Youth turnout hype supported by statistics

If it weren’t already obvious, the youth vote played a dynamic role in this year’s presidential campaign as students swarmed the polls in record numbers. However, the degree to which this occurrence can be considered phenomenal is all in the eye of the beholder. Here are some facts to clarify the hype and punditry surrounding student voter turnout.

Tuesday’s election was the first time since 1972 that at least 50 percent of Americans, age 18-to-29, voted, according to preliminary statistics from the Center of Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

Far from being unprecedented, the youth voter turnout reflects the continuation of a trend. Starting in 1996, 37 percent of young adults voted, followed by 41 percent in 2000 and 48 percent in 2004.

For those who believe in the impact of the youth in electing Obama president, they are supported by statistics showing that 66 percent of youth voted for Barack Obama, up 12 percent from those who voted for John Kerry in 2004 and 18 percent from those who supported Al Gore in 2000.

According to the Associated Press, Eric Greenberg, a leading researcher of the youth demographic, dubbed the group’s response, a “changing of the guard, a new political epoch, a youth movement.”

Beyond such rhetoric, there seems to be ample evidence to confirm that the Obama candidacy is indeed inspiring change among students.

Molly Andolina, a staff member at DePaul University who researches the habits of young voters, is among a myriad of people who feel Obama has had a profound influence on their peers.

“Even students who did not vote for Obama said they felt a responsibility to ‘try to help him out’ and how we live in a democracy that isn’t about ‘government governing the people, but people taking responsibility,” Andolina said.

Student protest converges on Liberty Square

Meanwhile, in Taiwan, a student movement of a different sort is being staged at Liberty Square in Tapei. According to the Tapei Times, about 400 students congregated in front of the Executive Yuan in a silent sit-in led by National Taiwan University sociology professor Lee Ming Tsung.

The protestors contended that police used excessive force during a demonstration opposing the visit of Chen Yunlin, chairman of China’s Association for the Relations Across the Taiwan Strait.

Protestors advocated the amendment of the Parade and Assembly Law, which requires police approval before initiating an event.

After being evicted from the Executive Yuan for violating the very same law they were protesting, the students reassembled at Liberty Square Friday night.

University student groups across the country are rallying to support the protestors, launching sit-ins of their own.

At National Cheng Kung University, approximately 20 students held up signs reading, “Human Rights.”

“We hope similar campaigns will be launched at every university in Taiwan,” protestor spokesman Huang You-Heng said.

Reach columnist Sara Grimes at news@dailyuw.com.