Students and Politics	«« back
	by BRITTENY URICH Staff Writer	March 2011

Whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent, Liberal or Conservative, voters that are between the ages of 18-29 are the least likely to vote. Why are college students so disinterested in politics? With the unemployment rate at an all time high in Las Vegas, the state of the economy at an all time low and tuition costs going up, College of Southern Nevada students who fall into that age bracket are feeling the effects personally, but yet voter turn out continues to be low after each election.

Over the years, politicians have cut the budget for education which have resulted in under funding and overcrowded classrooms. When CSN student Jeremiah Smith was asked why he doesn't take the initiative to vote, his response was, "I believe that my one extra vote wouldn't mean anything in my eyes. In the end, standing up just me alone, wouldn't really make a difference." Jeremiah also explained that while there are issues that affect students, many of them do not take the time to become politically involved because they are too focused on social events such as going to parties and going to the newest club in town. It seems that students are more focused on watching the current episode of "The Jersey Shore" rather than watching the President's State of the Union Address.

On the other hand, CSN student Loreli Miller believes that students are not staying politically involved because they are too busy with their school and work life, that there is not enough time to brush up with politics. Another CSN student, Lily Rochon believes that politicians are more concerned with appealing their platform to older constituents who actually do go out and vote rather than the younger crowd who does not bother to vote at all. Maybe if politicians geared more of their platform to its younger constituents, the more likely of a voter turnout there would from the 18-29 age group. In President Obama's State of the Union address on January 25th, he seemed to take some initiative by proposing a, "race to the top" competition that would allow funding for schools "If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we'll show you the money."

One thing is for sure, our age bracket will remain at a voter low as long as we allow it to be. It only takes one voice to be heard. It only took one voice from the likes of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. to start a movement. If college students all over the world made a point to let their voices be heard, politicians would have no choice but to gear their platforms toward college students, and give them the benefits that they deserve, such as quality higher education. One voice turns into two voices. Then three. Then 20. Then hundreds, and soon a movement has taken place.

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

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