The Reporter: Issue II Election Edition

EPORTER

ISSUE II: ELECTION EDITION

HATTERS AT THE POLLS: HOW STETSON STUDENTS WILL VOTE

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12 I RANK: The Benefits of Ranked Choice Voting

32 Bradley Whitford, Star of HBO’s “The West Wing,” on the New Special and the Importance of Young People Voting

VOL. CXXVIII

Letter Letters

It feels strange to sit down and write one of these for the last time. For those of you that don’t know, I will be flying the coop come December, and the brilliantly talented Calista Headrick will be taking over for me as Executive Editor. In the chaos of this issue, this semester, this year, there hasn’t been much time to just sit and process all the changes that life has brought, so for a moment, I hope you’ll indulge me by allowing me to do so.

If there are less cliche words to say what I want to say, I’m struggling to find them. Potentially, that’s because my senior thesis has sucked all the words out of my brain, but still, I’m not sure I’ll be able to express here just how thankful I am for every moment of these past 3 and a half years at the Reporter. How truly grateful I am for every word written, every photo taken, every illustration, every layout, every innovative and creative idea that has, time and time again, pushed what we thought was possible for The Reporter. For every issue, each better than the last, for all the growth our team has seen, for all the things they will do long after I’ve graduated - I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for it all.

More than anything, though, I am grateful for the beyond incredible people I have had the honor of working with over the years. Ruby, whose constant belief in me, the Hatter Network team, and every seemingly far-off possibility for what we could do here has driven us to be more than anything I could have imagined us being when I joined the ranks here all those years ago. Izzy, who’s dedication, passion,

and drive for this publication has continuously inspired me and everyone here to show up and bring more than our best to the table. Calista, who’s always a step ahead of me, picking up all the pieces I’ve forgotten and keeping us going with her unwavering calm. Crystal and Andy, without whom none of this would even be possible.

And most importantly, the entirety of the team who have, past and present, worked on The Reporter — you all constantly blow me away with the things you are able to do. I always thought it was silly of Twain to remark that “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” but I understand it now. It has been the greatest pleasure of my college career to get to work with a group brimming with so much pride and passion for what they do, that even the hardest, longest nights feel energizing. You all have taught me what it is to truly love what you do, and I will forever be thankful for that.

So, dear readers, enjoy this issue. Let it inspire you, in this moment of great change in our world, to be an active participant. Revel in your past experiences and use them to shape your future. This thing that you’re consuming is the product of people who are doing just that, and I can’t wait to see how they use those experiences to change this magazine and this organization, in the future.

Happy Reading, and more importantly, Happy Voting!

Executive Editor, Hannah Zeller

On the multiple choice section of the APUSH exam our kids will take in 30 years about the year 2020, they’ll be prompted to choose the question that most people were wondering during this time: A. How is it that we’re already in November? B. Is it too late for me to start binging “Tiger King”? Or, C. Should I start showering regularly again?

Ruby & Hannah

The answer is D., we knew the answers to none of the above.

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Here’s what I do know: a team of incredibly dedicated, hard working, and miraculously 2020-faring human beings spent a great long time creating this issue and, no I don’t want to think about the election either, but this makes it easier to digest. I promise you, dear reader, once you begin flipping through these pages, you’ll be happy you did.

Editor-In-Chief, Ruby Rosenthal

back Stage St

The presidential election doesn’t happen every year. For that reason, we knew that we had to take the opportunity to put a spotlight on what may be the most important presidential election yet, and something that won’t take place again until after many of us have finished our time here.

During such a tumultuous time in our lives, full of change and uncertainty, we wanted to highlight the event that will affect each and every one of us. We explored various facets of the election, some maybe that wouldn’t have initially come to mind, and genuinely enjoyed doing so, because we wanted to bring you, our readers, something to use as a stepping stone during such a decisive time.

Albeit virtually, and for who knows how much longer, I’m constantly taken aback by the level of progress that we make each and every time that we release a new issue. It only gets better and better. Whether it be the cover shoot or through every step of our brainstorming, writing, and designing process, the amount of work that our staff puts in to deliver something truly amazing—especially during the times that we live in now—never ceases to amaze me.

And to Hannah, who I’m going to miss immensely, we truly couldn’t have done any of this without you, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have had you constantly by my side to guide me through all of this. It’s not going to feel quite the same around here, but I can’t wait to see what greatness you will undoubtedly achieve in the future.

Cover Modeled by Nathan West (‘22) Cover Photos by Jillian Semmel

We hope that the words that fill up these pages are both informative and reflective of the state of things now, even knowing that things will be much different in 2024.

We made this special issue hoping to encourage everyone to vote, to let your voices be heard, and to take the future into your own hands.

- Calista Headrick, Managing Editor

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ditors editor

Ruby Rosenthal

Hannah Zeller

Calista Headrick

Jillian Semmel

Isabel Solorzano

Natalie Bergeron

Rene Campbell

Vivianne Skavlem

Ihsaan Fanusie

Julia Gray

Bella Steiret

editor-in-chief

photo editor

arts & culture editor

social media director

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executive editor

creative director

news editor

web designer

managing editor

multimedia editor

sports editor

Arnaldo Chow web director

the

r e t r repo Why are you voting this

hatternetwork.com

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coming election?

staff

Ruby Rosenthal, Editor-in-Chief Hannah Zeller, Executive Editor Izzy Solorzano, Creative Director Calista Headrick, Managing Editor Vivianne Skavlem, News Editor Rene Campbell, Arts & Culture Editor Because it’s too important not Ihsaan Fanusie, Sports Editor to, and because I want to play Jillian Semmel, Photo Editor an active part in the change I Natalie Bergeron, Multimedia Editor want to see.

Arnaldo Chow, Webmaster Julia Gray, Social Media Editor Taylor Williams, Social Media Staff Anjana Srivinivasan, Copy Editor I’m voting because the results of the Madison Gray, Designer election will have a direct impact on Cassandra Bradley, Designer my loved ones and myself.

Zoe Boykin, Designer Bella Steiert, Designer & Web Staff Maxx Smith, News Writer Naomi Johnson, News Writer Brett Zimmerman, News Writer - Web Emily Derrenbacker, Arts & Culture Writer Hannah Russo, Arts & Culture Writer Jay Stearman, Arts & Culture Writer I vote for those who can’t.

Allie Wilson, Arts & Culture Writer Bijou Aliza, Arts & Culture Writer Alessandra Rubello, Arts & Culture Writer - Web Ethan Dishman, Sports Writer

I vote to protect my rights as a gay woman and the rights of all marginalized groups.

I’m voting because as an American I have the right to use my voice to vote on what I want our country’s future to be!

contributors Jenny Fang, Writer Robert Che-Bonilla, Designer Nicole Rosen, Writer

JOINING US

When it comes to joining The

Reporter, we’re not picky.

Whether you’re interested in writing an article, designing a page, taking photos or creating some graphics for us, we want to hear what you have to say. The Reporter is an extracurricular, volunteer operation made for students, by students, and we aim to cover the full spectrum of student life here at Stetson. If you’re interested in getting involved or have any questions, comments or concerns, email our editor-in-chief, Ruby Rosenthal, at rrosenthal@stetson.edu or apply on Engage.

CORRECTIONS

As an official media outlet for students on campus, we push ourselves to be constantly improving our standards and correcting our mistakes. We care about accuracy and providing you with the most accurate information we can give. If there are mistakes, let us know by emailing us at hatternetwork@gmail.com.

ABOUT US

The Reporter is the oldest collegiate

publication in the state of Florida.

The magazine is produced six times per year, three a semester. Florida Sun Printing prints 300 copies per issue on 8.5 x 11inch, 80#Gloss Text. Most body text is 11 point Adobe Garamond Pro with 13 point leading set with a combination of regular, italic, and bold.

All pages were designed using Adobe Creative Suite CC software InDesign with photographs and artwork handled in Photoshop and Illustrator. For additional information, please visit hatternetwork.com. Questions and comments can be mailed to 421 N Woodland Blvd., Unit 8416 DeLand, Florida 32723 or emailed to hatternetwork@gmail.com. We plan to forge a media group that meets our own high standards of excellence and integrity through expression in print and online. Ultimately, student media at Stetson University will be a representation of just that: the students. And because we are serving our peers, we will be honest in the stories we tell. Because if we don’t tell them, who will?

