Student voices will remain heard in future elections
By APRIL HANSEN
DCN Correspondent
The campaign posters hang clustered in between job ads and concert announcements on posting areas around the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). The tables in the student union, once filled with UMD student organizations campaigning for parties and candidates, are now bare.
The day after the 2008 election, the halls are much quieter at UMD than they have been in the past few months.
“I was really happy with the student turnout,� said Jamie Ebert, co-chair of UMD’s MPIRG.
On the UMD campus (Precinct 10), 65 percent of voters cast their ballot this year, compared to 57 percent in 2004.
“Campaigns were good at mobilizing students with internet sites such as Facebook and MySpace and also used texting to spread their campaign,� said Mary Currin-Percival, assistant professor in the Political Science Department at UMD.
Student organizations such as UMD’s College Democrats, UMD’s College Republicans and Students for Obama volunteered hours towards getting students to vote and involve themselves with the election.
“The candidates represent a newer generation with newer issues,� said Justin Hauschild, a member of Students for Obama. “They used technology like it has never been used before in elections.�
Now that the elections are over, students can still stay involved and informed with the issues that are most important to them. Although the 2012 election may seem far off, the importance of student involvement and their views can contribute to future elections.
“Watching the news, staying informed and remaining involved with student organizations and groups are some things students can do,� said Tyler Verry, a member of College Republicans.
Professor Currin-Percival believes the tone of campaigns could be changed in future elections. She thinks some political ads get too personal at times.
Now that the election is over, students and faculty on campus can take a sigh of relief.
“It was fun, but a drain,� said Verry.
UMD’s College Republicans’ next project is to send gift boxes to the troops overseas during Christmas time.
“I can now try to get some more work done,� said Currin-Perrcival.