The first presidential debate aired Oct. 3. Fourteen students attended the live viewing of the debate in the journalism room located in the communication wing.
Mixed feelings were shared throughout the room, some for current President Barack Obama and some for presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The energy within the room was exciting, and it showed that students actually cared about the election.
“Government tries to make it work for everyone,” sophomore business major Leyla Withrow said. “But because of the different parties it doesn’t work for everyone.” Withrow described government as a lose-lose situation. No matter what the outcome of the election, someone will not be happy.
She feels as though the election is a popularity vote, like back in high school. “It’s like voting for the most good-looking,” Withrow said, “instead of voting for the person that will do the best for the job.”
Student loans are something that Withrow thinks about from time to time whenever she gets Cabrini mail regarding tuition or bill payments. “I talk about it with my mom and how we’re going to pay off the loans after I graduate,” Withrow said. “I’m worried.” With the economy the way it is, Withrow is currently unemployed from her last two jobs.
She is concerned that if she can’t get a job as a student, then what does the long-term look like after she graduates college? Various questions circle through her mind, like ‘Will I get a job?’ and ‘What will happen if I don’t?’
Withrow tuned into the debate just because of the massive media she was getting through her Twitter and Facebook. Statuses were constantly taking over, so she decided to tune in and see what was going on. As soon as she turned it on all she heard from both presidential candidates was “blah, blah, blah.”
“Why does someone have to be better than the other one?” Withrow said.
Withrow described her experience attending the “Enrique’s Journey” speech given by author Sonia Nazario. From the speech, Withrow gathered that we must look at those in the lower class, those that are working in the fields, doing jobs that we could never imagine doing.
“These are the people who are the backbone of the economy,” Withrow said.
She wonders why the two parties just can’t put their differences aside and help each other. Withrow feels that both parties discriminate against others solely based on what they see should be done for the economy. Again this goes back to that lose-lose situation she had described.
Withrow will not be voting in this year’s coming election.
“If I’m not for the government, why vote?” Withrow said. “Why am I going to take sides? Everyone is too busy picking sides, the parties should just make it their point to help everyone and not worry about one-upping each other every chance they get.”
“The parties are over-committing to plans they can’t do,” Withrow said.
BIO BOX:
Age: 19
City: Roxborough
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Food: Pasta
Voting: No
Political views: Undecided