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Models Include: Nathan West (‘22), Emily Derrenbacker (‘23), Zoe Boykin (‘22), and Hannah Zeller (‘20)

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Shining a Spotlight on the First Ladies of the United States I Rank: The Benefits of Ranked Choice Voting

State Swingers Club

Hatters at the Polls: How Stetson Students Will Vote Wait, I’m Voting For More Than Just the President?

Aaron Sorkin and the Bartlet Administration Want the Viewers to Vote Vice Presidents- Who They are, What They Do, and Why You Should Care?

Unpacked the reporter

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shining a

SPOTLIGHT

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U N I T E D S T AT E S

The First Lady of the United States is a prominent figure in American society. We know them for their fashion, their beauty, and their poise. But what we don’t always recognize them for is their impact.

Story by Emily Derrenbacker Design & Graphics by Cassandra Bradley

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he role of the First Lady, unlike the roles of the President and other elected officials, is not explicitly stated in the Constitution. That doesn’t mean, however, that a lot isn’t still expected of them. The George W. Bush Library, an institution that specifically promotes public education on the presidency and American history, states, “The spouse of the President is not elected to serve and yet, because the White House is both the residence and the office of the President, public service is inherent to the role.” As American culture has shifted, so has the manner in which each First Lady has filled her role.

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The role of the First Lady has evolved throughout history, as the First Lady’s position resulted in people going to her in an attempt to influence the President.

According to The George W. Bush Library, “First Ladies were often the most famous women in America, and were able to influence, or at least were perceived to be able to influence, the President. Due to their position and proximity, proponents of causes would implore First Ladies for their aid and assistance, sometimes successful in finding a champion.” First Ladies gained power as they hired staff to support their projects.

Despite not being elected officials themselves, First Ladies have a lot of power to influence the country. As part of their “job,” they act as hostess of the White House and are in charge of social events, but they also take on projects relating to social issues they are passionate about. For example, Michelle Obama famously created the “Let’s Move!’

Campaign to address childhood obesity during her time in the White House, and Laura Bush started an initiative to raise money for public libraries and increase literacy throughout the United States.

This year, current First Lady Melania Trump and Dr. Jill Biden are the two women who will potentially take on this role.

Melania Trump is the only First Lady to have been born outside of the United States and become a naturalized U.S. citizen. She was well-known for her modelling career before becoming First Lady, but was also very involved in supporting various nonprofits and charities. In 2005, she was awarded Goodwill Ambassador by the American Red Cross—a role she served in for four years.

As the current First Lady, Melania Trump has started her own initiative called “Be Best.” This program focuses on three issues children face: well-being, online safety, and opioid abuse. As part of this project, she has taken initiative in addressing issues regarding the emotional and physical health of children. Some of these actions include addressing the Parent Teacher Association Legislative conference about the importance of education and promotion of positive online behavior for children and meeting with Congress to promote the SUPPORT Act, which helps to reduce opioid use during pregnancy and provides education on how to recognize early childhood issues related to substance abuse.

First Lady Melania Trump has commented on the significance that she believes the program has had, saying that “Over the past two years, Be Best has played a major role in spreading awareness, highlighting successful programs and acts of kindness, and encouraging public-private sector relationships to help children overcome the struggles they face every day.”

USA Today, however, points out that “Most of the initiative’s work has focused on raising awareness of the issues within its pillars, rather than specific policy solutions,” and that it’s unclear what concrete effects it has had other than bringing awareness to the issues.

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Dr. Jill Biden, in contrast to past holders of the position, has been described as a “reluctant” potential First Lady.

According to Insider “In her memoir, she writes of giving her first political speech and having no desire to ‘give any speeches, anytime, anywhere — just the thought of doing so made me so nervous I felt sick.’” Throughout the time her husband has been on the campaign trail, Dr. Biden has continued her career as a teacher at Northern Virginia Community College, and she continued to teach the entire time her husband was Vice President (her Secret Service detail even dressed as students).

Because Dr. Biden is committed to teaching even if her husband wins the presidency, it is unclear how much she will be able to fulfill the expectations of being First Lady, as the duties of the First Lady are so much more than that of the Second Lady. But if Joe Biden is elected, she will be the most educated First Lady in history, holding her doctoral degree in education.

Additionally, despite having a day job, Dr. Biden still accomplished a lot as Second Lady: not only did she start the Joining Forces initiative to support military families along with First Lady Michele Obama, but she also started the Biden Breast Health Initiative to educate high school girls about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. And Joining Forces had tangible results. According to The National Association of Veteran-Serving Organizations, “Over the last five years, Joining Forces has received more than 1.25 million hiring commitments for veterans and military spouses from its corporate partners. It also has helped broker legislation enabling spouses to transfer certifications across all 50 states.”

The news media often gives attention to the way the First Lady remodels the rose garden or the way she speaks about her husband, but current and potential First Ladies can be incredibly influential, especially on the campaign trail. No one else can provide a unique, insightful perspective into their husbands the way they can.

Time magazine reported that Dr. Biden has been “instrumental in resolving differences in the party platform on education, negotiating a compromise between her husband’s education efforts and those of his former rivals who were further to the Left and pushing freecollege-for-all.”

Additionally, even though the presidential candidates’ spouses are separate from the political arena, they do have a hand in shaping their public images. The National First Ladies Library described why First Ladies appear with their husbands during the campaign: “Ideally, it presents a strong visual image of the newly nominated candidate’s marriage and family life. They have also come to serve as not only excellent surrogates who speak with authority on the issues of the campaign but can do so in a manner which, traditionally, translates into a more readily explanation for the general voting public. They can also speak of their spouses’ accomplishments and their personal attributes in a way that would be perceived as egotistical if the candidates themselves did so.”

So, for example, Melania Trump’s calm demeanor can be seen as a good contrast to President Trump’s blunt tone. First Ladies have the unique ability to humanize their husbands who are often portrayed very narrowly by the media.

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We can see that much is expected of First Ladies. Apart from simply supporting their husband and raising children, every aspect of their lives is in the spotlight. They are expected to plan White House events, start initiatives, and travel on the campaign trail.

But at the same time, they can’t get too involved. Hillary Clinton, when she was First Lady, received a lot of criticism from those who disapproved of her involvement in her husband’s policy decisions. These women walk a fine line to do their job in an “acceptable” way. The History Channel points out that, “Only when a man assumes the role of first gentleman might the presidential spouse model match the desires and qualifications of the individual in that role, rather than the expectations and demands of the body politic.”

First Ladies have been criticized for doing too much yet also for not doing enough. They are either praised for the clothing choices or treated with disdain. Melania Trump garnered a lot of attention when she wore a jacket with the words “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” after visiting migrant children in a Texas border town. The news media speculated if there was a message in her fashion choice and what it meant.

Melania Trump’s communications director responded, “It’s a jacket, there was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope this isn’t what the media is going to choose to focus on.” But many didn’t buy it. According to The New York Times: “Fashion is not by accident with this woman,” Bob Phibbs, chief executive of the Retail Doctor, a consultancy in New York, said in an interview. “She’s a former model. Every piece of clothing has a statement and purpose. She’s all about image, and so is Trump. She knows the power.”

On the other hand, Vanity Fair has commented on Dr. Biden not being in the news enough: “For as much as Michelle Obama is a celebrity—gracing magazine covers and increasing J. Crew’s stock—Jill Biden would have trouble getting recognized at a MoveOn meetup.”

Again, this critique shows the thin line First Ladies walk in the public eye. Hillary Clinton was criticized for being too involved and Dr. Biden seems to have the opposite problem. This may be because each woman who has taken on this role has done it differently, and consequently, this causes society to compare them.

First Ladies are required to be perfect mothers, perfect wives, and perfect public servants— society holds them to the highest standard possible. Even the title of “First Lady” suggests that they are supposed to be the perfect model of a woman. Women already have to live up to higher standards and be more conscious of their behavior simply because they are women. Doing this with everyone in the United States watching seems impossible.

Either way, each woman has defined her own role and preserved her place in history as First Lady of the United States. As time passes, it is likely that this role will continue to change according to the woman who fills it. But who knows?

Maybe one day, there will be a First Gentleman.

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IBENEFITS RANK:

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G N I T O V E C I O H C K RAN Breaking down what ranked choice voting is and how it could be a major step in making our elected people more representative of their people.

Story by Jay Stearman Design by Madison Gray

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f the 32 most developed nations, The United States in all her democratic glory ranks 26 overall in voter participation rate, coming in at a paltry 55.7% of voting-age people according to the Pew Research Center. Most likely, this dismal number isn’t due to our nation feeling satisfied with the government’s state of affairs, and more likely has to do with a feeling that we lack a real say in electing our leaders or are just wholly dissatisfied with the two-party system. The right to vote is something women and minorities have fought tirelessly for in this country, and now it seems that we are all guilty of taking this right for granted. But maybe, it’s not you who is to blame.

