College students across the nation took a stand in the recent 2008 election. After taking an active roll in political awareness the past four years, the reasons responsible for the immense incline in interest amongst young voters is not difficult to find. But with so many factors determining the involvement of young voters, how does individual college campuses across the nation intrigue students to become involved?
In past elections, statistics show that college students have been everything but compelled to have a voice, and there are several reasons to consider. Maybe if Election Day was considered a holiday, then students might enjoy the benefits of having no class, and possibly recognize the day as something important. Maybe students are just lazy and would rather not go the extra mile. When asked, students blame their lack of motivation on the feeling their vote does not count, and the idea that politicians do not target young voters with the issues they discuss in campaigns. So what was the difference with the 2008 election?
More than two hundred students at the University of Richmond voluntarily took time out of their weekend to listen to a speech about Senator Barack Obama’s presidential bid. The University of Maryland has an organization called the Young Democrats, who marched from dorm room to dorm room, encouraging their fellow students to vote. Students at American University rode buses from New Hampshire to Florida, offering their help to the campaigns earlier last year.
Consider the question, “Does the interest in becoming active develop from knowledge?” Education is important and extremely vital when forming an opinion and defending it. American University offers a “Politics and the Media” course for all students. The University of Maryland applies voting registration as a requirement in certain courses. Multiple Universities invite speakers and hold forums open to the students to listen and participate. If students have even just a general understanding of issues, they will be more likely to subconsciously form an opinion. The more these issues are dwelled on in the environment these students live in, the better they will understand and the more likely their opinions will surface.
According to the registry in Virginia, more than 60 percent of total new registrants in 2008 were under the age of 25. The 2008 election has proven that students can be reached if you find the right approach to engage them.
Students can be peer pressured into doing “just one more keg stand” at the frat party, but can they be peer pressured into having an active role in a presidential election if that seems to be the “thing” to do. In which case, would it be appropriate to label a positive enforcement as peer pressure? One form can end you up in bed all day nauseated with a headache, and the other gives you a voice at the polls. This can also be a question of what the trends are amongst college students in order of importance.