Vol. 17 | #9 | Jan. 12, 2016
Special Elections Issue
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FAUJAN16
UP STAFF LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITORS Emily Bloch MANAGING EDITOR Gregory Cox CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ivan Benavides WEB EDITOR Richard Finkel COPY DESK CHIEF Carissa Noelle Giard ASSISTANT COPY DESK CHIEF Rafael Baez NEWS EDITOR Patrick Martin SPORTS EDITOR Brendan Feeney OPINIONS EDITOR Andrew Fraieli COPY EDITOR Kerri Covington STAFF REPORTERS Brittany Ferrendi, Zakaria Sadik BUSINESS MANAGER Wesley Wright CONTRIBUTORS Nicholas Brooks, Jason Tirico, William Deckler, Stephanie Fonseca DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Bill Good ADVISERS Neil Santaniello, Ilene Prusher, Michael Koretzky COVER & ILLUSTRATIONS BY Ivan Benavides
WANT TO JOIN THE UP? Email universitypress@gmail.com Staff meetings every Friday, 2 p.m. in the Student Union, Room 214 WANT TO PLACE AN AD? Contact Jacquelyn Christie 888-897-7711 x 124 jchristie@mymediamate.com PUBLISHER FAU Student Government The opinions expressed by the UP are not necessarily those of the student body, Student Government or FAU. ADDRESS 777 Glades Road Student Union, Room 214 Boca Raton, FL 33431 561.297.2960
You’ve learned a lot this year. Now, it’s time to share.
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s a generation, we haven’t experienced half the things that happened in the 20th century – things that our parents and professors would consider to be the most critical events of our time. Some of us at FAU were kids or even toddlers during the collapse of the Soviet Union, we were in grade school when 9/11 happened, and we weren’t fully able to grasp the severity of the Great Recession. Yet many of us hold the power to vote for the first time. The Baby Boomers and even Generation X before us faced challenges head-on and took control of their future. Now it’s our turn. We are millennials — a generation defined as having been born anywhere from the 1980s to the early 2000s — and we hold the power to impact the future of the country as we head towards a presidential election in 2016. At the same time, we know that many millennials have a complacency issue: We roll with the punches and let life happen, then complain about how things don’t change. We think it’s time for millennials to step up and be heard, and so we hope our classmates will closely follow the campaign so they can be educated – and registered - voters come November 8. We prepared for this issue by canvassing the main campus of FAU and asking students certain key questions: What issues matter most to you? Who would you like to see represent the Democratic and Republican parties, and for whom would you ultimately hope to vote? Do you think your vote counts? Will you vote at all? Students’ answers surprised us and helped us decide which of the many issues that feed into this Special Elections Issue. We hope this will be part of an ongoing effort to take the pulse of FAU’s student body as we head towards November. As one of the most diverse campuses in the nation, FAU is in many ways a microcosm of Florida, and arguably, young people across America. We hope that the next time you’re at dinner, these stories might help you chime in and have your own voice. After reading this issue, our hope is that you will evolve into a more well-rounded, educated citizen equipped for America’s tomorrow. Nicholas Brooks, Special Issue Editor William Deckler Stephanie Fonseca Jason Tirico
All copy in this issue of the University Press was written by the students of the Fall 2015 JOU4930 Advanced News Reporting Course.
Special Elections Issue Table of Contents
Vol. 17 | #9 | Jan. 12, 2016
4 Choice or Life?
Abortion has been a hot button issue for several years, and it’s no different in this election.
6 To Arm or Not to Arm Gun rights are under a microscope. Presidential candidates have given their opinions, now hear these students.
8 Resettling Refugees
Accepting Syrian refugees is a point of contention for people across America. Students speak on either side of the issue.
10 Florida for the Win
This state is as important as ever in terms of its impact on the presidential race.
12 Feeling the Bern
What’s the appeal of this old New Yorker? Find out more about Owls for Bernie.
17 A Letter From...
Representatives from FAU’s College Democrats and College Republicans organizations share their opinions.
