Democrats, even at age 13, celebrate the victory
November 4, 2008
With each state victory for President-elect Barack Obama, the crowd at the Democratic party at the Grand Sierra Resort erupted into a series of cheers and chants, yelling for change.
“I’m feeling a lot better than I have in eight years,” said Obama supporter Janis Knight. “Obama’s charisma, his honesty and his intelligence are very reassuring. And nothing could be worse than the leadership we’ve had in the past.”
Among the hundreds of celebrants at the Grand Sierra were patrons who weren’t even allowed to vote yet. Thirteen-year-olds Dylan Rath and Bradley Caladianos represented the Obama campaign by wearing T-shirts and talking with Democratic voters.
“I believe in Obama’s health care plan and tax plan,” Caldianos said. “ I think he is going to be a huge change for our country. I’m so excited. My parents support Obama, but it was mine and Dylan’s idea to endorse him like this.”
Students at Squaw Valley Academy’s U.S. government class also attended, but not for academic purposes.
“We wanted to come down and feel the energy,” said teacher Nico Thorston.
“Not only to see how it works systematically, but to see the reactions of people around us.”
Many in the class are exchange students from Asian countries. They were interested in how American democracy actually works. One student, who asked for anonymity, spoke about the differences between Democratic America and Communist China.
“It’s completely different from America,” the student said. “In China there is no choice, there is just one political party We’re supposed to memorize sayings about why China is great, why communism is great, and you can’t say anything bad about it. You’ll get in trouble if you do.”
Many UNR students turned out at the Grand Sierra in support for Obama as well. Their concerns echoed the young-voter mantra that seemed so prominent throughout the campaign: It’s time for change.
“The economy is what scares me most,” said UNR senior Roxanna Khalili.
“This recession, or what will be, has to stop. Health care is also a main issue for me, too. We need some sort of universal health care plan, and I feel that through Obama we can achieve that.”
The young vote, however, was not the only group present at the Democratic Party. Baby boomers said Obama reminded them of a great leader past.
“It’s like seeing John F. Kennedy 40 years later,” said Obama supporter Todd Vodensteiner. “His intellect, judgment and ability to work both sides of Congress and his track record are remarkable. Obama will carry the torch that Kennedy started.”
“I can’t wait until January,” Obama supporter Lorna Hazlett said. “Obama’s confidence, liberal tone and positive attitude is exactly what this country needs.”
Story by Kelly Teemer
Student-athletes take election seriously
November 4, 2008
We’ve all seen now-President-elect Barack Obama playing basketball: with children, military personnel and even a Sports Illustrated writer. Sure he’s got a smooth jump-shot and a nice, old-school crossover, but would this really draw in the votes of athletes?
“I don’t care if my president can play basketball,” said Malik Cooke, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Cooke, a forward on the Wolf Pack basketball team, said it was the issues that led him to cast his ballot for Obama.
A football player who wished to remain anonymous said the president-elect’s views are what spurred him to vote democratic.
“He looks at both aspects of the situation,” he said. “The promises he makes, I’ve listen to all them and I really believe they can happen.”
What? These jocks, muscle heads and wearers of letterman jackets actually care about what candidates had to say? Believe it.
“A lot of my teammates and a lot of athletes on other teams went to go see Obama speak when he came to campus,” said Margaret Doolittle, a 20-year-old junior swimmer.
Obama’s Sept. 30 visit to UNR’s campus drew a crowd of about 12,000 people, mostly university students.
Samantha Neff, a 21-year-old junior swimmer at UNR, tried getting more active in the Obama event.
“(Neff) was the one of the team who was most involved,” said Kim Medina, a 19-year-old teammate of Neff. “She even volunteered to help out when Obama came to campus, but couldn’t because of practice.”
Potential voters lined up as early as 6 a.m. in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the then-presidential candidate.
Mike Ball, a 19-year-old freshman at UNR, was one of those hoping for an opportunity to see Obama.
“I went to the event he had on campus,” said Ball, a running back for the Wolf Pack football team. “I had to show up early because there were so many people there, but it was worth the wait. Hearing him speak, there’s nothing more motivating.”
