2008 Woodie Awards
Youth vote rises nationwide, but what went wrong at McNeese
Alicia Hewett
Issue date: 11/17/04 Section: News
It was clear that 2004 was going to be a record year for youth turnout at the polls from the positive responses of organizations, such as MTV's Rock the Vote as well as personal campaigns from many well-known musical artists and other celebrities urging young people to become involved in the voting process. With the election over and the results in, 2004 was indeed a record year with 51.6 percent voter turnout among registered voters age 18-29, and a nine percent (4.6 million votes) increase from 2000, but the national results were anything but representative of the McNeese State University student body.
"This is phenomenal; it represents the highest youth turnout in more than a decade, four percentage points higher than the previous peak year of 1992," said Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement Director William A. Galston. Galston is a political theorist and author of six books and over 100 articles.
Unfortunately, there was no phenomenon taking place on McNeese's campus. Apathy among the students rang loud and clear. Of a little over 100 students polled across campus, 60 percent of McNeese students said that they did not vote in the election. Many of these students stated that they were not registered to vote and did not follow politics, and a small number of students polled did not even know who had won the election, even days after John Kerry had conceded.
"Hell no," responded freshman Jacob Broussard, a general studies major, when asked if he voted. He added, "It doesn't matter to me at all; presidents are for themselves."
The lack of participation from McNeese students in the presidential election came as no shock to many after the cancellation due to a lack of interest of the political debate that had been scheduled.
Fortunately, not all students fell into the void of indifference. Some students felt very passionately about the election.
"I think that we will continue on the road to the progression of our economy and the elimination of terrorism in the world," said freshman Justin Daigle, a psychology major.
"This is phenomenal; it represents the highest youth turnout in more than a decade, four percentage points higher than the previous peak year of 1992," said Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement Director William A. Galston. Galston is a political theorist and author of six books and over 100 articles.
Unfortunately, there was no phenomenon taking place on McNeese's campus. Apathy among the students rang loud and clear. Of a little over 100 students polled across campus, 60 percent of McNeese students said that they did not vote in the election. Many of these students stated that they were not registered to vote and did not follow politics, and a small number of students polled did not even know who had won the election, even days after John Kerry had conceded.
"Hell no," responded freshman Jacob Broussard, a general studies major, when asked if he voted. He added, "It doesn't matter to me at all; presidents are for themselves."
The lack of participation from McNeese students in the presidential election came as no shock to many after the cancellation due to a lack of interest of the political debate that had been scheduled.
Fortunately, not all students fell into the void of indifference. Some students felt very passionately about the election.
"I think that we will continue on the road to the progression of our economy and the elimination of terrorism in the world," said freshman Justin Daigle, a psychology major.