20 You Don’t Say
e asked students about the field of W candidates gunning for a seat in the White House.
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Choice OR Life? Presidential candidates weigh in on abortion.
Story by Stephanie Fonseca Illustration by Ivan Benavides
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s a little girl, Britney always knew that when she grew up she would become a doctor. Halfway through eighth grade, she knew that something was different about her body, but she kept it to herself. Her mother also noticed a difference, and one day Britney let her mom in on the secret — she was pregnant at the age of 14. Her mother, knowing that her daughter was a minor, made the decision for Britney to get an abortion. “My mom knew that I wanted to be a doctor and she didn’t want my mistake to keep me from my ultimate goal in life,” said Britney, a junior who requested her real name not be used. Britney is one of the 6.4 percent of teenage girls in the United States who had an abortion before the age of 17, according to the Guttmacher Institute— a nonprofit organization focusing on reproductive health. With the 6.4 percent accounting for about 67,840 abortions a year and attacks on abortion clinics continuing, candidates for president and lawmakers running for election have put the abortion issue back into the spotlight. As the presidential primaries approach, many candidates have placed the issue at the top of their list, with some indicating that they would like to see the overturn of Roe v. Wade — the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that made abortions legal — or at least a suspension of all government funding for abortion. On the Republican side, the two candidates who have been at the forefront of the race, Donald Trump and Ben Carson, are both against abortion. “I think that women’s health is an absolutely central campaign issue,” said Jane Caputi, a Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies professor at FAU. But she also stressed that abortion is part of a complex set of issues: women having reproductive justice and complete autonomy regarding their bodies. The topic of women’s health, in particular the matter of abortion, has brought up a lot of controversy between Democrats and Republicans. Although Trump wavered on his stance in the past, he recently came out and addressed his views. In an interview with David Brody for CBN, Trump said he was anti-abortion and even acknowledged his past stance when he was pro-abortion rights. When asked “why the switch?” Trump told a story of one of his friends who found out that his wife was pregnant, however he did not want the child. Nevertheless they went ahead and had the child, and the child became the apple of their eye. “These stories changed my view as to that, absolutely,” Trump said. He then clarified that he is against abortion except for in certain cases, such as rape, incest or in situations where the mother’s life is at risk. His opponent on the Republican side, Ben Carson, tackles the issue with a more ideological perspective. In his closing statement at the Republican debate in early November 2015, Carson rattled off stats of what occurred during the airtime of the debate. “There have been 200 babies killed at the hand of abortionists,” Carson said. “And this is a narrative that we can change. Not we the Democrats, not we the
Republicans, but we the people of America.” Carson, a former neurosurgeon, stands firm in his belief that human life begins at conception — when the egg and sperm join — and that abortion at any moment after conception is unacceptable. Carson has also been a supporter of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. If passed, the act would make it illegal to have an abortion more than 20 weeks after fertilization, with exceptions for rape, incest or risk of the mother’s life. In an interview with the Washington Times, Carson reiterated how his entire professional life was devoted to helping and enhancing life, and that aborting an unborn child for the reason of convenience repulses him. Gabriela Heizer, a sophomore studying international business, said that the candidates’ stances on abortion are relevant to many young women — including women like her, who think it’s immoral. “I love Carson’s stance and agree with Trump,” Heizer said. “I just think having an abortion due to convenience isn’t valid,” Heizer said. “So if they, the people of the United States, personally choose to kill babies I just want to make sure that I’m not the one financing it through taxes.” The front runners on the Democratic side beg to differ. Hillary Clinton presented that although Democrats and Republicans hold different views on the subject of abortion, she believes that common ground should be found between the two stances, despite her view on making abortion legal in all
circumstances. Clinton argues that abortion should be a woman’s right to choose and should have nothing to do with the government. Clinton’s rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, has stood behind the pro-abortion rights camp his whole life and when it comes to the topic of abortion, he believes it’s a women’s rights issue. The national debate over abortion played out at campuses across the country, including FAU. Salomon Duran, youth pastor at Unfamous Boca, a church youth group, believes the different stances people have on abortion throw a spotlight on the “brokenness of our world today.” Duran elaborates: “The people that say abortion should be legal can only say it because they are alive today, and were not aborted by their mother. They speak only because they have breath to speak with, and I’m not sure they think about that when someone asks them about abortion.” Britney believes there shouldn’t be a law preventing abortions altogether, but she does believe that there should be a law restricting the number of abortions a woman has, along with the mother’s circumstances. Furthermore, she believes women who have multiple abortions in a short time span are acting irresponsibly. “We as a country cannot force a woman to have a child she is not prepared to take care of, but it is also the woman’s responsibility to take the proper precautions to prevent becoming pregnant if she is not ready to be a mother.”
