Ripon College Days

"This is probably the most important election we will see in our lifetime," says President of the College Democrats, Chris Wyckoff.

This sentiment is echoed by countless others including Wyckoff's counterpart Steve Huebscher, president of the College Republicans.

"This election is so important because of the war on terrorism," Huebscher says. "We have two different ideas of where the country is going to go."

Getting Political

Both groups have a full slate of activities and work planned for the semester.

The Republicans held a party for the president in the Scott Hall TV lounge to watch George W. Bush's speech at the Republican national convention earlier this month and will be working with a field representative from the state campaign to coordinate their efforts in the coming months.

And while the Republicans still plan on bringing their main speaker to campus during the spring semester, the Democrats are hoping to snag a big name Wisconsin Democrat-possibly Sen. Russ Feingold-to speak before the election. They are also trying to get a showing of Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 on campus.

Although the groups' views on politics may be partisan, they both agree on getting students to the polls. Both groups will be coordinating events with each other to help inform college voters.

"We will be working with the Republicans on at least one debate," Wyckoff says.

And although the visibility of the College Greens has been limited, President Emily Miller says the group is still around.

"We are planning to go see David Cobb [the Green Party's nominee] in Oshkosh next week," says Miller, who recognizes a narrowing interest in support for the Green Party in this election. "Everyone is really scared that Bush is going to get reelected."

As a result, Miller says, even some of the members of the College Greens will be voting for Sen. John Kerry.

SMAC is also planning on getting involved by helping the political groups with funding, as well as supporting their own homegrown politics related activities.

The group is already scheduling a panel discussion, which includes students and professors discussing pertinent issues Sept. 22 as part of SMAC's contemporary issues committee.

Enfranchised and Energized

And as political signs pop up in dorm windows across campus, both Wyckoff and Huebscher are anticipating unprecedented participation by students.

At the activity fair Sept. 1 the College Democrats and College Republicans received over 50 sign-ups each, which is about double the average number in years past, according to both leaders.

"The young people are energized," says Liz Ringstead of the League of Women Voters, a non-partisan group dedicated to voter services that have helped college students register during class sign-up each year in August. This year the group enfranchised about 90 students and is planning another registration opportunity in the near future.

Swing Vote in a Swing State

Wisconsin is considered a swing state again this year, with the state's 10 electoral votes still up for grabs.

In 2000 Wisconsin barely went to Democrat Al Gore by about 400,000 votes but recent polls show Bush with a slight lead over Kerry in the state.

"The student vote could be the deciding factor in Wisconsin," says Emily Anderson, the state Campus Coordinator for the Kerry Campaign.

With Kerry and Bush running so close in the polls, Democrats and Republicans are trying to squeeze votes from some non-traditional areas, including the historically apathetic college-aged voter.

And as the candidates appear to be taking the youth vote increasingly serious by tailoring events and sending out their children to stump, students appear to be responding.

"The 2000 election set the bar a little higher," says Anderson. "We see students energized and with a growing sense of responsibility."

According to the State Director for Students for Bush, Grant Colp, "America is polarized right now and a lot of people are getting involved. There is no doubt that we will see a higher voter turnout from college age voters."

If one particular candidate is to gain from the increased voter turnout, it is likely to be Kerry. According to a recent Harvard University poll 58 percent of students favor Kerry compared to 37 percent that backed Bush.

And last February during the primaries, when Kerry was the presumptive democratic nominee, 57 percent of Ripon College Voters said they would not reelect Bush, while 32 percent voiced support for the incumbent and 11 percent were undecided in a College Days poll.

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