Ball, like many other University of Nevada athletes, early-voted for Obama, but said despite the publicity surrounding this election, he felt little pressure from his teammates to vote for one particular candidate.
Alyx Sacks, a 20-year-old soccer player, said there were no discrepancies among her teammates as well but the team did have watch parties of some sort.
“While we were in Vegas for a tournament, Obama had his acceptance speech as the democratic nominee,” the sophomore said. “When we got to dinner, the TV was going, and the whole team was just kind of glued, trying to hear what he had to say.”
University of Nevada athletes were glued, everyone was glued to their television set Tuesday when President-elect Obama was officially announced victor.
Obama’s victory came largely in part to the domination he had of the youth vote (67 percent). But Doolittle said her elders are what motivated her to vote for the democrat.
“The environment I grew up in, I saw policies happen that affected my parents,” she said. “I’m still at this young age that I haven’t been personally affected by taxes, healthcare, things like that. But I know they will affect me in the future, so the way my parents were affected definitely affects my view on politics.”
By Juan López
Campus reflections
November 4, 2008
While other members of the Black Student Organization celebrate Obama’s victory in the Joe Crowley Student Union theater, Johnell Cropper is more sober. Change will take time.
“Both Obama or McCain would have faced a lot of challenges,” Cropper said. “People are going to be looking for instant gratification, and that’s not going to happen.”
Alonzo Miles and Andre Lawson also stopped by to hear the election results announced on CNN in the Joe Crowley Student Union theater after the Black Student Organization’s weekly meeting.
“It’s history,” Miles said. “It’s scary, but it’s good. It’s surreal.”
Meanwhile, students watched CNN election coverage in the Joe Crowley Student Union theater.
Michelle Sneck, a junior at the University of Nevada, Reno, celebrates Obama’s victory with her friends at the Joe Cowley Student Union theater.
“We got here just in time,” Sneck said. She says that youth participation ebbs and flows, but hopes that this election will have a lasting impact.
“When Obama came to Nevada, 2000 people came to see that,” she said. “I think that was pivotal. Our generation will at least remember this event and encourage our children.”
Story and photos by Heather Horn
Lincoln Lounge celebrates presidents past, present and future
November 4, 2008
Young voters celebrate Obama’s win and look toward a bright future.
Reported and produced by Courtney Law
Students gather in numbers
November 4, 2008
Students celebrate Obama’s win at the Lincoln Lounge downtown. Ryan Brewer, UNR student and double major in sociology and Spanish, is interviewed.
Reported and produced by Courtney Atkinson
What comes next
November 4, 2008
Reporter Ashley Hess talks with an Obama supporter about the president-elect’s most important issues.
Heller leads Derby for Congressional seat
November 4, 2008
Nevada congressional incumbent Dean Heller pulled ahead of challenger Jill Derby Tuesday night. Republican incumbent Heller led 50.20 percent to 43.37 percent.
The district encompasses Washoe County, where the results were different. In Washoe, Derby led 49.82 percent to 43.78 percent.
Democratic candidates Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus lead Republicans Kenneth Wagner and John Porter in District 1 and 3, respectively.
Story by Chelsea Otakan
High schoolers not voting but in the mix
November 4, 2008
RSJ reporter Blaine Dugan at Washoe County Democratic party celebration talks with eager activists and their father.
Local Democrats celebrate on election day
November 4, 2008
Supporters react to positive news coming into Democratic Headquarters throughout the day.
Obama far ahead in Washoe
November 4, 2008
Sen. Barack Obama held a 32 percentage-point lead over Sen. John McCain, according to early returns from the Washoe County Registrar of Voters.
Early-voting numbers also showed Democratic congressional candidate Jill Derby with an 11 percentage-point lead over Republican candidate Dean Heller. Republican State Senate candidate Bill Raggio led Democrat Jade Zahreddine by approximately 24 percentage points..
Early voters accounted for approximately 45 percent of the 231,437 total registered voters in Washoe County.
Story by Chelsea Otakan
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