You’ve probably asked yourself why a certain person ended up being elected, but have you ever questioned the fairness of how we elect our officials? While there are several issues that arise when discussing election fairness—like gerrymandering, registration requirements, the electoral college, and voter suppression—fewer pay attention to the actual system as a whole.

When we vote, we mark only one bubble for each box. One person, one vote seems fair enough. But oftentimes we fail to consider the finer points of election fairness like geographic districting, party-only elections, and crucially, the winner-take-all electoral system. When looking at presidential elections, it’s easy to see how a minority in each state can suffer from the winnertake-all system. In the vast majority of states, the candidate with the most votes earns all of the electoral votes that state has to offer—not a proportional split. This fact is one of the main

Have you ever questioned the fairness of how we elect our officials? arguments citing the winner-take-all style as a system contributing to vote dilution. Now, it’s easier to see why turnout in our country is so low: people feel that the same party will win a specific region every time, or that their vote just isn’t significant enough to make a difference.

Rethinking the system has offered a wiser alternative: ranked choice voting.

Simply put, with ranked choice voting, “voters rank their choices in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority of firstplace votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and whoever their voters chose as their second choice is added to

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the tally of the remaining contenders,” writes The Atlantic’s Russell Berman. “That process continues until there are only two candidates left, and the one with the most votes wins,” he says. This system allows for each voter to vote for their favorite candidate without feeling that their vote might spoil a tight race or play into a different campaign’s hands.

Lamenting statistics like the fact that 94% of campaign events in 2016 were held in just 12 states, Bill Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts, feels that our current system is simply unfair to minority voters. “The consequences of striking down winner-take-all would benefit all voters, whatever their political party, by making every state a battleground state,” Weld wrote in a 2019 USA Today op-ed. “[These voters] would be lavished with attention, and they would turn out to vote because they would feel like their votes matter.”

We tend to take whatever the status quo is for elections as a given that can hardly be improved, but when you look at it, the basic principle of majority rules is routinely circumvented. In most areas

learn more about rank choice voting by scanning here!

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of the country, lower-level officials are elected and primary winners are nominated by plurality, meaning that whoever receives the most votes wins, regardless of whether they earn 80% or 18% of ballots.

This simple winner-takes-all approach results in the spoiler effect, where people vote for someone who has the best chance of beating a candidate they don’t like. In turn, they potentially forgo a vote for someone who aligns better with their values just because they don’t want to “waste” their vote on a person who is not likely to win.

This system of voting has given us the duopoly of the twoparty system, heightened polarization, less collaboration across the aisle, and frequently, deciding between either voting for someone that you despise or someone that you tolerate.

But this outcome isn’t a natural or inevitable occurrence.

Other liberal democracies have been able to sustain a multi-party system and have prevented widespread polarizing of its citizens, all while managing a higher level of voter participation than the USA. According to Evan McMullin, executive director of Stand Up Republic and former counterterrorism operations officer for the CIA, our increasingly polarized trendline and internal divisions make our democracy look weak on the world stage and leave us more vulnerable to targeted foreign influence. He warns that our current system is pushing us into a “post-truth world where there are no facts, there is no evidence, there’s just power.”

There are, of course, many contributors to this decay, but McMullin sees ranked choice voting as a crucial step in “ensuring that our incentives reward unified and effective leadership [who will] identify, grow, and reward common ground” rather than giving us partisanship which delivers the lesser-of-two-evils to our voting both each election cycle.

“The system we have now helps create and protect division and obscures common ground,” McMullin laments, and indeed the data show how the numbers of bipartisan bills passed by Congress have declined, and the ideological wings of the Democratic and Republican Party have steadily become more divided since 2004.

In response, a growing number of people across the country are advocating for the adoption of ranked choice voting, or RCV. Imagine you are with a friend at an ice cream shop, and think of how much more information you learn when you ask them to list their top three or four flavors in order,

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rather than asking them what their favorite flavor would be if they had to pick just one. This is the idea behind preferential ranked choice voting. It allows us to more fully express our preferences and encourage more cross-partisan, moderate candidates to campaign for elected positions.

If the person that you love isn’t going to win, well who do you like? We have seen this work across all demographics: education levels, race, gender, everybody gets it and they like it.”

- MIKE GRIFFIN

This system encourages more people to run for office and incentivizes candidates to build larger coalitions of support.

If you can’t persuade someone to vote for the candidate you support, you can perhaps convince them to rank that candidate second rather than ending the conversation entirely. Ranked choice ballots allow both voters and officials to know more about where the people really stand.

“Ranked choice voting may not cut down on polarization, but it likely gets rid of the spoiler effect of third party candidates,” remarked Stetson Law Professor Ciara TorresSpelliscy, who has testified before Congress, state, and local legislative bodies as an expert on campaign finance reform.

Torres-Spelliscy continued, “an advantage of ranked choice voting in a crowded primary is that it reduces the likelihood of needing a runoff election,” which rack up costs and have low voter turnout. “Moreover,” Torres-Spelliscy continued, “in a pandemic, a runoff election is one more risky event for in-person voters and poll workers,” therefore, “instant runoff voting could be a beneficial reform for voters and elections administrators.”

Ranked voting has been adopted in Ireland, Australia, and more than a dozen U.S. cities including Minneapolis and San Francisco. Recently, the state of Maine narrowly adopted ranked choice voting after people began looking for an alternative method after the 2010 election, which produced a governor who ended up winning only 37% of

MORE ON INSTITUTIONS AND LESS ON POLITICAL PERSONALITIES. IF WE HOPE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY TO REALIZE ITS TRUE POTENTIAL, THEN WE NEED TO START FOCUSING MORE ON INSTITUTIONS AND LESS ON POLITICAL PERSONALITIES. IF WE HOPE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY TO REALIZE ITS TRUE POTENTIAL, THEN WE NEED TO START FOCUSING MORE ON INSTITUTIO AND LESS ON POLITICAL PERSONALITIES. IF WE HOPE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY TO REALIZE ITS TRUE POTENT THEN WE NEED TO START FOCUSING MORE ON the votes. The League of Women Voters of Maine supported the polarized election system, all you have to do is convince someone measure because they believed ranked choice voting would help be angry at the other side.” If we want a democracy where we INSTITUTIONS AND LESS ONtoseekPOLITICAL PERSONALITI “preserve decent relationships among candidates, minimize the to strengthen and unify rather than react and divide, then we negativity, and encourage broader outreach by campaigns to all possible voters.”

need to elect people that a majority of people are satisfied with, and we will need to do a little more homework than usual.

Preferential voting, as it is also known, can actually reduce the number of election days in the year for each position, therefore improving turnout. It is especially useful in primaries as it can preempt a runoff without needing to have people vote a second time. Take this year’s Volusia County Chair election as an example: none of the three candidates won more than fifty percent of the votes cast: incumbent Deb Denys with 40%, challenger Jeff Brower with 45%, and Gerald Witman earning 15%. If the county had a ranked choice voting system, each voter would have ranked the three candidates, and in the absence of a majority, the 15,000 votes for Whitman would have been redistributed to his supporters’ second choice, and a winner declared shortly thereafter.

The positives of ranked choice voting are evident in places like Australia where according to the New York Times, “more powerful parties or candidates often incorporate policies of weaker ones in order to attract second-choice votes from those parties’ supporters.” This sort of collaboration is bound to help rather than hurt our democracy if adopted on a larger scale in the U.S.

Opponents to ranked choice voting say that such a change in the election system would confuse voters. But “it’s as easy as 1-2-3,” says Mike Griffin, political strategist and field officer for FairVote, a grassroots election reform group. “If your favorite candidate isn’t going to win, who’ll be your second choice? If the person that you love isn’t going to win, well who do you like? We have seen this work across all demographics: education levels, race, gender, everybody gets it and they like it,” said Griffin. Stephanie Slysz, executive administrator of Project Unrig, views ranked choice voting as a way to make campaigns and governance something to be proud of: it “gives voters more voice and more choice, eliminates the spoiler effect, and spurs candidates to build broader and deeper support,” instead of simply appealing to their own base, Slysz says.

