Election Day is approaching, and the campuses at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University are awash in a typical mix of activism and apathy. With help from correspondents Tyler Casey (UWM) and Heather Leszczewicz (Marquette), OnMilwaukee.com takes the political temperature of the biggest campuses in town.
UWM
Are you registered to vote? Really? Are you sure?
Maybe you should check again. If not, the New Voter’s Project will get you registered to cast a vote -- even if you're already a registered voter and told them of this. Twice. It’s hard to miss them, with their table outside the UWM Union food court that features a cutout of a giant naked Uncle Sam, but if not, these dope pushers of democracy will find you and remind you to vote. Even if you re-route your walk to class so as not to go through the Union, they'll find and remind you.
You can also tell we're gearing up for an election by a quick check of the ground beneath your feet. On any given day you'll find someone’s ideology scribbled in sidewalk chalk on the concrete of Spaights Plaza. Last week it was a couple dozen messages telling people to vote no on the proposed marriage amendment. Who knows what important issue will be presented in the same way as a four-square game as election time grows closer? Perhaps a complex breakdown of the capital punishment referendum will surface on a hopscotch board.
UWM has also seen appearances from ideologues and even some candidates. Innocence Project founder Barry Schenk urged people to vote no on the death penalty referendum, Green Party gubernatorial candidate Nelson Eisman urged people to vote for him, and former Democratic candidate for Secretary of State Scot Ross walked around the dorms for a little bit with a TV camera following him.
Most of the political figures that have come to campus have been left leaning, as might be expected of a public university in a major city. But according to student/blogger Bradley Wooten (http://bradleywooten.blogspot.com/), Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green was invited, along with Gov. Jim Doyle, to come to a student forum. After initially saying he was excited about the idea, Green eventually backed out after talking to Doyle’s campaign. Maybe he didn't want to scuff up his shoes with purple sidewalk chalk.
For all the commotion, one would hardly be able to tell that this is only a midterm election. Midterm elections generally have lower voter turnouts than in presidential election years. College students also don't tend to vote in large numbers, anyway. Only 22 percent of young adults voted in the previous midterm election in 2002. If that number holds up this year and is extrapolated throughout UWM’s student body, that’s around 6,000 students who will actually vote (not counting older students, who tend to vote more than 18-25 year olds).
That leaves 22,000 students, give or take a few hundred, for whom the register zombies, the sidewalk chalk and the guest speakers will ultimately leave no impression. But for now, UWM as a campus at least gives the appearance of caring. In the end, that’s probably all that matters. When the polls open November 7 and most students are busy not voting, at least it won't be for a lack of effort at UWM.
MARQUETTE
College is often considered a time of "political awakening." Marquette’s students have taken to political positions at the campus and state levels while moving into other mediums including a newspaper and blogs. In 2005, Marquette made national news when university officials shut down a table for Adopt-a-Sniper, but most of the political activity on campus carries a lower profile.
"Students form their own opinions and convictions in high school. But it is not until college that students are in an environment to test those beliefs and see how they measure up in a room full of views contrary to their own," Mary Ellen Burke, state chair of the Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans as well as a Marquette senior, says. "Most important, college students are of voting age, which gets them thinking about elections from a hands-on perspective."
Sophomore Jason Rae, chair of the Marquette College Democrats, agrees. "This is the first time that students will leave their home and venture out on their own. Doing so, they expose themselves to a new world that they have never before experienced. They are introduced to new concepts and ways of thinking. College is a time for them to challenge what they thought they knew and discover more about what they believe."
The political views expressed by students are rather diverse as well. Senior Sarah Cotton, chair of the Marquette chapter of Fair Wisconsin, says that the campus is always interesting with views ranging from extremely conservative to extremely liberal.
"I've met Marquette students who range in their political philosophies from Constitutionalism to Socialism, with shades of everything in between. That's pretty ‘diverse’ to me, but I'm sure there are students with even more unique political philosophies who I haven't even met yet," says junior Diana Sroka, editor-in-chief of The Warrior, a publication independent of the university. "Sometimes, though, I don't think it’s so much a matter of ‘diversity of political thought’ as it is the sheer fact that some people don't know where they stand yet, politically. And they are probably caught in between a few ideologies and still ironing out their thoughts."
Discovering political avenues and philosophies is a way of life, but the harsh reality is that not everyone is automatically accepted.