“We as a country cannot force a woman to have a child she is not prepared to take care of, but it is also the woman’s responsibility to take the proper precautions to prevent becoming pregnant if she is not ready to be a mother.”
“I just think having an abortion due to convenience isn’t valid. So if they, the people of the United States, personally choose to kill babies I just want to make sure that I’m not the one financing it through taxes.”
- “Britney,” FAU junior who requested her real name not be used
- Gabriela Heizer, sophomore International Business major
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To Arm or Not to Arm Take a look at where students and presidential hopefuls stand on gun rights. Story by William Deckler Illustration by Ivan Benavides
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ith mass shootings continuing to plague America and the looming threat of terrorist attacks, gun control promises to be a lightning rod issue in the run-up election of 2016. Republicans and Democrats have failed to agree on a common approach to dealing with the crisis of gun violence that doesn’t bump up against the Second Amendment, added to the Constitution nearly 225 years ago. Republican candidates like Donald Trump argue that if more citizens were armed, mass shootings could be prevented. Democrats, including President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, argue for the need to pass “commonsense gun legislation” and put further regulations in place, such as additional background checks and personal screenings. However, both parties are looking at changes that won’t affect the right to bear arms.
In schools with low crime rates like Florida Atlantic University, students still run the risk of encountering violence and unsafe situations. The question of whether students and faculty should be allowed to bring guns to campus has moved beyond theoretical in light of the recent surge of school shootings and other recent attacks. Jelithza Minaya, a Navy veteran studying international business, says she’d feel safer if she could bring her gun to campus in case of a shooting.
“In order to ensure our safety, we need to propose additional laws that will help us prevent gun related crimes from happening,” says Minaya, who is an independent but is leaning toward voting for Trump, specifically because she agrees with his views on gun control. She mimicked Trump, saying, “Protecting our Second Amendment rights will make America great again.” The main problem, she says, is the people who manage to get guns illegally. “Criminals, drug dealers, etc. must be prevented from getting weapons. Strict background checks should be required because sometimes it’s not about the guns, it’s about the behaviors of people.” Minaya, who served in Afghanistan, owns a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver. She primarily has it for home defense and only brings it out to the shooting range when she has free time, never out in public. “I would definitely carry my gun on campus if a bill was passed. Certain regulations of who can carry one on campus or any place should be heavily considered.” Lawmakers in Tallahassee are due to vote on a proposed “campus carry” bill next summer.