Another bone of contention is that ranked choice voting might result in a dull mediocrity where the best leaders are disadvantaged by the middle-of-the-line compromiser. Alan Scwartz, philanthropist and former CEO of Bear Stearns, a Chicago-based investment bank, reamarked “It is easier to reach people to appeal to their anger rather than their aspiration...we see it everyday from mediocre people who find a way to get you aggravated, and in our

Mike Griffin reminds us, however, that “RCV isn’t the silver-bullet answer that will remove all the barriers faced by student voters and voters of color, but it’s a step in the right direction.” There are a long list of measures and restrictions that should be adopted to ensure our elections in this country are truly free and fair to all.

Ranked choice voting should be at the top of that list because “the old municipal primary system allowed a tiny, demographically narrow slice of the electorate to choose which candidate would appear on the ballot,” wrote Griffin in 2014. “RCV, by contrast, enables all eligible voters from across the political spectrum and all communities to fully engage in the process of choosing our leaders,” he said. And if we hope for our democracy to realize its true potential, then we need to start focusing more on institutions and less on political personalities.

P.S. Ranked choice voting should not be confused with double referendum. These terms are not related, and this year Florida’s Amendment No. 4 (which, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, is “funded through a secretive nonprofit group linked to a lobbying organization for Florida Power & Light, U.S. Sugar Corp. and other big businesses”) will ask you to approve or reject a double referendum initiative to make amending the state constitution more difficult. This has nothing to do with ranked choice voting.

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STATE SWINGERS club Florida is historically the most important swing state in the country, and this election is no different.

Story by Vivianne Skavlem Layout & Graphics by Zoe Boykin

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rom the notorious ‘Florida Man’ to the almighty reign of the House of Mouse, Florida is infamous in more ways than one. With the upcoming presidential election, Florida is poised to be in the spotlight once again, this time as a major political powerhouse.

Florida is among a group of states that are normally classified as swing states.

According to the Cook Political Report, the states most commonly referred to as swing states are Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

However, in the 2020 presidential election, a few more states join this list; Georgia, Minnesota, and North Carolina.

Regardless, it’s clear that most eyes are still looking to Florida. Florida is the third-largest state in the country, and is tied with New York for third-most electoral votes at 29. And unlike the blue state of California or the red state of Texas, Florida has voted red (Republican) in 2000 and blue (Democrat) in 2008. Since 1964, whichever candidate has won Florida has also won the presidential race. That, in case you were wondering, is 14 consecutive elections.

When people think of Florida, they think of snowbirds and the elderly. However, Florida’s voter demographics have changed. Like most places, the red has gotten redder and the blue has gotten bluer. According to the Florida Division of Elections, as of Aug. 31, 2020, 35.7% of voters are registered Republicans, 37% are registered Democrats, 1.3% are affiliated with minor parties, and 26% are unaffiliated.

For this election, Gen Xers (1965-79), Millennials (1980-94), and Gen Zs (1995-2012) make up 52% of registered voters, with Baby Boomers (1946-64), the Silent Generation (1925-45), and the Greatest Generation (1910-24) making up 48% of registered voters in Florida. Furthermore, 36% of Florida eligible voters are nonwhite.

With Florida being so evenly distributed among ages, political parties, and other demographics, it’s safe to say that every race in the Sunshine State is a close

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WITH THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, FLORIDA IS POISED TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME AS A MAJOR POLITICAL POWERHOUSE. WITH THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, FLORID S POISED TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME AS A MAJOR POLITICAL POWERHOUSE. WITH THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIO FLORIDA IS POISED TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME AS A MAJOR POLITICAL POWERHOUSE. WITH THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIA ELECTION, FLORIDA IS POISED TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME AS A MAJOR POLITICAL POWERHOUSE. WITH THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, FLORIDA IS POISED TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AGAIN, THIS TIME AS A MAJOR POLITICAL POWERHOUSE. one. Because of the usually narrow margin between the winner and the loser, it is vital that every vote is counted properly; and Florida knows better than most states how wrong that can go. As Florida gears up for the 2020 presidential election, the maelstrom of scrutiny around the 2000 Bush vs. Gore election is probably in the back of everyone’s minds—even more so in Volusia county, whose name now lives in infamy thanks to the series of unfortunate events in the days following. What has been called the Volusia Error was not the result of corruption or fraud, but technical glitches and general ineptitude. The night of the election saw six precincts unable to transmit results because of computer problems, 16,000 votes disappeared because of faulty memory cards, and damaged absentee ballots were not accepted by the system counting them.

The day after the 2000 election, during a live televised recount, a septuagenarian poll worker came in with a bag of ballots he left in his car. The day after that, the Miami-Dade elections office was under high security, and a Bush official was thrown out. On Friday of that week, a ballot bag was found without a seal, another with a broken seal, and another with ballots spilling out. Between 50-100 Black students claimed they had been turned away from polling stations, despite them being registered to vote. Saturday saw 300 county workers attempting to manually recount 200,000 ballots, which ended up being postponed to Sunday. On Sunday, the recount was stopped.

Another contributing factor to the recount cancelation was what is called the Brooks Brothers Riot. These were mostly male, mostly white, paid Republican operatives who stormed the Miami-Dade polling headquarters in suits and ties. While the presence of violence was hotly contested along political lines, the intimidation and impact of the Brooks Brothers Riot played a role in the cessation of the ballot recount.

The Brooks Brothers Riot draws haunting parallels to the current state of political unrest. President Donald Trump called on the Proud Boys, a hate group and domestic terrorists, to “stand back, and stand by” on national television during the presidential debate. Many felt this was a call to arms after he refused to publicly condemn white supremacists. President Trump has also alluded to the notion that if he does not win the election, then it wasn’t a fair election, or that ballots are being lost.

On November 3, all eyes will be on Florida. If the pattern from the past 14 presidential elections holds, whoever claims victory over Florida will win the White House. With a race as divisive as this, it’s important that every registered Florida voter makes their voice heard. In a state where the results come to about a 1% difference between candidates, every vote matters.

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DA R ON, S AL

G ONCE

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HATTERS AT THE POLLS: how Stetson students will vote

It’s that time again. You know what time I’m talking about. The time where it seems every conversation includes the question “who do you think is going to win?” That's right, the 2020 Presidential election is just weeks away. On Nov. 3, many Hatters will be exercising their right to vote in a presidential election for the first time. With what seems to be the most consequential election in our life time, it couldn’t be more fitting. To get a greater understanding of how the small Stetson electorate is leaning in this upcoming election, our residential political awareness organization, Stetson Votes, put out a poll on their social media platform. Respondents were presented with the Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and Green party nominees for president alongside exit poll questions such as, “What’s most important to you in a candidate?” and “What issues do you care the most about this upcoming election?”

Model: Zoe Boykin (‘22)

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BIDEN

Out of 70 undergraduate students, the responses were overwhelming. 74% of students stated that they would vote for Joe Biden. It appears that for Stetson students planning on a vote for Biden, racial and ethnic justice is the number one motivator. Students overwhelmingly selected the issue as an issue they care most about in the upcoming election. This is potentially a reflection of the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmad Aubery, and Breonna Taylor triggering a summer of protest and dialogue addressing institutional racism and police reform. The other popular issue for Joe Biden voters are health care, environment, and caring for our troops. This is in line with the general Democratic electorate. With Trump’s threats to repeal the Obama era Affordable Care Act and gutting of environmental protections over the past four years, Biden voters wish to see an emphasis on health care, social justice, and environmental protection. “He seems like the lesser of two evils,” said multiple respondents who indicated they would be voting for Joe Biden, students who seem to have reluctantly backed the candidate. In fact, some students responded by giving their preferred Democratic nominee. Names like Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttegieg, and even Alexandra Occasio-Cortez graced the poll. It appears that Biden voters overwhelmingly want a candidate that is morally strong, as indicated by multiple respondents to the question, “What’s most important to you in a candidate?” One student who elected this option also stated, “I just really want a president who doesn’t commit hate crimes.”

TRUMP

14 of the 70 students polled elected incumbent Donald Trump as president for the United States.

Coming off a strong economy with record stock market numbers, it’s clear that these students are voting for Trump likely for the recent economic success. This is evident by well over 70% of Trump supporters claiming the economy as their priority issue for the 2020 election. As one student puts it, “I have seen results and want to see more.” The rest of the priority issues for Trump voters were law and order, racial and ethnic justice, and caring for our troops— again, in line with the larger Republican electorate. After a summer of unrest and protest, the GOP has hammered hard on a pro-police line of messaging. Trump has dubbed himself the “LAW AND ORDER” candidate claiming that Joe Biden is colluding with the radical left to incite racial violence in the streets.

