Page 4
The Behrend Beacon
More
by Lori Aratani
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Georgy Russell, 27, made headlines
across the country in the fall for selling
thong underwear to finance her cam
paign for governor in California's recall
contest. She persuaded 2,216 people to
support her, but she still can't persuade
her younger sister, Sophie, to tune in to
politics.
Such is the dilemma of the youth
vote. While the potential payoff is im
mense - about one in 5 eligible voters is
younger than 30, according to the Uni
versity of Maryland's Center for Infor
mation and Research on Civic Learn
ing and Engagement - getting those vot
ers to turn out can be difficult, even
when they're related to the candidate.
Young voters are notoriously hard to
turn out at the polls. In presidential elec
tion years from 1972 to 2000, the turn
out rate declined by 13 percentage
points among voters 18-24 years old, ac
cording to the University of Maryland.
In 2000, 42 percent of voters 18-24
years old voted, while 70 percent of citi
zens 25 and older did.
If recent surveys are any indication,
however, 2004 could be the year that
younger voters make an impact. More
young people say they plan to vote in
this year's presidential contest - than four
years ago. And a new series of initia
tives spearheaded by such diverse play
ers as Hollywood producer Norman
Lear to wrestling superstar Bradshaw
are focti , ed on making it happen.
A nyent MTV poll conducted by Pe
ter D. tart Research Associates found
that foul ,ut of 10 of the 18- to-24-year
olds sure eyed said they will "definitely
vote" in the next presidential election
up nearly 30 percent from 2000. A sur
vey by Harvard University's Institute of
PENNSTATE
youth heading to polls
Politics found two-thirds of college stu
dents were registered to vote and 82 per
cent of those said they planned to vote
this year
"It's clear that there's a lot of young
interest this year," said Ara
Khachatourian, the media director for
MTV's Rock the Vote campaign, which
is entering its 14th year. "The economy
and, of course, 9/11 and war in Iraq have
really engaged folks. This year they're
pausing and looking at issues outside
of their immediate realm."
Early signs are promising: Exit polls
taken during the lowa caucuses in mid-
January showed voter turnout among
those younger than 30 almost doubled
to 17 percent, from 9 percent in 2000.
The number of voters younger than 30
was higher than that of the 30- to 44-
year-old crowd.
Even so, young voters aren't a sure
bet.
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean
was among the first of the 2004 field to
use the Internet to reach college students
and other young people. His Web site
includes a separate section targeted at
younger voters, called Generation Dean.
But the early buzz on college campuses
hasn't been enough to help him win a
primary or caucus.
Four years ago, Nima Niakan, a 28-
year-old Silicon Valley techie, was like
many young professionals with good
civic intentions. He registered to vote
and planned to support Al Gore. But
when Election Day rolled around, he
was busy and never made it to the polls.
At the time it wasn't a priority.
Four years later, things had changed.
Niakan's still busy - but he's also grown
increasingly disenchanted with the Bush
administration.
"I don't like the 'We're going to do it
our way' approach " he said. "I'm a per
3-week session
May 12-June 2
7-week session
June 14-August 3
Late summer
3-week session
August 9-26
Eri e Th e Behrenti
Cullcgc
5
%
:, , ~,,1,-P ' t• '' , ~ ,• ,
NI •:, <"•' ;: 1, 44 k.' :,,,
" 4 4. `' • ''. \® . ..
,
' s i;(..i.;,,,5, ,
Friday, February 20, 2003
Nima Niakan, the San Francisco Bay-Area coordinator for Wesley Clark's C Company, is trying to attact younger
voters to the 2004 presidential campaign.
son who's traveled to 10 or 15 countries
over the last three years, and I've found
that that policy reflects back on me. I
get subjected to questions about what
Bush does."
This year he vowed to do more than
just vote; he was going to participate.
Niakan became the San Francisco co
ordinator for C Company, the Wesley
Clark effort to attract young profession
als. C Company campaigned for Clark
through e-mail and the popular Craig's
List Web site. Gatherings were held at
apartments or hip nightspots.
For a complete
course listing visit
http://soc.our.psu.edu
For information,
call or e-mail
the Registrar's Office:
898-6104
mebs@psu.edu
r IMO MON MOO IMMO UM MN IMO MIMI OM im um 11110 01111 , 11110 lOW OM MOM IWO MONO MI MI WO ISA 11110 MUM 9
coupon
9 9
.
1 4402 Buffalo Road, Erie • 899-2313 I
1 1
1 2007 E. 38th Street, Erie •• 825-7872 1
I Dine-in, Carryout & Delivery I
pam me ma am imp me aim mu Nue no mra ea um so am re am an ams Ns um no ism al
I Large 1-Topping Pizza and a Large 1-Topping Pizza and a I
I Single Order of Breadsticks ' Single Order of Breadsticks I
I I
t a p "
Alibb I
I 4769 pg I 699 p i X 1
1 1 1
1 1
ICffia ava,tatits on Pan and Thin 'n Gispe chat Mx a yallab4a on dine in. • Offer wadi and Thin 'n Crispy oust OfAtt avastahie an dowin, I
I 1; 4 4 :== p oltr 4 4lct ri nlyt c t t p =t s geio ' I d ir a ch=rnal f,bl E7tl " :4 jp o 1 4 4 v:trafuTti $
:, co
d t " i
ilmi am al am am am al on as —II am we me me an am no -I
I Large s-Topping Pizza and a I Large 1-Topping Pizza and a I
I Single Order of Breadsticksl Single Order of Breadsticks I
I I
I n AIN. I t n .4461
14 5 6' 97 PO : 4 '6' 97 PO il
1 1 l
1
. Olfie available on Pan and Thin 'n Ciispy crust. Off. /mak* on dine in, I Of *WWI* an Pan and Thin 'n Caispy crust. Ma available on dina4n, I
I
: r
= isf t 4. orders
per=
$
: def V =
c . :t U l " 7
person.
a l d
e tr Itaaay d=.entuentlr Ma: aramat.i orgy t ttr ent
6mmsaammmimmnasmaonsmsmommmmse
Other nonpartisan efforts are joining
forces to reach out to young voters in
2004.
Producer Lear's initiative, "Declare
Yourself," includes tours of 18 differ
ent college campuses. The group has
also linked with Friendster, the popular
Web networking site to launch "voter
parties" featuring cast members from
MTV's "The Real World."
"We're really trying to reach young
people where they live, work and play
using popular culture," said Declare
Yourself spokeswoman Christy Salcido.
Pizza & iStix Student Combo
Angela Szesciorka, news editor
Dana Vaccaro features editor
"Research shows it's important to get
them early."
World Wide Entertainment's effort -
"Smackdown Your Vote" - includes
voter registration drives at wrestling
events. The drive will culminate at
Wrestle Mania XX in New York next
month
Russell, who's mulling a run for city
council in Mountain View, Calif., if she
doesn't get into business school, said
getting young people's attention can be
difficult, but it can he done. The key is
talking to them, she said, not at them.
Pia 464l6*