During the third Republican presidential debate last November, Trump argued that gun-free zones are “a catastrophe.” When the moderators of the Republican primary debate asked Trump about the recent mass shootings that have been continuously occurring, Trump took the opportunity to criticize the idea that gun-free spaces could reduce gun violence. “Gun-free zones are target practice for the sickos and for the mentally ill. This has nothing to do with guns; this has to do with the mentality of these people. I’m a big Second Amendment person,” he said. Last November at FAU’s Boca Raton campus, students discussed gun control in a public debate hosted by Student Government where they explored various ways to improve gun legislation. Although students want to protect their Second Amendment rights, they still feel that changes must be made. Communication major Carolina Gomez argued for aggressive background checks. Her classmate Charles Nicholas, a political science major, opposed her on
“The government needs to enforce all gun laws, such as cracking down on straw man purchases, which isn’t being done. Once all current gun laws are enforced, then and only then should the government expand gun background checks.” - Charles Nicholas, Political Science major
the basis of violating the gun rights of law-abiding citizens. Gomez said, “Private gun [sellers] should not be allowed to sell guns without having a license to do [so], making them responsible for background checks.” Gomez is a Democrat voting for the first time and is unsure of who she will vote for but agrees with Bernie Sanders when it comes to gun regulations. “His proposal toward stricter background checks is an absolute must,” she said after the debate. “It’s important for people to realize that mental health is a huge issue when it comes to gun control,” she said, in line with Sanders’ stance. In addition, Gomez opposes the campus carry laws being proposed in the state legislature. “No one would feel comfortable having a person with a gun in a classroom,” she said. Nicholas faced off against Gomez in the debate to make a point about the right to privacy, but agrees that America needs to get a grip on its gun problem. “The government needs to enforce all gun laws, such as cracking down on straw man purchases, which isn’t being done. Once all current gun laws are enforced, then and only then should the government expand gun background checks,” he said. Nicholas says he is likely to vote for a Democratic candidate because he doesn’t see any Republican contender addressing gun control in a reasonable manner. “I really like one aspect of Bernie Sanders’ proposal about gun control, about not holding law-abiding gun dealers responsible if the gun [they sold] is used in a crime.”
Like Gomez, he doesn’t support campus carry. “I don’t agree with the proposed campus carry law. Though if it were passed, I would want to know that the person was properly vetted and followed the legal requirements to own a weapon.” With the stirring debate about America’s gun laws, Bernie Sanders’ attitude toward gun control and the Second Amendment is facing fresh scrutiny. According to OnTheIssues, a website providing information to voters about the current candidates running for president, Sanders’ proposals consist of expanding background checks and banning the sale of assault weapons to the general public. Moreover, Sanders has also said in previous debates that holding gun manufacturers legally responsible for mass shootings is a bad idea. Do I think that a gun shop in a [state] that sells legally a gun to somebody, and that somebody goes out and does something crazy, that that gun shop owner should be held responsible? I don’t,” said Sanders. ”Where you have manufacturers and where you have gun shops knowingly giving guns to criminals or aiding and abetting that, of course we should take action.” On the issue of mental health, Sanders finds himself in agreement with some House Republicans. In the meantime, President Obama is seeking to finalize a proposal that would expand background checks on gun sales without congressional approval. White House officials said they’re attempting to prevent the provision thats allows the sale of guns online and at gun shows without a background check.
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Resettling Refugees Should the U.S. accept refugees? Find out where FAU students and presidential candidates stand on the matter. Story by William Deckler Illustration by Ivan Benavides
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our home country is all that you know. It’s where you were raised, where you’ve loved and where you feel safe. But what happens when you’re forced to leave? War, violence and terror continues and that sense of safety is taken from you. You’re afraid for your life, for your loved ones and you don’t know where to go. You are forced to flee into the unknown and the risk it may hold. This is the life of a Syrian refugee. The ongoing civil war in Syria has caused millions of innocent children, women and men across the world to be driven away from a place they once called home. According to World Vision International — a humanitarian aid organization — 13.5 million people in Syria need assistance. There are 4.3 million who are registered refugees, while 6.6 million are displaced within Syria, as half are children.
“These people are human and they deserve a right to a safe and free life as much as anybody else but there is a much larger risk to our country as a whole with possible Isis members posing as refugees.” - Courtney Greene
Under the criticism that the United States was hardly taking in those desperate to escape other countries, President Barack Obama proposed to take in 10,000 Syrian refugees next year. The concern has become a highly partisan debate as leading Republican and Democratic candidates in the upcoming election took a hawkish approach to Obama’s proposal in the wake of recent terrorist attacks. Soon after the Paris attacks, a passport belonging to a Syrian refugee was found with one of the suspects. It was unclear whether it was real, but the trafficking of forged or stolen Syrian passports has increased significantly in refugees and migrants.