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Models: Hannah Zeller (‘20) and Nathan West (‘22)

WHY HATTERS VOTE

Respondents were allowed to list their own reasons for why they were choosing to back their candidate on Nov. 3— the responses varied greatly. One student stating that, “[Biden] has experience in policy decisions and was a great VP.” Others took a more personal approach: “Trump is a liar,” “He is a fascist,” “A scum [bag] serving the interests of the super-rich.”

An interesting phenomenon discovered in the poll were students reluctantly choosing to back Trump. One stated, “Although I am not a fan of Trump, I feel that Joe Biden does not have a set plan when it comes to handling this country.” A different student stated, “As much as I hate Trump, I have seen progress from him in office.”

This could be attributed to the incumbent effect of a sitting president. It’s incredibly difficult to knock off an incumbent in any political election. 80% of Americans are politically uninformed, according to a recent Gallup poll, meaning that whenever an election comes around they’re going to gauge how they’re doing in the immediate and vote for the incumbent if their situation is well. The poll did collect one response from a “never-trumper,” a Republican that refuses to vote for Donald Trump. These voters have gained notarairy after popular political organizations such as the Lincoln Project or Republican Voters Against Trump have gone viral on social media.

3RD PARTY

Although not as visible as 2016, there are still third party options on the national ballot for the 2020 presidential election. This year voters will see the name Howie Hawkins of the Green Party and Jo Jorgenson of the Libretarian party. Hawkins received two votes, whereas Jorgenson received one vote. This is significantly less than what was received back in 2016.

13% of Hatters stated they would vote for Libretarian Candidate Gary Johnson, with roughly 5% backing Green candidate Jill Stein. The issues important to the Green party backers are the environment, whereas the Libretarian cited, “Can compromise across the aisle” to be their biggest concern. It is important to note that many respondents stated that their second choices were third party candidates. This can be attributed to rising partisanship. Kanye West will not appear on the Florida ballot, as the celebrity was not able to register in time to appear.

Models: Zoe Boykin (‘22) and Emily Derrenbacker (‘23)

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HOW PEOPLE PLAN ON VOTING

The reality of our election is unlike any in recent American history. We are still in the thick of a global pandemic, one which both serves as a driving political tool for some voters and a cause for reservation among others. With concerns of safely voting in person, millions of voters have requested for absentee ballots. In fact, just three weeks out from the election, over 2.9 million Florida voters have turned in mail-in ballots, crushing the 2016 total. Our poll suggested similar numbers, as 50% stated they were voting by mail. 12 students responded that they would vote in person and early, whereas 13 voters claimed they would vote on Election Day. There is no significant inference on Party Identification and voting plan, the splits are within margin of error.

2016 DATA

As is traditional in political data inference, it’s imperative that we take a look back at how the campus voted in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Many consider this to be one of the most divisive and partisan elections in American history, although many are unaware of the scandalous attacks made

by John Adams in our third presidential election.

Regardless, the data stays pretty consistent. In 2016 Hillary Clinton was the clear campus favorite with 49% of respondents stating they were supporting her. Donald Trump, the victor of the 2016 election, came in at just 26% of the overall share. The data polled by the Hatter Network team back in 2016 was consistent with the national polling of 18-21 year olds, younger voters overwhelmingly supporting the Democratic candidate.

METHODOLOGY

This straw poll is the best data set we have because well...it’s the only data set we have. Respondents were required to show proof of Stetson identity by logging into campuslabs. The poll of 70 students was conducted by Stetson Votes, a nonpartisan student led organization under the Center for Community Engagement. The poll represents .7% of the student body. Trusted Pollsters such as Gallup, Pew, and others poll 500 Americans in their daily state surveys, well less than .7% of Florida’s population. This is not to suggest that these polls are not accurate, they are randomly sampled across a wide geographic area.

The poll did not collect names, or any other personal information. The poll was conducted through Engage. The poll was posted on Stetson Votes Instagram along side Hatter Networks.

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Models: Hannah Zeller (‘20), Jaida Garnes (‘24) and Emily Derrenbacker (‘23), Zoe Boykin (‘22)

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WAIT,

I’M VOTING FOR MORE THAN JUST THE PRESIDENT?

1.

The 2020 election has been contentious, to put it mildly.

Because that contention centers around the battle-royale for the presidential seat, it’s easy to forget that your ballot will have other races and other issues that could use your attention. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the amendments on the ballot this election, that way you can walk into that socially-distanced voting booth well-informed.

ALLOW ALL REGISTERED VOTERS, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, TO VOTE IN FLORIDA PRIMARIES

CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT TO VOTE IN FLORIDA ELECTIONS

2.

What This Amendment Says:

The Florida Constitution currently states that “Every citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen years of age and who is a permanent resident of the state, if registered as provided by law, shall be an elector of the county where registered.” The proposed amendment would change this by stating that, “Only a citizen of the United States... shall be an elector of the county where registered.”

What This Really Means:

One must be a citizen of the United States and registered in Florida to vote, so the amendment is simply a campaign to tweak the verbiage to sound more exclusive than inclusive while not actually changing the enforcement of any laws or policies.

The Pros and Cons:

Those for the amendment, like Florida Citizen Voters, argue that it’s a necessary change to prevent non-citizens from voting in U.S. elections. Those against it, like the League of Women Voters, argue that the Florida constitution already does this, meaning the amendment is unnecessary.

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a guide to the proposed amendments on your 2020 ballot

INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 BY 2026

What This Amendment Says:

This amendment would increase the minimum wage by $1 per year on Sep. 30, starting with $10 in 2021.

What This Really Means:

The minimum wage would increase by $1 increments from $10 in 2021 to $15 in 2026.

The Pros and Cons:

Many groups are fighting for a living wage so that Floridians can better afford their day-to-day expenses. Many small business owners are worried that they won’t be able to afford to keep up with the yearly minimum wage increase and will end up having to layoff employees, cut hours, or more quickly adopt automation. The state government warns that the fiscal impact will be passed onto individuals in the form of increased taxes to compensate for the wage hikes.

What This Amendment Says:

Create a top-two open primary system for state officials and legislators. All voters vote in primary elections for State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet.

What This Really Means:

This amendment would do away with party exclusive primary nominations. Instead of only registered Republicans or Democrats voting in their own party’s primary, all voters, whether they are affiliated with a party or not, would vote in one big primary where the two candidates with the most votes move onto the general election.

The Pros and Cons:

Supporters like Immigration Partnership and Coalition (IMPAC) point out that one third of Florida voters are not registered as a Republican or Democrat and are therefore excluded from the primary process where we select which candidates will vie for the position in the general election. Supporters hope that having an open primary will encourage candidates to appeal more towards the people at large instead of only to their own party. Opponents like the ACLU and NAACP worry that an open primary system will stifle minority representation as white voters can “bleach” the field, reducing minority voting power. The League of Women Voters supports the open primary system as they believe it would broaden political participation, however they oppose this amendment because it stipulates that only the top two candidates will move onto the general election, a move they see as too rigid and too easy to split the votes of one party over another.

3.

6.

4.

REQUIRE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO BE PASSED TWICE BEFORE ADOPTION

What This Amendment Says:

In Florida, an amendment requires a 60% constitutional majority vote at an election in order to pass into effect. This amendment, proposed by the Keep Our Constitution Clean political committee, would require “...all proposed amendments or revisions to the state constitution to be approved by the voters in two elections, instead of one, in order to take effect. The proposal applies the current thresholds for passage to each of the two elections.”

What This Really Means:

Currently, an amendment only needs to pass one election to make it on the books.

This amendment would require a proposed amendment to pass a second general election before becoming effective. Essentially, the amendment must receive a 60% constitutional majority vote at two separate elections before being passed.

The Pros and Cons:

Supporters—namely, the Keep Our Constitution Clean PC—assert that the bill would “reduce the amount of. . .whimsical constitutional amendments.” A lawyer from the organization believes that the state of Florida has passed a superfluous amount of ballot measures (compare 140 since 1960 to the U.S. Constitution’s 27 since 1787).

Detractors, like the League of Women voters, believe that the amendment would limit citizens’ ability to amend their constitution would pose a threat to direct democracy Floridians by making it much harder to pass amendments.

