Spring Break
Pushing for more than just voting
Selma Skokic
Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: News
"On November 4, 2008, the real work starts. People need to hold politicians accountable for their promises," said Tommaso Boggia, a staff member of Campus Progress, an organization that helps students be involved in progressive issues that organized the conference "Turning Youth Power, Into Youth Voting."
Although only 12 people attended the conference "Turning Youth Power, Into Youth Voting" on Wednesday night in the Almaden Room of the Student Union, their concerns echoed those of the entire youth population.
"Are we going to be able to get a job after college is a question most college students are asking themselves," said Katie Naranjo, the national programs director of the College Democrats of America.
Boggia said that involvement does not stop in the voting booth; that people who voted need to stay involved past the election.
Naranjo said voters have an obligation to stay involved with the issues for which they plan to vote.
The Greenberg Millennial Survey, distributed to attendees at the conference, concluded that the Millennials, the generation born between 1978 and 2000, are rejecting the country's current leadership and dominant institutions.
Naranjo said it is a common misconception that young people don't vote.
From 1998 to 2002, young voters had a high turnout, she said, and from 2004 to 2008, those numbers almost doubled.
Mark Savage, a senior sociology major, said youths today are thought to be apathetic.
"Civic engagement needs to be taught at a younger age," he said.
Savage added that young voters may not be able to cause any change alone, but could as a collective movement.
Naranjo also said the people who are usually not involved are those that don't have access to an education or the means to become educated on the issues occurring in politics.
Boggia said this is a monumental time for America and the world.
"If you have never voted in your life, this is the election you should vote in," he said.
Although only 12 people attended the conference "Turning Youth Power, Into Youth Voting" on Wednesday night in the Almaden Room of the Student Union, their concerns echoed those of the entire youth population.
"Are we going to be able to get a job after college is a question most college students are asking themselves," said Katie Naranjo, the national programs director of the College Democrats of America.
Boggia said that involvement does not stop in the voting booth; that people who voted need to stay involved past the election.
Naranjo said voters have an obligation to stay involved with the issues for which they plan to vote.
The Greenberg Millennial Survey, distributed to attendees at the conference, concluded that the Millennials, the generation born between 1978 and 2000, are rejecting the country's current leadership and dominant institutions.
Naranjo said it is a common misconception that young people don't vote.
From 1998 to 2002, young voters had a high turnout, she said, and from 2004 to 2008, those numbers almost doubled.
Mark Savage, a senior sociology major, said youths today are thought to be apathetic.
"Civic engagement needs to be taught at a younger age," he said.
Savage added that young voters may not be able to cause any change alone, but could as a collective movement.
Naranjo also said the people who are usually not involved are those that don't have access to an education or the means to become educated on the issues occurring in politics.
Boggia said this is a monumental time for America and the world.
"If you have never voted in your life, this is the election you should vote in," he said.
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