Nov 2

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THE CAMPUS

November 2, 2016 – Volume 110 Issue 35

Election 2016:

Political science professors weigh in on presidential election Sage Tokach WEB EDITOR

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. S. elections will conclude Nov. 8, ending what some people deem the most controversial race to the presidency in the nation's history. Democrat Hillary Clinton, Republican Donald Trump and Libertarian Gary Johnson will appear on all 50 state ballots. Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein will be included on all ballots except Oklahoma, Nevada and South Dakota. Clinton, a former senator, first lady and secretary of state, campaigns with running mate Tim Kaine, D-Va., a U.S. senator and former governor. Trump, billionaire reality television star and real estate mogul, chose Gov. Mike Pence, R-Ind., as his vice presidential candidate. Johnson, businessman and former governor, selected Gov. William Weld, L-Mass., as his running mate. And Stein, physician and member of the Lexington, Massachusetts government, chose Ajamu Baraka, human rights activist. Clinton leads the race with 44.9 percent of the prospective

votes, according to the RealClear Politics poll, updated Oct. 24. Trump takes second with 39.9 percent, and Johnson and Stein sit in third and fourth place, with 5.9 and 2.3 percent respectively. The 2016 presidential nominees are among the most extreme, polarized candidates in U.S. history, according to an article in the Washington Post. Their extremism does not significantly hurt them in overall polls, though, according to the political science survey cited in the article. Instead, it grabs voters’ attention and attracts extremists. Kate Huston, political science professor, said Trump questioning the validity of the election is the most worrisome aspect of the race. “There is no evidence of a massive conspiracy to rig the election, as stated by both Republican and Democratic state officials, and alluding to widespread voter fraud undermines the very fabric of our democracy,” Huston said. “There is clearly a deep distrust of government in the United States. Some of this distrust is warranted, but, when we begin to doubt the democratic process and call our very core values into question, we are in deeper trouble than we thought.” Dr. Richard Johnson, chairman of the history and political

science departments, said this is an interesting election, not only because of the differences in experience between candidates, but also because of potential party realignment. “A majority of Trump supporters are white voters with lower levels of education, a group that has traditionally voted for Democrats,” he said. “Clinton is ahead in the polls with college-educated white women, a typically Republican group.” The voter turnout for millennials will be interesting, since many of the issues that directly affect them hardly have been addressed since Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., dropped out, Johnson said. Voters said they have strong opinions about the election. “I saw a picture on Instagram the other day that sums up my views,”said Jonathan May, acting junior. “The picture showed Clinton’s iconic blue background behind the word ‘DUH,’ and the H was replaced with her campaign logo, an H with a red arrow pointing to the right.” The candidates this election have been more active on Twitter than in the past. Clinton had 9.9 million followers, and Trump had 12.7 million, as of Oct. 25.

“I saw someone stuff a ‘Support Trump’ postcard back into the return-to-sender box, which made me happy,” said Shannon McKenrick, entertainment business sophomore. “The election terrifies me, though. Thinking about it gives me anxiety.” The presidential candidates have focused more on damaging each other through incendiary politics than focusing on the issues of real substance, said Dr. Mohamed Daadaoui, associate political science professor. “These are historical elections in the amount of vitriol that we have witnessed and the electoral divisiveness,” he said. “I hope that the next president can move the country past the indelible damage these elections have done to the American brand of democracy. The American people are resilient and I have faith we will overcome the politics of hatred, xenophobia and chauvinism.” The presidential candidates on the Oklahoma ballot agree on four main issues, according to ProCon.org. They support the legalization of fracking and medical marijuana, and they are against maintaining the embargo against Cuba and subsidizing oil companies.

Candidates' stances on major issues

Information from ProCon.org. Graphic by Web Editor Sage Tokach.

Oklahoma state questions to appear on general election ballot List of state questions

Chandler White STAFF WRITER

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Information from BallotPedia.org. Graphic by Web Editor Sage Tokach.

