The hype of the 2016 presidential election is fully upon us. As candidates gear up to compete for primary votes, big-time debates are returning to our airwaves, and even the most politically disinterested students are finding that they cannot escape the intrusion of the political sphere into their daily lives.
For fully understandable reasons, many young adults are utterly turned off by politics, or even the mention of politically charged current events. Elections get ugly; there are only so many negative campaign ads and televised shouting matches that one can watch before her faith in humanity takes a critical hit. It all seems like one big mess, and who can fault a preoccupied college student for preferring not to step in it?
Statistics do indeed show the repeated reluctance of young people to get involved in the political process; over 50% of 18-24 year olds who were eligible to vote in the 2012 presidential election chose not to exercise that right. According to analyses done by the United States Census Bureau, “Overall, younger Americans have consistently under-voted at the polls relative to their eligibility.” This is in contrast to every other age group— American voter turnout consistently increases with age; the highest-voting age group in the United States are retirees.
Young people are busy trying to find their way in this world. They are studying, laboring, networking, and career building. Many of them feel that they don’t have the time to keep up with current events or to seek information on every public policy issue. And why should they give up that precious time when their voices seem like just a shout into the void of American politics?
The result here is a country whose young, yet equally valid, opinions are not being heard. A sense of apathy and defeat is being cultivated within the American electorate, and it’s starting young. And yet, countless students are taking a stance against exactly that type of apathy, encouraging their peers to get involved, to question, and to take matters into their own hands.
Lina Chaoui, a political science student at DePaul University, says, “I’ve always been interested in politics because it is such a vital piece of the world we live in. To be apathetic to issues that don’t necessarily affect us directly is a dangerous stance to take. As the college generation, we are the future, and if we begin to take part now, the impact we have later on will be much greater. We have the potential to shape America into a better place where everyone actually has equal rights and opportunities.”
“We must stop running away from the reality that this country was founded of the people, by the people, and for the people, and thus, we the people are just as responsible for the successes and failures of this country… Great presidents are nothing without great people,” remarks Rogé Karma, president of the political club ‘BridgeND’.
Try joining a club, supporting an initiative, or simply getting a little more informed. Here are some concrete ways that ND students can get involved, at any level of interest:
College Republicans and College Democrats
ND’s partisan political clubs promote the ideas of their respective parties, aid in campaigns for party candidates, and instill leadership skills in their members.
BridgeND
This is a nonpartisan club that fosters debate on an issue-by issue basis instead of party ideology. Students that fall anywhere on the political spectrum are welcome.
The Roosevelt Institute at the University of Notre Dame
Roosevelt is a national organization that encourages college students to develop and submit public policy ideas to its “Ten Ideas Series.” Each year, the best policies in each category receive assistance to implement the policy.
The NDVotes campaign encourages Notre Dame students to exercise their right to vote and become more educated about political issues. Keep an eye out for their voting drives and events!
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