INCREASE LIMIT ON HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION What This Amendment Says:

The Florida Constitution currently states that “A person who establishes a new homestead. . .who has received a homestead exemption pursuant to Section 6 of this Article as of January 1 of either of the two years immediately preceding the establishment of the new homestead is entitled to have the new homestead assessed at less than just value.” This amendment would read “any of the three years” instead of “either of the two years.”

What This Really Means:

This bill is deceptively difficult to follow! Currently, permanent in-state Floridian residents receive a tax benefit which allows them to pay taxes on a value which is $25,000 less than the home’s assessed value (if a home were worth $225,000, for example, the homeowner would pay as though the house were worth $200,000). Upon selling a primary residence, Floridians can transfer these benefits to their new home within the first two years post-sale. This bill seeks to expand that time from two years to three years.

The Pros and Cons:

Supporters of the amendment, such as the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board, suggest that the extension would benefit voters who might be affected by the time their homes are finished being built, and would allow all homeowners to benefit from the exemption. The League of Women Voters, however, will be voting “no,” citing the reduction in property tax revenue (and, thus, in local funding for school and emergency services) as the reason for their opposition. The Florida Revenue Estimating Conference estimated that passing the amendment would cause a $1.8 million reduction in local property tax in 2021.

5.

TAX DISCOUNT FOR SPOUSES OF DECEASED VETERANS WITH COMBAT-RELATED DISABILITIES What This Amendment Says:

The amendment seeks to expand laws regarding homestead tax discounts by extending it to the surviving spouses of deceased veterans “. . .if the surviving spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead property and permanently resides thereon.” If this is the case, “the discount carries over to the surviving spouse.”

What This Really Means:

Amendment six addresses homestead tax benefits received by veterans with permanent service-related disabilities. Currently, should the veteran pass away, their spouse cannot receive their homestead benefit.

This amendment would carry the tax benefit over to a surviving spouse until the spouse remarries or sells the property, where it could potentially be transferred over to a new property. This bill would ultimately result in a reduction of local property tax revenue.

The Pros and Cons:

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board expressed support for the amendment by stating that its costs are, “...not too much to pay for people who served the country at such cost to themselves... we see it as particularly benefitting widows or widowers who want to relocate or downsize after the deaths of their spouses.” Supporters stress that the amendment would serve those who serve the U.S. and their families.

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AARON SORKIN AND THE BARTLET ADMINISTRATION WANT THE VIEWERS TO VOTE.

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The beloved political drama ”The West Wing” is back promoting viewers to vote. The show still maintains relevance 14 years after the finale, while reaching a new generation of fans.

Story by Bella Steiret Layout & Graphics by Bella Steiret

T

he popular political drama, “The West Wing,” is making a one-time return to television for one big reason: to encourage Americans to vote.

On Aug. 25, it was announced that the show would return for an HBO Max special in partnership with Michelle Obama’s organization, When We All Vote. The special is an on-stage performance of “Hartsfield’s Landing,” an episode which takes place during the show’s third season.

Reuniting the whole cast to film the episode while adhering to strict COVID-19 precautions, the special also features appearances by Lin-Manuel Miranda, former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and a musical performance by the Avett Brothers.

The New York Post also confirmed that “HBO Max’s parent company WarnerMedia also will make a donation to the group, which seeks to increase voter participation.”

Political activism was always at the heart of the show, so it makes perfect sense that it is returning in a presidential election year with a strong message. “The West Wing” special, in partnership with When We All Vote, is now streaming on HBO MAX. “The West Wing” aired on NBC for seven seasons from 1999 to 2006. It follows the story of fictional Democratic president Josiah Bartlet (played by Martin Sheen) and his administration. Even though the show has been off the air for fourteen years, it was given a second life on Netflix, where old fans rewatch it, and a new generation of viewers are being introduced to the world of the Bartlet Administration. What is it that makes this show so relevant that it can still bring in such a surge of new viewers? And why is the cast encouraging viewers to vote in the 2020 election?

and his anxiety surrounding voter results for the town in New Hampshire with a population of 42 residents. In the episode, the voting results from Hartsfield’s Landing end up predicting the winner of the crucial state primary, so Josh, along with his assistant Donna, try to get people to go out and vote for President Bartlet.

The importance of voting, even if in a small town, still holds to this day. Small town votes do count, as an article from Bloomberg points out, “For these local elections voter turnout is often extremely low, so even a few voters can make a difference.”

In this year’s election, we need everyone’s vote and participation to make a difference for our country. Even outside of the show, the cast of “The West Wing” is committed to sharing with their audience the importance of keeping up with the news and our political climate. For example, Bradley Whitford (who plays Josh Lyman), Allison Janey (C.J. Cregg), and Melissa Fitzgerald (Carol Fitzpatrick) are political activists. Whitford is a member of the board of advisors for Let America Vote. He also starred in a special for National Geographic where he went to Washington D.C. to work on a bi-partisan approach to climate solutions, and received the Ally for Equality award by the Human Rights Campaign. Janey has campaigned for various issues such as mental health, gay rights, and women’s rights, and Fitzgerlad is the senior director of the non-profit organization, Justice For Vets.

It was the goal of the cast and crew of “The West Wing” to encourage voting in this election as much as they can. In an interview about the reunion and importance of voting, Rob Lowe said, “I believe in our rights as Americans to participate

Amid the current political climate, as well as a global pandemic, the show has become popular again as a much-needed break from reality. It shows a liberal fantasy where the White House is run by people with integrity, kindness, tactfulness, and respect for all American citizens.

The episode being used for the HBO Max special is also quite relevant today, as America prepares for an election. “Hartsfield’s Landing” chronicles Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman

What is it that makes this show so relevant that it can still bring in such a surge of new viewers? And why is the cast encouraging viewers to vote in the 2020 election? the reporter

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in choosing our leaders and choosing our destinies and everybody should vote.” In that same video, Whitford commented that “This country is based on this idea that the future is an act of our creation, and political participation by everyone is really important.”

With the show gaining popularity again, this begs the question of what other elements about this show still hold today and why it can be brought back again.

Even though most of the show was produced in the years of George W. Bush’s presidency, much of the political concepts and messages still hold up today. “The West Wing” wasn’t afraid to tackle issues like the death penalty, gay rights, racism, and the September 11 terrorist attacks, an episode that aired just a month after the attacks occurred.

Stetson students who are fans of “The West Wing” gave their opinions on the reunion and how the show has stayed relevant, along with what it means to them.

When asked if they think it is important for “The West Wing” cast to reunite to spread the word of voting, Catie Brumit (’21) said, “I do think that it’s important for anyone who has a platform to use it, for good, for activism, and for education.

So, people who have the attention in a show like this, a politically charged show, you know, they have the attention of people who want to know more about these things, who care about these things.”

Carlye Mahler (‘24) expressed her thoughts on the actors using their platform to speak up about politics. “I think it’s good, especially like, I know they’ve been doing a lot of individual events. Specifically, Josh Malina is doing a lot in Wisconsin,” said Mahler. Josh Malina, Bradley Whitford, and Janel Maloney all teamed up to do a live stream fundraising with the organization Wis Dems, whose goal was to raise funds to ensure that the Democrats have the best chance in winning this election.

When asked how the show has impacted her, “I’m a political science major. So, a lot of it hit home for me. And I thought it was almost a good learning tool,” Brumit said.

“In a way it kind of helped conceptualize a lot of the topics that you learned through Poli Sci. This was a good way to kind of see it in action, because the show is very accurate, and how things are done. And it also just kind of reignited that, like, passion in me for, like, politics and social justice and action.”

Malher finds watching the show in 2020 comforting. “It was kind of a response [to] the Bush years,” she said. “So, it was almost supposed to be a comfort show for how a neoliberal government could function successfully, which I think is something that really resonates with a lot of people now with the Trump presidency to see an example of a successful neoliberal presidency.”

“The West Wing” is coming back when the world needs it the most. By using their platform to increase voter registration this year, that cast and the show overall is standing the test of time with lessons that stick with many generations and is creating a positive impact—encouraging young people to get involved in politics.

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FIVE ESSTENIAL WEST WING EPISODES

Photos Courtesy of Eddy Chen/HBO Max

If you have never seen the show or want to rewatch, here are five classic, must- see episodes that are my favorites.

SEASON 1, EPISODE 1: “Pilot” SEASON 1, EPISODE 10: “In Excelsis Deo” SEASON 2, EPISODE 10: “Noël” SEASON 3, EPISODE 15: “Hartsfield’s Landing” SEASON 4, EPISODE 1&2: “20 Hours in America”

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Q&A WITH BRADLEY WHITFORD Sitting down with Bradley Whitford, who played Josh Lynman on “The West Wing,” Whitford gave an inside look into the filming of the HBO Max special, his time on the show, and the importance of young people to vote. *Edited for length, grammer, and clarity.

