Millions joining the youth vote movement

‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt sophomore Rose Kalgren and senior Yanni Hronas bobbed in the deep end of the Trees… ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt sophomore Rose Kalgren and senior Yanni Hronas bobbed in the deep end of the Trees Hall pool, waiting patiently for intermediate swimming class to end. Four minutes left. ‘ ‘ ‘ The rest of the class had already quit treading ‘mdash; the final exercise of the day ‘mdash; and hung, nearly silent, on the side. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Trickle-down economics is the only plan that’s ever worked in this country,’ said Hronas, his right arm coming out of the water to emphasize his point. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘But the wealthy can afford a few thousand more in taxes that are going to be cut from the middle class,’ said Kalgren. ‘They need that extra money so much more.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ The discussion escalated, but only a bit. It’s hard to carry on a full economic debate while treading water. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘All right, enough with the politics,’ said junior Julia Axberg. But her sentiment was in the minority here ‘mdash; the other student swimmers simply listened intently.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ With the presidential election finally here, the tension and uncertainty of the future is sparking conversations all over campus and the country among the young voters of America ‘mdash; even in the deep end. ‘ ‘ ‘ Compared to the America of even four years ago, it appears that’s just where the country rests ‘mdash; floating uncertainly in the deep end. ‘ ‘ ‘ Total amount of student loans has bloated 900 percent since November 2004, making college nearly impossible for many would-be students, said Kim Anderson of the National Education Association. The number of American troops killed in Iraq has increased three and a half times. Maybe most prevalent today, the economy has plummeted. ‘ ‘ ‘ But not all the changes are negative. ‘ ‘ ‘ Since 2004, more than 9 million young voters have registered to vote for the first time, according to the Associated Press. ‘ ‘ ‘ This year will be a historic year not only for the person who wins the presidency, but also for the youth culture that helped choose that president. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It’s the coolest election we’ve ever faced,’ said Jana Stec, a senior and member of Pitt’s College Democrats. ‘The 2004 election was important, but not nearly as exciting or energizing as this one. It’s not the idea of just old people going out to vote ‘mdash; it’s everyone.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ She’s right. The entire country has been engaged in this election like none before. And no age demographic has been more affected by such increased numbers as young voters. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ According to the Center for Information ‘amp; Research on Civic Learning ‘amp; Engagement, this year’s primaries saw increases of up to 7 percent turnout of 18- to 24-year-olds since the 2004 election. ‘ ‘ ‘ Not one state’s primary reported a decrease in young voter turnout in 2008. And today’s final voter numbers are expected to be the highest since 1972, when voters were responding to the Vietnam War, said Heather Smith, executive director of Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan group that advocates political engagement for young adults. Voting is Cool Again ‘ ‘ ‘ For young people in America this year, voting, much like Chuck Norris or ’80s pop music, is cool again. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘There are a couple factors that have changed voting from being a taboo subject among young people,’ said Smith. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘New technology ‘mdash; Facebook and social networking sites, mobile phones ‘mdash; give young people the ability to be way more connected to each other, allowing this huge political conversation to take place.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ This is the first presidential election when candidates have appealed so directly to young voters, marking territory where young Americans come together: the Internet. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s Facebook page, for example, boasts more than 2.3 million supporters; more than 600,000 support Republican candidate Sen. John McCain. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It’s the advent of technology ‘mdash; of YouTube, all the news outlets online. The easy access we have to knowing our rights, that’s been a big help,’ said Liz Rincon, the Pennsylvania state director of the League of Young Voters, another nonpartisan voter education group. ‘ ‘ ‘ The push for young people to vote, however, is twofold. There is both the push from the past ‘mdash; the desire to break out from the shadow of the past eight years ‘mdash; and the pull from the future ‘mdash; the excitement generated by both Obama and McCain promising a better tomorrow. ‘ ‘ ‘ Whatever the motivation, the enthusiasm is getting young people talking about more than the latest episode of ‘The Hills.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ A recent Rock the Vote poll showed that 92 percent of young people are talking to their friends about the election. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Students are voting because of the issues they care about, [with] college affordability being of top concern,’ said Erica Williams of the National Education Association’s Campus Progress Action. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘What we’re seeing is a perfect storm ‘mdash; it’s young people being engaged on their own and candidates seeing that and sending messages out directly to them,’ she said. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘These issues are personal,’ said Smith. ‘This generation grew up at a time when we see real roles of government ‘mdash; from taking care of natural disasters, responding to the country being attacked or going to war. We see a need for leadership in the country ‘hellip; and we want to decide who’s leading us.’ Election Training Day ‘ ‘ ‘ In the East Liberty office of Allegheny County’s League of Young Voters, the mood was tense on Saturday. Stacks of papers, pamphlets, bags and T-shirts laid on the floor next to the half-dozen volunteers assembling them. ‘ ‘ ‘ The walls were plastered with mottos, posters, charts and maps. The voices were quiet. Everyone’s focus was on the task at hand ‘mdash; to get the young voters, who have registered online, on paper and on the street, to the polls. ‘ ‘ ‘ The League, dedicated to targeting young and disenfranchised voters, has worked for months in preparation for a 13-hour slot when the polls are open in Pennsylvania today. ‘ ‘ ‘ Liz Rincon stood at the head of a table where three volunteers had come to be trained for Election Day. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Usually we start at 4 a.m., but since we have so many groups helping, you guys are lucky,’ she said. ‘We’re starting at 6!’ ‘ ‘ ‘ The League’s volunteers will spend Election Day on the streets, knocking on doors, hanging reminders and ‘mdash; if needed ‘mdash; providing rides for voters without transportation. She will do whatever it takes to get the youth to vote, she said. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I have a ton of interns, but no children. So I don’t know what labor pains feel like, but this, this is the final push,’ she said of her Election Day efforts. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It’s when you won’t even remember how hard you worked. When you see how many people turned out to vote, all the work, all the stress won’t even matter.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ The volunteers filed out and Rincon took a seat, exhausted but exhilarated. She was hesitant to feel too accomplished yet, and the stress won’t leave until 8:01 tonight, when the polls have closed. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Being excited and being informed,’ she said, ‘are different than actually turning out to vote.’ Finally, doing A brings B ‘ ‘ ‘ To those a bit farther removed from the actual voting process, though, there’s no filter on the excitement, and there is the feeling that voting is not only a right, but a way to be a part of one of the most influential chapters in American history. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Working in the past few elections, it was difficult to get people to stop and talk to me,’ said Megan Hite of the union AFL-CIO’s Student Voting Rights Protection Program. ‘With this election cycle, I’ll be walking down the street and people are following me.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ To many students, this information-hungry attitude is necessary for an informed vote. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Finally, people are actually realizing that if you vote, there will be a change. If you do ‘A,’ ‘B’ will happen,’ said Pitt senior Alka Singh. ‘Voting isn’t even just cool, it’s a necessity to be in the know. If you’re not, it’s like, ‘What’s wrong with you?” ‘ ‘ ‘ In the end, though, one candidate will win and some will lose, but both could feasibly damage the young voter energy. ‘ ‘ ‘ If Obama wins, for example, will his youth supporters still feel the need to push politics passionately? And if McCain wins, will Obama’s base simply give up? ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Whatever the outcome tomorrow, [young voters] are going to remain engaged,’ said Shilpa Reddy of Campus Progress Action, another group that supports youth political advocacy. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘These issues aren’t going to be solved tomorrow. It’s not like ‘OK, we elected him, problem solved.’ The youth has been empowered, and they’ll continue this movement.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ In that way, for young voters across the country, the concept of the youth vote transcends the candidates, the issues and politics as a whole. ‘ ‘ ‘ The youth vote of 2008 is a movement, a cultural change. Young people in America, shown by record numbers of registered voters and the undeniable fervor pulsing through campuses like Pitt, want to be informed. ‘ ‘ ‘ They want to have a say in the leadership of the country.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It’s about being a part of this historic moment,’ said Smith. ‘It’s the fact that on Nov. 4, millions of young people are going to come together and really make a statement. They’re going to take back their futures.’