Flipping through television stations, it is common these days to see polls on the '08 elections. They show viewers how some farmers in Iowa or soccer moms in New Hampshire think.
On Nov. 28, Rhode Island College students will get their chance to show the world how they feel. The 2007 RIC Primary is a two day event to begin a year of events with the goal of getting young people involved in politics.
The college, with the Secretary of State's Office and the Rhode Island Board of Elections, will start the events off with a campaign rally on Tues., Nov. 27 from 6 until 9 p.m. in Roberts Auditorium. At the rally, each presidential candidate will have a representative there to discuss issues that were found to be the most important in a survey of RIC students. Each representative can hold a demonstration to garner support for their candidate. They will also be there to answer questions from the public. Commercials and taped, personal messages from the candidates will be shown throughout the rally.
So far, representatives from the Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul, Tom Tancredo, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Barack Obama and Dennis Kucinich campaigns have all confirmed their attendance. The rally and debate is open to the public.
On Wed., Nov. 28, the RIC polls will open. This is so students can vote for the candidate of their choice in a campus-wide primary. Actual ballots and voting machines will be set up in the Student Union and Alger Hall. The RIC polls will open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.
According to Kay Israel, RIC associate professor of Communications, "It will also provide a look at current trends locally. Our students come from all around the state and their votes will give us a glimpse of what the voters and the youth are thinking about the 2008 race."
There are other politically centered events being held all day on Nov. 28; including the first Rhode Island screening of Running in High Heels at 12:35 p.m. in Alger 110. The documentary follows the last months of the campaign of Emily Csendes, the 29-year-old who ran for state senator in New York's 29th District. A panel discussion on women in politics will follow the film. After the voting has concluded, the Secretary of State's office will report on the election results.
According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), 18-24 year-olds historically vote least when compared to other age groups. The groups sponsoring this event hope to make a change in those facts by engaging college students in the race.
"If we can get students involved in thinking about the upcoming election, if we can build a sense of efficacy within students that has an impact on the political process, and if we can build upon their political knowledge, then the entire event will be a success," said Brian Hull, RIC student and President of the Political Science Club.
Event co-sponsors include the Office of the President, Political Science Club, Friends of Adams Library, the RIC Women's Studies Organization and the Office of News and Publications.
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