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Students struggle to vote from Chile

November 5, 2008

Kelly Peyton, a 20-year-old art major at the University of Nevada, Reno, was eager to vote in her first election. She sent in for her absentee ballot on Aug. 25, the day before she left to study abroad in Santiago, Chile, five time zones and almost 6,000 miles away.

She never received it.

Peyton is one among several UNR students in Santiago who have either not received their absentee ballots or received them late, jeopardizing their voice in the United States presidential election.

“I have been excited for this election for a long time,” she said. “We are all kind of bummed out that we can’t be there for it, so it sucks that it turned into such a dilemma to vote.”

There are more than 20 UNR students studying in Santiago. At least four students haven’t received ballots at all.

“It’s discouraging for students, especially those who are voting for the first time,” journalism instructor Deidre Pike said.

Pike, currently teaching travel writing and American and Latin American literary non-fiction in Santiago, received her ballot last Thursday.

“Apparently Washoe County had to finalize the referendum questions, so they got the ballots done as fast as they could,” she said. “But Chile. Mail service. Blah.”

She did not receive it in enough time to mail it back in without paying for overnight service. One student paid $40 to overnight her ballot, according to Pike.

Misty Kinser, a 26-year-old English and health ecology major, also never received her absentee ballot after applying in early October.

“I met people who told us that we could always do the emergency vote,” she said.

The Chilean embassy, however, informed her she would’ve had to fax her emergency vote two weeks ago.

To add yet another obstacle, the fax number for absentee ballots out of Chile was, according to Kinser, “busy yesterday or disconnected.”

“We have had conversations about how we think this is… well, ridiculous,” Peyton said. “Why should it be any different, you know? We’re still 100% citizens.”

Thankfully, the Washoe County Registrar of Voters allowed Pike and the students in Santiago to fax in their ballots.

“According to Washoe County they received our votes via fax,” Kinser said. “I have my fingers and toes crossed till midnight.”

Story by Brad Nelson

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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 

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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.

Students watch 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

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Campus venues welcome youth watch parties

November 4, 2008

As this historic election unfolds more and more student voters are tuning in around campus anxiously awaiting the results.  From the New Student Union to the Knowledge Center and even from student dorms, CNN, MSNBC and other news networks are on television screens being watched by captivated audiences. 

“I’m always really interested in politics,” said Teal Ericson, a UNR student. “This election really means a lot.”

Ericson, who watched from the theater in the New Student Union, said she plans to stay and watch for election results all night. 

She is not alone.

Sophomore Zachary Johnson is also viewing the election from the same convenient location.

“I voted two weeks ago,” Johnson said. “I’ve paid attention to politics but this is the first election I’ve actually tried to get involved and volunteer. Politicians should really pay attention to us [youth].”

One election watch party that attracted quite a crowd assembled in the Great Room at the Crowley Student Union.  The Political Science Honors Society gathered to watch the outcome of the election with hot wings and soda.

The many venues on campus that enable students to view the live election taking place are seen as beneficial to students who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity.

“A lot of students can’t afford TVs or cable,” said Jenna Talbot, a junior.

All over the country (and campus) young adults are getting involved in all aspects of the presidential campaign and candidates from both sides have been targeting this key group.

“It’s history making, I want to be a part of history,” said Latijera Avery, a freshman. 

By Emma Makoba
McQueen High School
 

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