Sanders Appeals to Local, Young Voters

Written by: Cody Neuenschwander, Franci Mara, Samantha Whiting

Volunteers, some of them IPFW students, gathered in the Bernie Sanders campaign headquarters on Wells Street in Fort Wayne April 26, as they prepared to go out into the community to knock on doors to garner more support for Sanders.

A poll by Harvard University found that 54 percent of those between 18-29 had a favorable opinion of 74-year-old Sanders, a democratic Presidential candidate.

According to Dr. Michael Wolf, professor of political science at IPFW, Sanders’ appeal to young people comes from his “anti-establishment” views.

“Younger voters have grown up in a time of political polarization, that has led them to potentially view politics as being especially negative,” Wolf said. “He’s [Sanders] talking about reform, and moving things that they associate with causing that.”

Those things include money in politics and social inequality, which Wolf said young people view as part of what has led to political polarization.

Another of Sanders’ policies that has been viewed favorably by young people is his claim of free tuition for public universities. However, according to Wolf, Sanders would still have the young vote without that policy.

Janelle Hall, president of the IPFW organization Students for Bernie, held a social event for Sanders supporters at the Fort Wayne coffee shop Firefly on April 19.

The event brought more than just IPFW students. In fact, according to Hall, only a few of the estimated 15 people that showed up were students. Many of them fell into the under 30 demographic.

Hall asked everyone who showed up to stand and say why they support Sanders. Some spoke of Sanders’ political policies; others spoke of his opposition to inequality. An overarching theme, however, was the consistency in his message throughout his political career.

Dria Kirkpatrick, a Sanders supporter, has never volunteered for a presidential candidate before. But, for Sanders, she has gone door-to-door and made telephone calls in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana.

“I truly believe he’s just a voice that covers everyone, no matter if you’re old, no matter if you’re young,” Kirkpatrick said.

Rebecca Burton, another local Sanders supporter, has also never volunteered for a candidate until now.

“I was uninvolved completely. I felt like I didn’t have a voice,” Burton said. “I was just going to vote Democrat because I liked the policies better, but I didn’t actually volunteer for any candidate until now.”

Burton said she is impressed with Sanders’s activism in the past, specifically pointing out his support of the civil rights movement.

“He’s been fighting so hard for us, I can’t just sit back and not fight for him,” Burton said.

She also said that young people want their own place in the government.

“We’re the ones starting this new way of thinking,” Burton said. “We want our government to be for us, and not for money.”

After losing key states in the primary elections to Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, Sanders announced he is considering cutting back on his campaign staff to reserve his resources and elongate his campaign.

According to Wolf, Sanders is behind Clinton in the Indiana polls. Sanders is visiting the IPFW campus Monday and Indiana primaries are on May 3.

IPSGA Aims to Keep Elections Centered on Platforms

Written By: Kale DeVoe, Cody Neuenschwander, Brice Vance

The Indiana-Purdue Student Government Association held open forums to help this year’s student election be more centered on candidates’ platforms. Events like these have not been used in the past couple election years, according to the student government coordinator.

Victoria Spencer, the university staff member responsible for overseeing the function of the student government, said making students aware of the candidates plans if elected between April 18 and April 23 is an issue “we have struggled with.”

“We are trying to bring back more intentional election events,” Spencer said. “It is something that has somewhat gone by the wayside.”

Last year, the student government did not host any forums or debates between candidates because there was only one contested election. Three of the four candidates ran unopposed.

IPSGA hosted two debate themed open forum events with candidates on April 5 and April 6. Spencer said the forums increase student involvement in the elections. Spencer estimated 90 students attended the two events.

Spencer said these events “force the candidates to put themselves out there, and run on a platform…as opposed to, ‘Hey here’s some candy. Please vote for me.’”

Student body president candidate senior Aleksandr Bogun said he was not pleased with the student response to the election.

“After getting people to sign my petition [to run for student body president], I had only ten people ask me what I actually want to do,” Bogun said. “The amount of students that actually care is really small. That shocks me.”

Spencer said she hoped these events would curb disinterest and “make students actually care about this.”

“These students represent you,” Spencer said.

Wade Smith, who is currently in his second year as student body president, dropped out of the campaign. He explained the role of the student body president as being “an advocate for the students.”

“They are a face for anyone to go to if they have questions concerning IPFW or IPSGA,” Smith said.

During his presidency, Smith has led initiatives to bring water bottle filling stations and more recycling bins to campus.

This year, Bogun and sophomore Andrew Kreager are running to fill Smith’s position.

Bogun works for IPSGA as an office administrator, and said he interacts with students daily. He also won Homecoming King in 2015. Kreager is a member of the student senate.

Beyond this year’s organized election events, both candidates use flyers in their campaigns. Bogun and Kreager both said they want their flyers to spur conversation with students about their platforms.

“The main thing is for people to notice you. I am trying to get my name out there,” Bogun said.

Bogun said he wants to connect the university’s departments together to promote and encourage growth on campus. He also expressed concern about students losing places to hang out due to ongoing construction.

Kreager said if he becomes president, he wants to be a voice for students among the potential recommended changes in the LSA report.

“I want to focus on the survey,” Kreager said. “I feel there has been no student input. I feel like getting student support might sway some of the things happening on campus.”