"Students and professors with whom I've come in contact are very interested in what others’ perspectives are and help nurture personal philosophies through class and general interactions," says Sroka. "Others are absolutely close-minded, and stifle personal political growth by inserting little quips about their own theories every chance they get."
Daniel Suhr, contributor to the conservative blog GOP3.com, agrees with Sroka. "About half the students here are Republicans, about half Democrats. Our student body is predominantly white, middle class, Midwestern and Catholic. Those demographic characteristics all suggest a healthy chunk of conservatives. But, if our student body is 50/50, I'd say our faculty is 75/25 and our administration is 70/30, and our guest speakers are 70/20 with the balance voting Green."
But Rae tends to lean the other way.
"I do believe that this dialogue on campus is open. I know that I am always willing to spend time to hear arguments that I don't agree with. I think the other side shares those thoughts as well," Rae says. "One of the greatest things about being a diverse political campus is the opportunity to sit and discuss our difference of opinions and try to understand what each other has to say."
As for political activism, many say that it’s important on the Marquette campus, but more needs to be done.
"Politics is very important here on the Marquette campus. While you may not have huge crowds showing up at meetings of the College Democrats or College Republicans, I still hear from students all the time," Rae says. "They are concerned with bills before Congress and the state legislature. They are worried about the future of their student loans and costs of tuition. They are nervous about leaving college and not having a job or not having health care coverage. Students are concerned about the issues that affect all Americans."
Burke says that students are more likely to have ideas and explore their political affiliations and ideas, but are less likely to do something.
"Political philosophy is practiced more than political science on Marquette's campus. Students are very interested in dialogue and exploration regarding certain policies, but not necessarily the implementation process of those policies," she says. "From my observation, Marquette students are quick to suggest Band-Aid solutions to societal and economical problems. I'd like to challenge them to draft action plans and create legislation in the classroom. Students would learn to think critically and back up their arguments with strong evidence. These would be more beneficial exercises to students of all political affiliations."
Practicing politics isn't for all, Sroka says that there’s always going be a need for leaders and followers.
"Not all students feel strongly enough about political issues to join campaigns, partake in rallies or run for office- and that's fine because there need to be leaders and there need to be followers in our society," she says. "But, this does not mean students should be politically apathetic. Students should be informed citizens and do their part in the political process by staying up to date on current events, voting and keeping elected officials in check."
And with keeping officials in check, Cotton says that people need to realize that politicians are elected every year. The presidential election years may be important, but those other races need attention as well.
UWM
Are you registered to vote? Really? Are you sure?
Maybe you should check again. If not, the New Voter’s Project will get you registered to cast a vote -- even if you're already a registered voter and told them of this. Twice. It’s hard to miss them, with their table outside the UWM Union food court that features a cutout of a giant naked Uncle Sam, but if not, these dope pushers of democracy will find you and remind you to vote. Even if you re-route your walk to class so as not to go through the Union, they'll find and remind you.
You can also tell we're gearing up for an election by a quick check of the ground beneath your feet. On any given day you'll find someone’s ideology scribbled in sidewalk chalk on the concrete of Spaights Plaza. Last week it was a couple dozen messages telling people to vote no on the proposed marriage amendment. Who knows what important issue will be presented in the same way as a four-square game as election time grows closer? Perhaps a complex breakdown of the capital punishment referendum will surface on a hopscotch board.
UWM has also seen appearances from ideologues and even some candidates. Innocence Project founder Barry Schenk urged people to vote no on the death penalty referendum, Green Party gubernatorial candidate Nelson Eisman urged people to vote for him, and former Democratic candidate for Secretary of State Scot Ross walked around the dorms for a little bit with a TV camera following him.
Most of the political figures that have come to campus have been left leaning, as might be expected of a public university in a major city. But according to student/blogger Bradley Wooten (http://bradleywooten.blogspot.com/), Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green was invited, along with Gov. Jim Doyle, to come to a student forum. After initially saying he was excited about the idea, Green eventually backed out after talking to Doyle’s campaign. Maybe he didn't want to scuff up his shoes with purple sidewalk chalk.
For all the commotion, one would hardly be able to tell that this is only a midterm election. Midterm elections generally have lower voter turnouts than in presidential election years. College students also don't tend to vote in large numbers, anyway. Only 22 percent of young adults voted in the previous midterm election in 2002. If that number holds up this year and is extrapolated throughout UWM’s student body, that’s around 6,000 students who will actually vote (not counting older students, who tend to vote more than 18-25 year olds).
