St. Lawrence air this fall is charged with static electricity derived from with first time voters, all excited to become a part of history. Whether the members of the class of 2012 are for John McCain or Barack Obama, a registered Democrat, Republican, or Independent, one thing remains evident: change matters.
“The next term represents a new start for the country, a chance to get back in the right direction,” say 20-year-old Floridian Mark Armstrong ’12. That fresh start is something freshmen at SLU are not only excited for, but are interested in helping to make happen. Students crowd in each other’s dorm rooms to watch and have impassioned discussions about presidential debates, write names of their preferred candidates on the whiteboards attached to their doors, and bring up politics in the Dana Dining Hall. Some are members of SLU Democrats and SLU for Obama; others support SLU Republicans. Regardless, it seems not one ounce of the first year students’ newly acquired inclusion has gone uncelebrated. “This isn’t just a discussion in the classroom you have to have a Ph.D . in order to talk about. We’re sitting around in the dining hall talking about all aspects of it. It’s a conversation for everyone,” Kathryn Mullin ’12, of Enfield, Connecticut said.
Leslie Golden ’12 is excited to have recently sent out her absentee ballot. A resident of the town of Little Rock, AK,“I’ve been waiting my whole life to vote,” Leslie said. “Because I’m voting for my home state, I’m actually getting to represent people I know, have met, and believe in. I really feel like I’m making a difference.” The involved and revolutionary spirit that youth have contributed so greatly to in the current campaign, however, exists in part due to the historical nature of the election itself, something freshmen at SLU pay homage to. “This is the first time a Black man has run as a member of a major party. That alone is a big deal,” Mark noted. In addition to being an historical campaign in terms of race relations, to many the election represents real progress in the strive for women’s rights, with first Hillary Clinton as a Democratic contender in the primaries, and now Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate. “I think it’s crazy that two women have been so prevalent in this election compared to the past. A larger portion of the population is being represented now,” Leslie stated.
A generation that can’t seem to fathom why the color of an individual’s skin matters, or a day when women couldn’t be everything men could, is taking it upon themselves to make responsible choices and make their voice heard. “It’s my responsibility to have the knowledge to make an informed decision,” Kathryn went on to say. “This is our future, and we finally have the chance to say what we want without being influenced by someone else. It’s our vote, no one is making it for us. I think that’s pretty revolutionary.”