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Hatter Network: How was it performing the episode “Hartsfield’s Landing?” And what about that episode made it a good choice to bring the show back after years off the air?

Bradley Whitford: Yeah, you know, I was actually—you know, we always get asked, you know, what’s your favorite episode? And people—it’s usually something like “In Excelsis Deo,” or “Two Cathedrals” or “Noël.” You know, nobody says “Hartsfield’s Landing,” and weirdly, like a lot of actors, I’ve maybe seen 40% of them. So I’ve seen a bunch of the episodes, but I literally had never seen this episode...and it reminded me of how incredibly lucky we were to be able to do a show that aspired to that sort of level of storytelling and a non-cynical embrace of democracy.

And I think it’s a great episode, because it’s about, it’s basically, you know, for my character, it’s about sort of embracing democracy outside of partisanship. Josh gets to the point—he’s getting all freaked out about what’s happening in Hartsfield’s Landing and he ends up with, ‘You know, just let them vote.’ And so I thought it [the episode] was a really good choice. It was very bizarre to go back, and we’re a very close cast. We love each other.

HN: How was it like partnering with When We All Vote?

BW: I know in Mississippi and absolutely in Florida, and it is absolutely true in Wisconsin, they’ve totally normalized voter suppression as an acceptable strategy, which I just find obscene. So for me to be able to do, you know, this wonderful story—which is, you know, about not taking the right to vote and the power of voting for granted—you know, to support an organization that is focused on making sure people can vote made me feel very, very lucky.

HN: I love that story. And you are so right about the voter suppression. Just from my school —at Stetson— we’ve been talking about making sure everyone’s ready to vote and that everyone has a plan and making that very accessible.

BW: I’m telling you, I mean, Florida is going to be tight. I get upset because young people will look at the statistics of young turnout, and it’ll be low. And they’ll say, well, young people aren’t trying to vote and that’s absolutely not true. All the voter suppression is aimed at making it difficult for young people who live in one place, go to school in another, to get confused about where they should register, how they should register, whether they need IDs or not.

HN: I have a few more questions about “The West Wing” special. So with Sterling K. Brown, it was huge that he was replacing the role of John Spencer’s character, Leo. How was your experience of working with Sterling running over those lines?

BW: John and I went way, way back. John was like a father to me...I had known John forever. I was very, very close to John. I loved John. I got a call that John was in trouble and got to his bed just after he died. John means the world to me. And when I heard it was Sterling, I thought, ‘Oh my God, that’s great, Johnny would love that.’ And then we had one Zoom rehearsal... and we read through it and Sterling just started talking and I just, I just started crying because it brought John back. And Sterling is just so truthful and soulful, you know, in a way that John was.

HN: Do you have a favorite memory on set during the run of “The West Wing?”

BW: Yeah. There was an incredibly magical moment. You know, the episode “Noël” where I freak out?

HN: That’s one of my favorite episodes.

BW: We’re shooting the thing with Yo-Yo Ma. And Yo-Yo Ma is the sweetest human being in the world. He walks in. You’ve got probably 100 background artists. And he walks in with his cello, which is literally priceless...and he walks in, holds the cello up, and goes “Anybody want to play it?” And people were playing his cello.

And then all he had to do was play this thing that what I, before that episode, thought was the most beautiful piece of music. And all he had to do was play it once.

We recorded it and he said, ‘No, no, I want to play it as much as I can.’ So, he ended up playing it like 20 times and in between takes at one point he would start improvising on the cello. And Dulé Hill [Charlie Young] is one of the greatest tap dancers on the planet...and the moment that everybody remembers was Yo-Yo Ma improvising while Dulé tapped and then the panning back and forth in the shot is just incredible.

I find young people’s involvement now, it’s inspiring to me. I’m glad that they’re—in a time when they could become cynical given the world we are handing to them and a political process that is very ugly right now—that they are not falling prey to what is the goal of all this voter suppression, which is to make people think that their vote doesn’t matter when it actually does. They wouldn’t be trying to suppress your vote if they didn’t know how important it was. So, I’m glad students are doing that.

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iV ce Presidents

WHO they are, WHAT they do,& WHY should you care?

We’re all familiar with POTUS and the responsibilities that come with the position — but what about their second-in-command?

Story by Ihsaan Fanusie Design by Isabel Solorzano Graphics by Cassandra Bradley

W

ho will lead our country and wield the power of one of the most consequential positions in the world? This question is left to the American people to decide every four years.

The presidential election is widely considered to be one of the most important in our country. Yet when we go to vote, we see each ticket on the ballot bearing two names, not one. The major party candidates for the presidency are Donald Trump and Joe Biden; next to their names are vice presidential candidates Mike Pence (R) and Kamala Harris (D), respectively.

While the vice presidential candidates do get their own televised debate every election year, and most Americans know who they are, the majority of the American public may not be as familiar with their policies, platforms, and role in office.

WHO’S RUNNING? Vice President Mike Pence, the incumbent, has been notable for largely staying out of the spotlight as vice president; Dick Poleman of The Atlantic published a piece in 2018 described and Pence as possessing a “talent for being absent.”

Pence is generally described as a traditional conservative and served as the Governor of Indiana prior to being selected by President Donald Trump as a running mate. Notably, as vice president, Pence cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and led the presidential delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics.

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Kamala Harris, the Democratic VP nominee, ran for president initially but suspended her campaign in December of 2019.

Joe Biden selected her as his running mate on Aug. 11. Having formerly served as the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017, she is currently a Senator representing California, and has been since 2017. She will, presumably, resign to accept the position of vice president should Biden win the election.

ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT The Vice President of the United States is first in line for the presidency should the president die or become unfit to serve. The 25th amendment lays out these provisions.

Now, more than ever, the public seems to be taking this particular duty of the vice presidential officeholder into consideration when casting their ballots. President Trump is 74 years old, and former Vice President Joe Biden will turn 78 years old three weeks after the election. If either candidate was to win and subsequently serve a four-year term, they would leave office as the oldest president in American history, and this has become a point of conversation for American voters, because it also means that it is entirely possible that the president, whoever wins, could pass away while still in office.

Even though they will have access to the best medical care that the country has to offer, the presidency is a stressful job, and the average life expectancy in the US is just over 78 years. If a death in office happens, the vice president would finish out the term as the president of the United States.

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ROLE IN THE SENATE Barring an unlikely tragedy, however, the vice president who is on the winning ticket will have four years as the second-incommand of the executive branch. Yet this position holds little institutional power in our government.

David Hill, Ph.D., is a professor of political science here at Stetson. According to Professor Hill, the biggest explicit power the vice president holds is the tie breaking vote in the Senate.

The vice president can cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate if the vote is split equally. Historically, this power has been used to pass through or reject contentious bills or confirm or deny presidential nominees for various positions.

run as a social conservative, he had no history of being a social conservative, and so he chooses Mike Pence to shore up that wing of the party,” Hill said.

LIKE BATMAN AND ROBIN One recent trend in the vice presidency is the development of the VP’s role as a political partner of the president.

Since Al Gore’s tenure as vice president with Bill Clinton from 1993-2001, the VP has been tasked with handling some of the president’s policy agendas.

“Vice presidents have made important votes in the United States Senate, breaking those ties,” Hill said. “It’s not a rare thing.”

“The vice president has become more of a partner in governance with the president,” Hill said. “Now, the vice president has very little institutional power to do anything other than break those ties, but the president can put them in charge of particular policy areas and give them the responsibility to lead some sort of policy response.”

If a bill in the senate has 50 votes in favor and 50 votes in opposition, the vice president has the power to decide whether or not that bill moves on in the legislative process.

Dick Cheney, for example, had some degree of power over the U.S. handling of the war against terror during George W. Bush’s presidency.

INFORMAL POWERS

The aforementioned Gore helped carry out economic policy initiatives related to the spread of information technology in the 1990s.

Beyond the few institutional responsibilities that the VP is given through the constitution, there are informal powers that have evolved into the position as well.

Politically, a presidential candidate can select a particular person as their running mate in order to appeal to certain parts of their party.

We saw this trend continue into the Obama and Trump presidencies. Joe Biden was put in charge of economic recovery initiatives during his vice presidential term, whereas Mike Pence has been put in charge recently of the coronavirus response task force.

