Campaigning their way to a better world
Students dedicate time to campaigning and voter registration
Patrick Bonner
Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: Features
Contestants must prove themselves to the nation. Head-to-head competition tests their rhetoric, policy, and wit while the world watches. All for the chance to win the most coveted award in the world.
Sound like a reality show? Might as well be: it's the 2008 United States presidential election.
Often times, topics of conversations circling this election lead to who isn't the better candidate. While the politicians send out smear advertisements, some students have taken it upon themselves to promote and campaign for each candidate.
"I want to help people know the issues," said senior Timothy Spath.
"It's important for people to be informed about the candidate they want running the country, students especially.
Spath is an active campaigner and can often be seen on the streets of New Haven registering people to vote and handing out pins and pamphlets about his preferred candidate.
"I know people usually just throw them away, but if one person keeps it and turns out to vote because of it, I know I haven't wasted my time."
Similarly, senior Richard Murray, Spath's housemate ,is also campaigning for who he believes is the best candidate. He can be seen on the same streets, on the same days, but at different times than Spath.
Although they are good friends, they are campaigning for different candidates.
"It's fun," said Murray, "You get to meet a lot of people, and hopefully help a lot of people make their decision.
Election Day is getting closer and the attention and tension are mounting. Conversations in the hallways are more and more about politics and the candidates.
Any given day, students can be found discussing recent issues like the economy, healthcare, and the war over their lunch tables.
"I feel like it's all I talk about anymore. It's the most important election in my lifetime, it's hard not to be consumed by it," said senior Christina Klepper, as she sat in the Mahogany Room in front of her computer watching excerpts of debates and speeches from the candidates.
Sound like a reality show? Might as well be: it's the 2008 United States presidential election.
Often times, topics of conversations circling this election lead to who isn't the better candidate. While the politicians send out smear advertisements, some students have taken it upon themselves to promote and campaign for each candidate.
"I want to help people know the issues," said senior Timothy Spath.
"It's important for people to be informed about the candidate they want running the country, students especially.
Spath is an active campaigner and can often be seen on the streets of New Haven registering people to vote and handing out pins and pamphlets about his preferred candidate.
"I know people usually just throw them away, but if one person keeps it and turns out to vote because of it, I know I haven't wasted my time."
Similarly, senior Richard Murray, Spath's housemate ,is also campaigning for who he believes is the best candidate. He can be seen on the same streets, on the same days, but at different times than Spath.
Although they are good friends, they are campaigning for different candidates.
"It's fun," said Murray, "You get to meet a lot of people, and hopefully help a lot of people make their decision.
Election Day is getting closer and the attention and tension are mounting. Conversations in the hallways are more and more about politics and the candidates.
Any given day, students can be found discussing recent issues like the economy, healthcare, and the war over their lunch tables.
"I feel like it's all I talk about anymore. It's the most important election in my lifetime, it's hard not to be consumed by it," said senior Christina Klepper, as she sat in the Mahogany Room in front of her computer watching excerpts of debates and speeches from the candidates.
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