Nonetheless, the American response was swift. Among those worried about more refugees settling in the U.S. right now is junior journalism major Courtney Greene. She explains that refugees as a whole aren’t dangerous and that most of them just want to get out, but dangerous people could be traveling with them and that may not be worth the risk. “These people are human and they deserve a right to a safe and free life as much as anybody else but there is a much larger risk to our country as a whole with possible Isis members posing as refugees,” she said. “When our country is at a heightened state of risk, strong matters and actions need to be put into place to keep the citizens of this country safe, first.” Greene suggested that security and screenings should be strengthened in order to safely accept refugees into our country. “There is no way of making sure every person who is fleeing to America has good intentions when we are allowing them in, thousands at a time. Extensive background checks are a must so we can identify who exactly is coming into this country.” At least 31 state governors including Florida’s Rick Scott stated that they would not be willing to accept any more refugees from Syria in the trail of terrorist attacks. According to the State Department, Florida is one of six states that has housed the most Syrian refugees since 2011. In his press conference at the G20 Turkey Leaders Summit in November, President Obama said “America is the largest provider of humanitarian assistance to displaced persons and refugees.” White House officials are now lifting the cap on annual refugees in order to take in an extra 45,000 migrants by 2018, Secretary of State John Kerry announced this year. Yehudah Rodman, another FAU student, believes Obama’s plan to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees in the U.S. has an obvious risk of terrorist infiltration and puts a burden on the government to thoroughly vet them. “We have a strong moral obligation to protect suffering people, but the government will have its hands full ensuring that American citizens won’t be put in harm’s way,” he said. Rodman explains that the big problem for governors vowing to reject refugees in their states is that it’ll probably be impossible. “Immigration falls under jurisdiction of the federal government, so I don’t see how a state would be able to reject refugees. They may attempt to withhold some resources in the refugee resettlement process, but that’ll probably be challenged in court.” Before refugees arrive in South Florida, or any other location, they must apply for resettlement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office. If it’s determined that resettlement is a better solution, the U.N. will refer individuals and families to countries taking in refugees. If applicants pass a series of background checks and interviews, they will be permitted to enter a country for resettlement. “The government’s first responsibility is the protection of their own citizens. A proper and secure
vetting system must be in place before any refugees may enter,” said Rodman. The 26-year-old says that the recent attacks have brought to the forefront of the Syrian refugee ordeal. “Isis combatants will pose as refugees in order to attack Western countries. We must be vigilant in stopping this from occurring on our shores, but that shouldn’t stop us from doing what is right.” Republican candidates attack Obama’s proposal as they have become increasingly skeptical of the risks Syrian refugees may pose. Democratic candidates struggle to navigate between supporting Obama’s strategy and coming up with their own ways of promising action. Donald Trump, front-runner Republican presidential candidate, would restrict all Muslims coming into the country without being properly vetted, temporarily. Despite the criticism and media uproar his remarks received, his lead has only increased since he called for a ban on Muslims entering the country. Hillary Clinton, front-runner Democratic presidential candidate, has a viewpoint similar to Obama’s. She is willing to accept up to 65,000 Syrian refugees and proposes a “no fly zone” with a proper screening and vetting system behind it.