“A choice can shore up support within a particular wing of the party,” Hill said, though he cautioned that these differences are marginal in actual effect on an election outcome.

SO, WHY DOES THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MATTER?

He noted that the choice of Harris as Biden’s VP may be intended to help improve the latter’s standing in the African American community.

“Choosing a woman of color was a really smart and obvious choice,” Hill said. “It’s not going to pick up any new votes for Biden, but it’s certainly shoring up that wing of the party…

What I think he’s doing with the choice of Harris is making sure that he signals to these important constituents of the Democratic Party, ‘I hear you, and you’re going to have a voice in my administration.’”

President Trump’s selection of Mike Pence fulfilled a similar function. “He basically did the same thing with Pence, in that Trump certainly was not a social conservative, he didn’t really

Despite the significantly lower political impact of VPs, contrasted with presidents, there are still notable considerations to be made regarding the position. The vice president has a higher than usual chance of becoming president this election, and there are a variety of informal and formal responsibilities for the position.

Hill noted that while the vice presidents are considerably less powerful than their presidential counterparts, voters would do well to at least keep in mind that the position is more than ceremonial.

“Should voters [consider the vice president]? Probably. But do they? No.”

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Recently elected SGA President, Josh Finkelstein (‘22) poses in his new office.

Finkelstein not only carries a laptop with him, but Chik-fil-a sauce as well.

sga president

unpacked.

Story by Ruby Rosenthal Design by Ruby Rosenthal Photos by Jillian Semmel

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From his Predictive Analytics textbook and two different sets of headphones, Chick-fil-a sauce and his old business cards, newly elected SGA President Josh Finkelstein (‘22) sat down with us to unpack his 2020-friendly backpack.

1. Computer

Wow. Look at that. It’s a computer. It computes nice. It has everything on there. It’s an Apple computer. There you go. Has my whole life on there. I’d be nothing without it.

Number one thing I use is Google Chrome.

Why? Because it has everything on there, it has access to the internet. You have Outlook, you have Google Drive, resume stuff, internship stuff, personal stuff. [If I didn’t have my computer] I’d be probably missing pictures of myself, family pictures and videos, but like I back that stuff up anyways, and also save it to the cloud.

2. ID cards and keys

Okay, I got my wallet. Which has, you know, your ID, the, the illustrious Stetson ID and my hotel keys at the illustrious Holiday Inn Express. That’s number one. Number two, you got your nifty phone here. This thing right here is an Apple, iPhone 7. It’s kind of cracked.

But it still works. It gets the job done. I got keys to a Hyundai Sonata, as well as keys to the office on this little thing called, what do they call this? It’s been a very long day.

3.Scrap Paper

That’s some scrap paper, college-ruled paper right here. You know, if you need notes, or if you’re doing accounting homework.

Accounting is, it’s the study of putting down numbers and making up rules to make sure those numbers make sense. I’m joking— accounting is, like, it’s just trying to figure out where money’s going, how funds are going around, things of that sort of nature.

And there’s different facets of it. There’s tax accounting, there’s financial accounting, there’s auditing, all this other fun stuff. I know it sounds super interesting, right? What I like about it is how just in depth it can be.

Sometimes it can be fun, other times it can be not so fun. But at the end of the day, you’re figuring out how money is moving around, how businesses are working if they have funds, if they don’t have funds, you know, things of that sort of nature.

5. Two pairs of headphones

I got two sets of headphones or earbuds here. One for the computer because it has the jack, the 3.5 millimeter jack, and the other one for Apple phone because they got rid of the jack.

6. Flashlight

I got a flashlight in here, just in case anything goes dark. You said pack anything.

And I was trying to pack some stuff to kind of like, you know, make it a little bit fun.

You never know when it’s gonna go dark. You know, it’s a constant reminder that you always have to be the light in darkness.

7. Business cards

I got business cards, because everyone loves business cards. You never know who you’re gonna run into. You want a business card?

There you go. It’s kind of outdated. I made them freshman year, so they’re freshman year business cards that honestly should not be distributed, but [were] distributed. You know, you kind of see these business people kind of walk around with businesscards. I thought, okay, it’d also be a very good idea to do that, too.

They really don’t [relate to my future career]. Because they’re so outdated. However, you know, anyone having a business card is always a good idea. Especially if you want to, you know, if you’re going to a meeting and meeting someone maybe you want to connect with or network with.

8. Sunglasses

I got some sunglasses here. These are CNA branded. They’re bright red. CNA is an insurance company I interned for, and they give these out for free to the interns and they have been with me for a while.

9. Chick-fil-A sauce

You always got to carry around some Chickfil-A sauce with you. You never know when you might need emergency Chick-fil-A sauce.

4. Hand Sanitizer

You got some hand sanitizer right here, I think it’s 70% alcohol content, I’m not exactly too sure. Don’t drink it.

*Edited for length, grammer, and clarity.

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10. Mug

Let’s see what else. Let’s get to the big stuff here.

I got this mug in here and it says “it is what it is” because that’s true in life. It is what it is. I need to clean it. So it’s pretty dirty. But, I think [the message], it’s self explanatory. Anyways, what this means to me really is it’s a, you know, it’s a reminder that, you know, you can’t really change. There’s some things that you can’t change [or have] influence over, but the things that you can go ahead and try your best at, it’s what it means right now.

11. Predictive Analytics Textbook

Then of course, you have the book in order. Sure.

You have predictive analytics, this beautiful book right here of 200 pages of how to data mine. And I can go into depth here if you want to get to a fun page. Come on, we got—this is fun stuff, right?

Anyways, this is a predictive analytics book. It’s for predicting the future and making choices. That’s what this book does. It tells me if you like that, what do they call it? The orb of all telling? Well, you see, what I have to do is get a bunch of inputs and then run like a regress, like an analysis on outputs. And then I would put you in there with all your inputs, and just kind of figure out then if you would, or would not. But, if the book wants to tell me, possibly, it’s a maybe yes, or maybe a 50/50 chance, but it doesn’t tell me how. The most interesting thing from this book that I’ve gathered, it’s probably honestly how interesting, like, data-wise, like, if you want to record data from like, anyone, like just kind of like observing somebody, and just kind of record what they’re doing, how they’re doing it.

12. Highlighters

I guess, oh, these two highlighters, this is important, these two highlighters are here—very important. My pink and my yellow, important stuff.

I love using these two, because they helped me study, principally because yellow means you got to take a look back, pink means, you know- that’s also good for color coding, too. So I love these two things.

13. Pencil Case

You got a pencil case for all your nifty little number two’s that you need. If you need a number two go in here and take it.

14. Financial Accounting

Anyway, she’s this wonderful little book right here, as you can see is my financial accounting book.

Yeah, it’s a big- it’s a big- it’s a big boy. As you can see, it’s written by Mr. Spicer. Dr. Spiceland. He’s a very interesting man. Apparently, he received his B.S. degree in finance from University of Tennessee,

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“YOU ALWAYS GOT TO CARRY AROUND SOME CHICK-FIL-A SAUCE WITH YOU. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT NEED EMERGENCY CHICK-FIL-A SAUCE.” his MBA from Southern Illinois and his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas. So here you can learn about accounting concepts about the FASB and the GASB, which are international standards that people, or the United States standards when it comes to financial reporting.

Is there anything interesting about this book? It depends on the frame of mind you’re in. If you’re here to read a story or if you want to read a story to put you to sleep or to your kids, yes, this would be interesting. This would be good. They’d be out in maybe a minute, maybe two minutes. If you want to learn something, it’s good too, just make sure you take a lot of breaks and use the examples.

15. Water Bottle

And finally, and I know Ruby’s gonna kill me—it’s a water bottle. Now, let me explain. I do recycle. Okay, I do recycle these water bottles or I will get a reusable one. But unfortunately it’s not a Kirkland Signature water bottle.

It’s a Great Value pure drinking water bottle, and my comment here, hydrate or die-drate. I learned that. There you go. That’s me unpacked, unhinged, exposed.

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1. Bulls on Parade - Rage Against the Machine 2. White Flag - Bishop Briggs 3. This is America - Childish Gambino 4. War Pigs / Luke’s Wall - Black Sabbath 5. Unamerican - Dead Sara 6. Generation why by Conan gray 7. Freedom by BeyoncÊ ft. Kendrick Lamar 8. Revolution by the Beatles 9. Nina Cried Power by Hozier ft. Mavis Staples Playlist by natalie bergeron Art by Isabel Solorzano Listen to the full playlist on spotify

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