Pamela Bump
Equinox Staff
Alison Lamell
Equinox Staff
Despite going down in popularity by six percent in the second informal student poll at Keene State College, Obama remains the popular choice of another randomly sampled group of respondents as Romney gains more popularity.
KSC junior Gabby Gentillella approved of Obama for second term and noted, “I believe he is on the right path to lead the U.S. in the right direction. – He cares.” Similarly to the previous poll taken the week of Oct. 1, students said that they identified more with our current President, Barack Obama, than with his Republican opponent, Governor Mitt Romney.
However, according to the most recent sampling of 240 polled KSC students, only 68 percent said that they would vote for President Barack Obama in the upcoming election, while the previous poll projected a lead of 74 percent of students.
Some students indicated often that they attributed their choice to Obama to the idea that he was “the lesser of two evils,” when compared to Romney.
KSC freshman Alex Littlefield, a self-described Independent, said that he would vote for Obama as, “His lies are more believable than Mitt’s.”
Ben Johnson, a junior, added similarly, “I don’t believe in Mitt Romney’s America.”
Junior Lauren Tetreault stated about Romney and his public views, “I don’t think Romney would make a good President. He’s very flip-floppy.”
Despite the voting choice from a majority of student respondents, Governor Mitt Romney gained more approval from KSC students in the recent survey, taken during the week of Oct. 15. Out of the 240 students polled, 20 percent said that they would vote for Romney, after only 13 percent of students stated that they would vote for him in the previous poll.
Sophmore Chase Lancaster said, “I agree with what he [Romney] wants to do and I don’t like Obama’s visions.”
Senior Mike Murphy expanded on Lancaster’s statement as he said, “I don’t feel that Obama has done enough to be reelected. Also, I don’t like the social views he has, nor do I agree with his policies.”
Many students also explained that they were voting based on the candidates responses to the issues of the U.S. today. Some of the most popular issues listed by students were the economy, education, equal rights or social views and healthcare.
Murphy added that he believed the biggest issues involved the country’s current economic state. “It is in a bad place and needs to be fixed,” Murphy said. Murphy then added that solutions to this issue could involve “making more jobs” and “taxing the upper class.”
Junior Nate Bisson, a psychology and education major, said that he would prefer Obama based on the importance of his future career. “His educational stance is important to me,” Bisson said.
Junior Benjamin Hoble added similarly, but expanded to higher education issues, as he said, “Obama’s promises mean well for college students and debt.”
It appears student perspectives on the role of young people in the 2012 Presidential election have taken shift. In the previous poll students seemed unsure of their voice in the upcoming election, but in this more recent survey students are confident they can sway the vote.
Hoble also mentioned that he felt the youth voice in the election was, “An extremely important part of the voting body, but easily persuaded.”
“We are the reason the election has been a big deal,” junior Steven Lenhard said, “We are the future.”
Sophomore Caitlin Prior said, “How we vote today will affect our lives as we leave college and enter the real world, so we must be informed and vote.”
Out of the 240 surveyed, more students claimed that they were becoming more politically involved. Students also shared that they are starting to realize this election directly affects the youth’s future and that they have the power to make a difference.
“Young people are vital. We experience firsthand issues that need to be fixed—education, cost of living and global state of affairs,” senior Luke Neverlsky said.
Likewise, sophomore Taylor Jorgenson said, “I think we have the most important voice in this election and it’s up to us to make changes in this country.”
However, not all responses were so positive. Some students still thought the role of young people wouldn’t matter in the 2012 election.
“It’s not every important,” senior Greg Deveant said. “The electoral college has the final say over who wins the election.”
Freshman Rachel Lanza even used the word “ignorance” when describing the youth’s voice. “People just vote for social issues. Lazy students—educate them or raise the voting age.”
However, the positive responses outweighed the negative as the majority of student respondents are optimistic of their generation’s role in the 2012 election.
“We are the generation to get benefits from this election,” sophomore Nathan Kilelee said.
Junior Al Bradanich also said the youth’s voice is very important. “We are the ones who are going to be dealing with this, the sooner we get involved the better.”
This is the second of three Presidential Tracking Polls of the KSC campus, given by the students in the 230 Print Journalism course.
Those wishing to vote in the upcoming election can meet at Hoot and Scoot starting at 8a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6, Election Day, for free transportation to and from the polling station.