even state questions are on the ballot for the November general election. All of them address issues that will affect and reshape life in Oklahoma. “The presidential candidates may not necessarily be exciting in terms of turnout,” said Dr. Richard Johnson, chairman of the history and political science departments. “But voting may be more important when the candidates are less appealing because there are still important decisions to be made.” One such decision is SQ 792, a bill that would reform the state’s liquor laws. If approved, the measure would repeal Article 28 of the Oklahoma Constitution and replace it with a new set of laws governing alcoholic beverages, making it so that general stores such as Wal-Mart would have a stronger role in alcohol business manufacturing. The mandate also would increase the strength and potency of the liquor. “I’d be surprised to see 792 fail to pass,” Johnson said. “The people who are for it are very well-financed, and they’ve done a very good job at using the media in their favor. The other side really doesn’t have the

resources to fight back.” Another topic being addressed in this year’s state questions is the subject of sentencing reform. SQ 780 and SQ 781 work in tandem to raise the monetary amount for a felony, as well as, if the former is passed, allow the increase of money to be reinvested into mental health funding. These questions must be passed together. “A lot of criminals should be getting education or going into rehab as opposed to being thrown in jail, which is the worst thing that you could do to them, as well as being more expensive,” Johnson said. Many students have found their opinions are in conflict with their peers. The biggest concern among the student body, however, has been to maintain respectful disagreement and secure the advancement of state politics, said Billy Speed, music theater junior. “There can be a lot of unhealthy tension that can occur from disagreement of opinions,” he said. “I hope the divisive nature of this particular election doesn’t translate too much in the student body.”

State Rep. hosts meeting on radical Islam, calls Muslims ‘enemies’ Miguel Rios EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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n elected official claims an OCU professor is a

terrorist. Rep. John Bennett, R-Sallisaw, headed the study on Radical Islam, Sharia Law, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the radicallization process. It cost taxpayers about $700, according to Bennett. Bennett and other state representatives hosted an Oct. 25 meeting to discuss the findings. Imam Imad Enchassi, professor of Islamic studies, sat through the three-hour meeting where he and members of other local Muslim organizations were called “enemies to the state.” “The entire interim study

M MEDIAOCU.com

was a one-sided, bigoted, Islamophobic, name-calling study,” Enchassi said. “We were not allowed to respond, so they get to say whatever they want to say without any proof.” Enchassi said he sat quietly and endured insults directed toward himself, but he couldn’t stay seated when Bennett pointed at the interfaith community and said it was complicit in their terrorism. “That’s when I felt obliged to get up from my seat, nicely and quietly, and give hugs to the people from the interfaith community,” he said. Bennett asked the committee chairman to tell Enchassi to sit, but the chairman did not respond. “I wanted Rep. Bennett to know that we don’t live on a plantation, and he’s no longer the

master,” Enchassi said. “I looked him in the eye and said ‘this is a free country.’ I did not want to escalate the situation any further, so I sat down after that.” Bennett responded by saying he fought for that freedom. As a former U.S. Marine, Bennett served in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming a politician. “It was basically a clown show between Rep. Bennett and all of his collaborators who came out of state, courtesy of our tax money,” Enchassi said. Melaina Riley, religion junior, said the insults bother her. “Imad is a dear friend, knowledgeable teacher and the most compassionate human I’ve met,” she said. “He taught me that the best way to learn about other religions and cultures is through relationships with others. I have grown deeper in

my faith through being in a relationship with the Muslim community.” Bennett is known to target Islam, calling the religion “a cancer in our nation that needs to be cut out” in 2014. To start the meeting, Bennett said the Obama administration opened the door to "one of the greatest public safety threats we face today—Islamic terrorism." “We’re losing our republic. We have an enemy knocking on our door and a federal government who can’t call it what it is, Islamic terrorism,” Bennett said. “They can’t call Shariah law what it is—the teachings of Mohamed and the Muslim Brotherhood. These are all the antithesis of our constitution and our way of life.” President Robert Henry wrote in an email that Bennett knows nothing about the

religion. “It is sad—tragic—to hear such misinformation spouted by an elected official,” he wrote. “Imad Enchassi is a highly regarded man of peace.” Bennett refuted allegations that he called Muslims terrorists, saying a speaker he invited implied it. He said the Tulsa World article that broke the news was a “hit piece” against him. All of this comes ahead of the Nov. 8 general election where Bennett will appear on the ballot against Tom Stites, D-Sallisaw, for District 2 representative. “Islamophobia is a multimillion-dollar industry. It feeds the prejudice of many people, and it serves those who want to aspire for higher office,” Enchassi said. “Hate has always been there. The problem now is that hate has a platform and is

running for office.” John Guandolo, a retired Marine and founder of an anti-Muslim website, presented the study. He said the student Muslim organizations at local universities are terrorist-linked. OCU has a Muslim student association. After the news broke, Enchassi received support from the community. Local organizations met up Oct. 27 at the State Capitol to take pictures with the hashtag #NOTmyENEMY. Professors, staff, and students attended. “We are an intricate part and a vital organ in the city, in the state, in the country, and will continue to be so, despite what people say about us,” Enchassi said.

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