2008 Woodie Awards
Dem Convention draws student interest
Official nominee to be announced
By: Katherine Jarvis
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: Politics
Along with political attack ads among the presidential candidates, propositions and voting, every presidential race is accompanied by party conventions.
The Democratic National Convention in Denver began Monday and gives students an opportunity to get involved in politics.
Senior Ryan McElhinney, who is taking the semester off, is a pledged delegate for Barack Obama.
McElhinney thinks the convention will be a historic one, especially Obama's acceptance speech, which will take place on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
Aaron Skaggs, a senior and president of the Democratic Club, will be in Denver to hear Obama speak. Skaggs thinks this election is especially significant.
"This is a reform election - a change election - which is why it's so important," Skaggs said.
When Skaggs returns from Denver, he will be busy registering students, especially freshmen, to vote.
Having the convention the first week of school creates potential for conversation about both the Democratic and the Republican national conventions, said Charles Turner of the political science department. Both conventions are especially important with no incumbent - a politician who is running for re-election - going for president this year.
But some students are not planning on voting for various reasons.
Freshman Nicole Moore said she will not likely vote because she does not have enough information about the candidates.
"I would like to be more informed on the views of each person running so I don't vote for someone that I don't agree with," she said.
Many people don't think their vote counts for anything, so they don't vote, Skaggs said.
"It takes issues that affect students for them to care," he said.
This year, issues such as the economy, Iraq and gay rights are important to students, Skaggs said.
Once Obama becomes the official Democratic nominee at the Democratic National Convention, students will start paying a lot more attention to the election, Skaggs said.
Katherine Jarvis can be reached at
kjarvis@theorion.com
Related links
Voter registration and participation information
The Democratic National Convention in Denver began Monday and gives students an opportunity to get involved in politics.
Senior Ryan McElhinney, who is taking the semester off, is a pledged delegate for Barack Obama.
McElhinney thinks the convention will be a historic one, especially Obama's acceptance speech, which will take place on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
Aaron Skaggs, a senior and president of the Democratic Club, will be in Denver to hear Obama speak. Skaggs thinks this election is especially significant.
"This is a reform election - a change election - which is why it's so important," Skaggs said.
When Skaggs returns from Denver, he will be busy registering students, especially freshmen, to vote.
Having the convention the first week of school creates potential for conversation about both the Democratic and the Republican national conventions, said Charles Turner of the political science department. Both conventions are especially important with no incumbent - a politician who is running for re-election - going for president this year.
But some students are not planning on voting for various reasons.
Freshman Nicole Moore said she will not likely vote because she does not have enough information about the candidates.
"I would like to be more informed on the views of each person running so I don't vote for someone that I don't agree with," she said.
Many people don't think their vote counts for anything, so they don't vote, Skaggs said.
"It takes issues that affect students for them to care," he said.
This year, issues such as the economy, Iraq and gay rights are important to students, Skaggs said.
Once Obama becomes the official Democratic nominee at the Democratic National Convention, students will start paying a lot more attention to the election, Skaggs said.
Katherine Jarvis can be reached at
kjarvis@theorion.com
Related links
Voter registration and participation information
Be the first to comment on this story