Pace Press

Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: News

The Web site thetakeaway.org is giving students the opportunity to take part in New Voices, which "is an election project from The Takeaway that provides a forum for the issues and thoughts of students and young voters across the country," according to vote2008.thetakeaway.org. The Takeaway is a radio news program that can be accessed both on air and online.

Political science major Alejandra Lopez is one of the students taking part in "New Voices." According to vote2008.thetakeaway.org Lopez "aims to give The Takeaway's New Voices project a different prospective - one that will analyze the rhetoric, leadership and goals of the U.S. presidential candidates through the eyes of a young Latina living in New York."

Lopez said, "I think that The Takeaway's New Voices project will be able to encourage more people to think about the upcoming election.  I think that this forum allows a variety of perspectives that inspire more people to tell their story."
Lopez has also been blogging on dysoncollege.blogspot.com about the election as well. Along with five other students and political science professor Dr. Christopher Malone, she attended both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Among the many websites dedicated to letting students express their views on the election like New Voices, is imvotingfor.org.

Launched by Campus Progress Action, the Web site lets young voters post videos about issues that have personally affected them. According to imvotingfor.org, "Campus Progress Action is interested in focusing the debate on what matters most-the issues." Imvotingfor.org also said, "One of the primary goals of I'm Voting For is to help the media focus on the issues that really matter to young people."

The University has been promoting student votership as well. During the Welcome Week Festivities, a Rock the Vote drive was held to get students to register to vote or sign up for an absentee ballot.

On Sept. 26, a Presidential debate watch party was held in the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts. Before the debate, a discussion was led by Professor Malone about the election.
The follow-up Vice-Presidential debate watching party with Professor Malone took place Oct. 2. View schedules are detailed on the University website.

"I think the youth vote is extremely important for the 2008 presidential election. With issues- like the economy, war and education, that directly impact our lives and future, I believe that the youth needs to voice their interests and goals for Americ," Lopez said. "The youth can make a difference."

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