UConn students get other students prepared to vote (File Photo/The Daily Campus)
With midterm elections less than a month away, students at the University of Connecticut (UConn) report to being undecided as to who they’re voting for, and feel uninformed about their choice of candidates.
After The Daily Campus spoke with over 100 freshman, a general consensus was that student attribute lack of involvement to limited exposure to candidates. Students feel a lack of direct impact by the upcoming election, and do not have strong affiliations to a political party.
While the media emphasizes the social issues at hand in this election, in light of the Kavanaugh trials, economics was at the forefront of issues among politically active students.
“My political facet has been so focused on scandals. Politics are saturated with media related stories involving Trump,” first semester sports management major, Daniel Manger, said. “I have not received enough information on the candidates that I should be paying attention to.”
Upperclassmen held stronger opinions regarding the midterm election, advocating for the economic policies of their respective candidates.
Seventh semester political science major, Anthony Guardi, advocated for gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski (R), and the positive impact his proposed tax plan will have on Connecticut residents.
Guardi said Stefanowski’s plan to phase out the corporate income tax will make Connecticut a favorable place to do business in.
“Businesses are moving out of Connecticut because taxes are too high, meaning there are less job opportunities for graduating college students within the state,” Guardi said.
When asked about the lack of political involvement from UConn students, Guardi says the financial dependance of students on their families, as well as lack of exposure to candidates, discourages students from voting.
“People usually become more politically active after they graduate as they go off on their own for the first time and begin working,” Guardi said.
Stephanie Goebel, President of the UConn College Democrats, said gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont (D) is an advocate for students.
Goebel said, “[Lamont Agrees] the state’s fiscal situation should not cause students to suffer increased tuition hikes. This is in strict opposition to the Republican candidate’s proposed cuts that could devastate the university.”
Goebel noted a number of candidates advocating on women’s rights platforms, including candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Susan Bysiewicz (D), State Senate candidate Mae Flexer (D) and Attorney General candidate William Tong (D).
To combat the lack of political participation on campus, Goebel, along with the UConn Democrats, has planned a voter registration fair, supplemented by “dormstorming,” going door to door in dorms to register voters.
“We are so excited to be seeing the surge in political interest here at UConn, across the state, and around the country,” Goebel said.
Grace Burns is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at grace.burns@uconn.edu .