“The government’s first responsibility is the protection of their own citizens. A proper and secure vetting system must be in place before any refugees may enter.” - Yehudah Rodman
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Florida For The Win Florida is a pivotal swing state and has been for the last few presidential elections. Story by Jason Tirico Illustration by Ivan Benavides
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lorida is known for its sandy beaches, wild theme parks and bizarre crimes, yet its most significant contribution may be made in this year’s presidential elections. With state residency, students can qualify for lower tuition rates and have their presidential votes count toward one of the more important swing states. “Florida and Ohio have been the two most important states. Most states vote the same in each election with the exception of Florida, Ohio, Iowa and a few others,” said Kevin Wagner, an associate professor and director for graduate studies of FAU’s department of political science. Florida’s represents 29 out of the 270 votes necessary to elect the president, making it one of the more pivotal swing states since 2000. Victory in the Sunshine State is a critical component for this year’s presidential candidates. Alexi Siegel, a 24-year-old photographer majoring in studio art said, “I noticed that a lot of people I spoke with are discouraged because of the controversy over Bush and Gore.” Florida was the deciding factor in the controversial 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The results were so close that Florida held a recount, which resulted in a narrow victory of 537 votes — tipping the scales in Bush’s favor. Hillsborough County — home to Tampa and the fourth-largest voting district in the state — is considered the must-win swing zone in all of Florida’s presidential election proceedings, according to uselectionatlas.org. 10 01.12.2016 University Press
The majority of Hillsborough voters sided with the presidential winner in each election dating back to 1960. This county could play a pivotal role directing votes toward either party’s candidate. The electoral college system does not divide its votes based on how each district voted — all 29 are awarded to the candidate who wins the majority. In 2004, Bush won by receiving 50 percent of the presidential votes compared to Kerry’s 49 percent, resulting in Bush gaining Florida’s 29 electoral votes. “I’m not a big fan of it,” said Wagner. “I think the Electoral College is the way it is because that’s how the founding fathers wrote it down in the Constitution … it hasn’t changed much since then.” If a relatively small margin of voters determines where the entire allotment of electoral votes is placed, and Florida once again becomes a must-win for presidential candidates, then these voters may wield some of the most powerful ballots this year. To become eligible, students cannot simply show up on the day of the election and vote. First they must become residents — which requires that they live in Florida for six months — and then they have to apply for a voter’s registration card 29 days prior to the election date.
Feeling The
BERN Bernie Sanders is an old man, but he has attracted some young voters. Story by Nicholas Brooks Illustration by Ivan Benavides
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lan Friederwitzer, is an 18-year-old college student, but he’ll be voting for a 74-year-old Jewish man in the upcoming election. And he hopes you do too. Bernie Sanders, a self described democratic socialist, even has an on-campus club supporting the candidate — Owls for Bernie, with Friederwitzer acting as the club’s president. Through organized viewing parties, promoting in the Breezeway, getting students registered and fundraising, the club hopes to get Sanders elected. “There are issues only he can tackle,” Friederwitzer said. “Whatever you are — conservative or liberal — we should all agree that we need less corporate involvement. We need military expenditure reform, criminal justice reform, Wall Street reform … and these should not be debatable.” 12 01.12.2016 University Press
More, More, More
Here’s some of what Sanders wants to do should he become president, according to his website: • Provide free tuition at public colleges and universities. “Everyone in this country who studies hard should be able to go to college regardless of income.” • Raise the federal minimum wage by 2020. “In the year 2015, no one who works 40 hours a week should be living in poverty.” • Establish pay equality by signing the Paycheck Fairness Act into law. “It is an outrage that women earn just 78 cents for every dollar a man earns.”
01.12.2016 University Press 13
“There are issues only he can tackle. Whatever you are — conservative or liberal — we should all agree that we need less corporate involvement. We need military expenditure reform, criminal justice reform, Wall Street reform … and these should not be debatable.”
