Pushing for more than just voting

By: Selma Skokic

Posted: 10/23/08

"On November 4, 2008, the real work starts. People need to hold politicians accountable for their promises," said Tommaso Boggia, a staff member of Campus Progress, an organization that helps students be involved in progressive issues that organized the conference "Turning Youth Power, Into Youth Voting."

Although only 12 people attended the conference "Turning Youth Power, Into Youth Voting" on Wednesday night in the Almaden Room of the Student Union, their concerns echoed those of the entire youth population.

"Are we going to be able to get a job after college is a question most college students are asking themselves," said Katie Naranjo, the national programs director of the College Democrats of America.

Boggia said that involvement does not stop in the voting booth; that people who voted need to stay involved past the election.

Naranjo said voters have an obligation to stay involved with the issues for which they plan to vote.

The Greenberg Millennial Survey, distributed to attendees at the conference, concluded that the Millennials, the generation born between 1978 and 2000, are rejecting the country's current leadership and dominant institutions.

Naranjo said it is a common misconception that young people don't vote.

From 1998 to 2002, young voters had a high turnout, she said, and from 2004 to 2008, those numbers almost doubled.

Mark Savage, a senior sociology major, said youths today are thought to be apathetic.

"Civic engagement needs to be taught at a younger age," he said.

Savage added that young voters may not be able to cause any change alone, but could as a collective movement.

Naranjo also said the people who are usually not involved are those that don't have access to an education or the means to become educated on the issues occurring in politics.

Boggia said this is a monumental time for America and the world.

"If you have never voted in your life, this is the election you should vote in," he said.

"It is going to determine whether this country will remain a beacon of light in the world or shrink to become another collapsed empire."

Cesar Esquivel, a senior psychology major, said he attended the conference because he wanted to get an overview of what is happening in the nation.

Steve Franco, a representative from "VotoLatino," an organization dedicated to getting Latinos involved in the political process said politicians need to realize that current youths are very media- savvy and they need to communicate with them using mediums they use.

The conference included speakers from the Democratic Party as well as independents.

However, no representatives from the Republican Party were in attendance.

"Young Republicans are not as excited about McCain as young Democrats are for Obama," said Andrae Macapinlac, president of the Democratic Caucus at SJSU.

Savage said this election could change the course of politics in this country.

"Whoever we elect is going to decide the fate of the world," Boggia said.