Vo l u m e
79
Number
10
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November
1,
2012
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ut.minaret@gmail.com
‘Election. What Election?’ UT Labeled ‘Politically Apathetic’ by Princeton Review
Asst. News and Features Editor
News and Features Editor
“Election. What Election?” is the name of the Princeton Review list published by the Huffington Post that lists The University of Tampa as the sixth most politically apathetic college in the nation. Although behind schools such as Duke University and College of the Ozarks, the ranking labels UT students as politically inactive and not knowing or caring about current affairs. Sophomore Stevie Handwerk does not agree with the ranking. “I think we’re pretty politically active,” she said. “I talk to people about politics and I go around and hear people talking about it and discussing it and I feel like the debates were watched pretty greatly.” There are students, however, who think that UT’s spot on the list may have some truth to it. “We have the UT Democrats and Republicans on campus, but as far as [political awareness] around campus I guess I’ve only seen stickers on cars,” junior Lauren Pruett said. “I think people need to be more educated, I have friends who say they won’t vote because of the Electoral College and they think their vote doesn’t matter but it still matters. I think it does have to do with apathy.” Travis Abercrombie is the Public Information Coordinator for the Supervisor of Elections Office and he would tell students that their vote does count. “[Students’] vote most definitely does count. My freshman year at Tampa was in 2000 which is when they had that whole fiasco and take it however you want to but the moral is that someone won that election by 537 votes, so every vote certainly does count. On the flip side, I can assure you, now having worked in the elections office, trust me, we count every vote. Cause if we don’t we’re going to go to
In Other News...
hlkljgk/Flickr.com Students will enter a voting booth similar to this one during the next two weeks to vote for the President, along with for other regional positions.
jail,“ he said. Michelle Kerr, a senior, is the vice president of the College Democrats and believes that political apathy stems from students not aiming to be informed, get involved and vote. “We have an opinion and if you don’t get out to vote, your opinion isn’t going to be counted,” Kerr said. “If college students don’t go out to vote, then politicians won’t even care about college students and then just dismiss us because we’re not going to go out to vote. We do have opinions that matter. We have issues that matter to us as students.” It is not too late to get involved and informed before voting ends. One easy way for students to obtain political knowledge and be more involved in the election process is to attend a program by the Office of Student Success along with the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office and the College Conservatives and College Democrats. Francis Jankowski is a mentor for the Office of Student Success and believes that this event will help students make more informed decisions come
election time. The event will take place Thursday, Nov. 1, in the Brevard Community Room from 4 - 6 p.m. There will be snacks, free T-shirts and prizes. “Ultimately an individual’s choice, but we want to make sure they know what choice they are making,” Jankowski said. “We hope that our event will allow students to become knowledgeable about the history and significance of voting and current, relevant political issues, allowing attendees to make informed decisions when voting, or refraining from voting.” He also feels that political apathy can be combated by seeking out the information necessary to be educated and not expecting it to be made readily available. “Personally, I feel it is important for everyone to make informed decisions, and not just in the context of elections. Information isn’t always readily available, but the amount of time and effort it takes to become informed is minuscule compared to the benefits of making an informed
See APATHY Page 4
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Early Voters Take Advantage of Location Options By YASAMAN SHERBAF
By MIA GLATTER
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The 2012 Presidential Election has already begun. Early voting started on the 27th and will run through Saturday, November 3. In order to vote, students need a valid photo ID which includes a Florida drivers’ license, U.S. passport, military ID or a student ID with a card that has a signature (credit card, debit card, etc.). Travis Abercrombie, the Public Information Coordinator for the Supervisor of Elections Office, advises students not to wait until the last minute to get informed. “Be familiar with that ballot, it’s a six page ballot, it’s monstrous and it really can be intimidating,” he said. “Google is your friend, it’s like taking a take home test. You can visit our website votehillsborough. org [where] you can fill out the bubbles in your office, in your room, where ever you want to
do it and you can even take the sample ballot into the polling place with you.” Early voting is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Saturday, Nov. 3 at 15 different locations throughout Hillsborough County. If students do not take advantage of early voting and choose to wait to vote on the actual Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 6, voting must go to their assigned voting precinct. If students registered to vote through campus, the correct precinct is the Greater Bethel Baptist Church. A 2012 sample ballot shows all the categories for voting which include president and vice president, sheriff, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, United States senator, boa ard of county commissioners, justice of the Supreme Court, city council members, etc. Yasaman Sherbaf can be reached at yasaman.sherbaf@ theminaretonline.com.
Photo courtesy of google.com/maps The three locations closest to campus include the Fred B. Karl County Center, the West Tampa Branch Library and the North Tampa Branch Library.
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News..................................2 Diversions.........................6 A+E....................................7 Opinion............................ 11
Sports..............................17