The upcoming 2008 general election has incited a surge of political activism among students at Boston College. Whether you're in the classroom or hanging out with friends, politics is becoming a more frequently discussed topic. So what is it about this election that the recent surge can be attributed to?
Firstly, the heightened political awareness and involvement at BC is part of a nation-wide spike in voting among America's youth. According to an article recently published by The Nation (an online periodical devoted to politics), the 2004 election marked the largest increase in voter turnout among millennial voters (18-29-year olds) since 1972, and more are expected to participate in the 2008 election. Additionally, a study recently conducted by the CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement) revealed that between 1972 and 2000, the turnout rate among young voters declined by 16 percent. In 2004, however, youth voting dramatically increased by 11 percent.
This growth in young voter turnout over the past eight years is primarily due to one major realization among young voters: The United States is in dire need of immediate change, and the social networking of new-age technology enables mass mobilization for this change. Thus, young voters are beginning to see that they can make an impact in the upcoming election through online networking.
According to the previously mentioned article published by The Nation, "89 percent of millennial voters own a cell phone, and 86 percent of college students have access to Facebook." At a time when blogging, online video, and text messaging have become ingrained in youth culture, technology is playing a major role in political awareness and discussion among young American voters.
In addition to this sweeping youth movement, BC students in particular tend to be fairly politically engaged. Tripp Ott, A&S '11, says, "Politics is an important and inherent part of the BC community. Most students seem to genuinely care about who will be elected president in November. We may not display our political views through physical demonstration, but a lot of the discussion in the classroom and even in casual conversation involves politics. "
This notion of genuine interest was further reiterated by Dennis Hale, professor in the political science department, who claims, "It's easy to mistake the willingness to go on demonstrations for serious political commitment. When people talk about activism, they really mean demonstration. And people can still be interested in politics without demonstration. BC students are interested but not especially demonstrative."
Moreover, this genuine interest has been proven through on-campus student participation. Michael Reer, president of the College Republicans and A&S '10, says, "We [the College Republicans] already have 100 full-time members. Last year, we only had 30. We also have over 1,500 students on the listserv, which is much more than last year." When asked what the club had planned this year, Reer responded with an extended list of events, including campaigning in New Hampshire, explaining current tax and global warming policies, and organizing speeches at BC for veterans of the war in Iraq.
In addition to the increased club participation, some students at BC are extending their involvement in the election beyond our campus. Laura Joyce, A&S '10, for example, recently volunteered at the Democratic National Convention in Denver and continues to voice and discuss her political views with other students at BC. When asked how she thought young voters would figure into the 2008 election, Joyce says, "The young voters will play a huge role in the upcoming election, especially for Barack Obama because he is obviously more of their candidate."
Ultimately, although BC students have displayed an interest in the 2008 presidential election through class and casual discussion, club participation, and off-campus involvement, the election will ultimately boil down to voter turnout. The younger voters understand the importance of this election and that it has presented them with a unique opportunity to really make a difference in the redirection of the United States.
Joyce reinforces this final point in asserting that, "When Gore and Bush ran, the election came down to a few hundred votes, and there are more than a few hundred voters here at BC. It's such a close election and such a controversial one that young voters really need to get out there and vote. They really can make a difference."
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