions for 2008.
"I like Barack Obama because he's a moderate Democrat but leans a little more towards the middle. He's quite different than George Bush. He won't be an embarrassment in the public sphere," Connelly said.
In a survey of approximately 50 students, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama was the most popular candidate. However, UMass students support a variety of candidates ranging from former New York Mayor and Republican Rudolph Guilliani to Independent Party Ralph Nader.
Anna Lee Locke is one of the few who prefer to support a different candidate, rather than jumping on the Obama bandwagon.
"Obama's easier to jump on board for because of the way he speaks and the way he presents himself and the things he believes; he appeals more to the younger generation," Locke said. "Obama's got good qualities, but I like McCain who is a fairly moderate conservative. I have a soft spot for McCain because my grandfather was also a Prisoner of War."
Locke, however, points out the efforts of Obama to connect with younger voters through his use of Facebook.
"He has a Facebook page, does Hillary Clinton?" she said.
Stella can be reached at ccernak@student.umass.edu.
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