That leaves 22,000 students, give or take a few hundred, for whom the register zombies, the sidewalk chalk and the guest speakers will ultimately leave no impression. But for now, UWM as a campus at least gives the appearance of caring. In the end, that’s probably all that matters. When the polls open November 7 and most students are busy not voting, at least it won't be for a lack of effort at UWM.
MARQUETTE
College is often considered a time of "political awakening." Marquette’s students have taken to political positions at the campus and state levels while moving into other mediums including a newspaper and blogs. In 2005, Marquette made national news when university officials shut down a table for Adopt-a-Sniper, but most of the political activity on campus carries a lower profile.
"Students form their own opinions and convictions in high school. But it is not until college that students are in an environment to test those beliefs and see how they measure up in a room full of views contrary to their own," Mary Ellen Burke, state chair of the Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans as well as a Marquette senior, says. "Most important, college students are of voting age, which gets them thinking about elections from a hands-on perspective."
The political views expressed by students are rather diverse as well. Senior Sarah Cotton, chair of the Marquette chapter of Fair Wisconsin, says that the campus is always interesting with views ranging from extremely conservative to extremely liberal.
"I've met Marquette students who range in their political philosophies from Constitutionalism to Socialism, with shades of everything in between. That's pretty ‘diverse’ to me, but I'm sure there are students with even more unique political philosophies who I haven't even met yet," says junior Diana Sroka, editor-in-chief of The Warrior, a publication independent of the university. "Sometimes, though, I don't think it’s so much a matter of ‘diversity of political thought’ as it is the sheer fact that some people don't know where they stand yet, politically. And they are probably caught in between a few ideologies and still ironing out their thoughts."
Discovering political avenues and philosophies is a way of life, but the harsh reality is that not everyone is automatically accepted.
"Students and professors with whom I've come in contact are very interested in what others’ perspectives are and help nurture personal philosophies through class and general interactions," says Sroka. "Others are absolutely close-minded, and stifle personal political growth by inserting little quips about their own theories every chance they get."
Daniel Suhr, contributor to the conservative blog GOP3.com, agrees with Sroka. "About half the students here are Republicans, about half Democrats. Our student body is predominantly white, middle class, Midwestern and Catholic. Those demographic characteristics all suggest a healthy chunk of conservatives. But, if our student body is 50/50, I'd say our faculty is 75/25 and our administration is 70/30, and our guest speakers are 70/20 with the balance voting Green."
But Rae tends to lean the other way.
"I do believe that this dialogue on campus is open. I know that I am always willing to spend time to hear arguments that I don't agree with. I think the other side shares those thoughts as well," Rae says. "One of the greatest things about being a diverse political campus is the opportunity to sit and discuss our difference of opinions and try to understand what each other has to say."
As for political activism, many say that it’s important on the Marquette campus, but more needs to be done.
"Politics is very important here on the Marquette campus. While you may not have huge crowds showing up at meetings of the College Democrats or College Republicans, I still hear from students all the time," Rae says. "They are concerned with bills before Congress and the state legislature. They are worried about the future of their student loans and costs of tuition. They are nervous about leaving college and not having a job or not having health care coverage. Students are concerned about the issues that affect all Americans."
Burke says that students are more likely to have ideas and explore their political affiliations and ideas, but are less likely to do something.
"Political philosophy is practiced more than political science on Marquette's campus. Students are very interested in dialogue and exploration regarding certain policies, but not necessarily the implementation process of those policies," she says. "From my observation, Marquette students are quick to suggest Band-Aid solutions to societal and economical problems. I'd like to challenge them to draft action plans and create legislation in the classroom. Students would learn to think critically and back up their arguments with strong evidence. These would be more beneficial exercises to students of all political affiliations."
Practicing politics isn't for all, Sroka says that there’s always going be a need for leaders and followers.
"Not all students feel strongly enough about political issues to join campaigns, partake in rallies or run for office- and that's fine because there need to be leaders and there need to be followers in our society," she says. "But, this does not mean students should be politically apathetic. Students should be informed citizens and do their part in the political process by staying up to date on current events, voting and keeping elected officials in check."
And with keeping officials in check, Cotton says that people need to realize that politicians are elected every year. The presidential election years may be important, but those other races need attention as well.