- Alan Friederwitzer, President, Owls for Bernie
“We want to really raise awareness for Bernie,” said Doug Oberman, vice president of Owls for Bernie. “If we could spread the word, that’s what we are — we put on events, fundraise, register people to vote. A lot of people are confused as to how the primaries even work.” Sanders’ platform focuses primarily on issues of equality — he supports same-sex marriage and is proabortion rights. He believes in a state-administered health care system, more-affordable higher education and an expansion of programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. His economic views seek greater governmental oversight of Wall Street, tax reform that increases rates for the wealthy and an end to the inequality between wages for men and women. Elementary education major Kayde Sewel Campbell is one of Sanders’ supporters. “I’m a hardcore feminist, so originally I was all Hillary,” she said. “With the intersectionality of being a woman, and of color, I thought she would be a huge step. But then I realized that Bernie would be just as good too. With him, the transition to a woman as president wouldn’t be as big of a shock. He is about equality for all.” Campbell explained that Sanders wrestled away her support from Clinton because Bernie has a real appeal. Despite the fact that Hillary has a decorated political resume, “people speak louder with their actions than their words. Bernie has done that, while Hillary has taken the political approach.” As Sanders told the attendants of Netroots Nation in 2015, he has a 5014 01.12.2016 University Press
year history of standing up for civil and minority rights. In 1962, he was arrested for protesting segregation in public schools in Chicago. In the 1970s, he began his political career with a platform calling for the abolition of all laws related to homosexuality. As a Vermont senator, Sanders strongly supported 2013 legislation to end employment discrimination against LGBT Americans. In 2014, he strongly condemned police brutality and embraced immigrants on their call for executive action on immigration. But not everyone is on the Sanders bandwagon. Katrina Sanchez, a 22-year-old business administration student, says Sanders is “too much of a socialist.” Raised by a heavily Republican father, Sanchez says that she doesn’t care for programs like social security, welfare and food stamps, “because they take away the concept of working hard for anything.” Multimedia journalism major Gabrielle Guglielmelli doesn’t mind Sanders’ socialist tendencies. But she does believe that at least two points of his platform, while appealing, are simply unfeasible. One of those points is Sanders’ free education platform. “It is possible, but I just don’t know if it’s possible right now, in the current time that we are in,” she said about it. Sanders wants to make public colleges and universities tuition-free, and reduce interest rates on student loan debt. Guglielmelli is also skeptical about Sanders’ ability to get elected. “I have a feeling that a Republican will win this election, especially with Hillary Clinton’s emails. Bernie seems to say the right things, but sometimes he says too much,” she says.
Statistically speaking, Sanders is facing stiff odds in the upcoming White House battle. According to a computer model built by Reuters — an international news agency — the next president will be a Republican. As Reuters explains, voters typically vote against the party currently in power when an incumbent isn’t running. In fact, a successor candidate is three times less likely to win. “Our model works on the basis of probabilities, and is focused at the party level rather than the candidate level. It seeks only to predict the likelihood of a change to the party in power,” said Clifford Young and Julia Clark, who wrote the article that referenced the computer model. “It has an 85 percent predictive ability, so it’s right most — but not all — of the time. Things that could confound the model include rapid changes to Obama’s approval rating, or unusually high or low turnout.” As of publication time, Sanders ranks 31.9 percent in the polls. Clinton is the choice of 55.0 percent of Democratic voters. Time will tell whether or not Sanders can “Bern” through the elections and close the gap.
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A Letter From...
The UP reached out to representatives from FAU’s College Democrats and College Republicans organizations to hear why they think students should support their party. The following letters are unedited.
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College Republicans The Vice President of FAU’s College Republicans explains why students should vote Republican. Story by Zachary Pastor Illustration by Ivan Benavides In 2016, we will be electing a new President of The United States. This President will be inheriting a lot of problems: ISIS, rebuilding our military, a fragile economy and the very real threat of nuclear terrorism from Iran. Now, the question is this: which party is better equipped to handle these challenges, the Democrats or Republicans? The answer is unequivocally Republicans. As a student, you should vote Republican if you want to see a more prosperous and free nation and not one where the government heavily influences your way of life. Republicans believe in the following principles: Less taxes, reducing government interference in the private sector, a strong military, helping people find work so we can get them off government programs, repealing Obamacare and supporting the state of Israel. Why vote Republican in 2016 and how does being a Republican affect you? Let’s start with second part of this question first. Being and voting Republican affects students because students are going to be the ones dealing with things such as a rising national debt, government spending and looking for work. The republican party wants to help stop a rising national debt, stop reckless spending and wants to actively help the next generation of the workforce to find a good paying job that can not only help that student and their future family but help the country by having people at work and not on government programs. All that any student wants after they graduate is to find a job, and in most cases start a family. Right now for the graduates who just graduated, this is going to be hard. There are taxes and regulations from the Obama administration that will make it difficult for these recent graduates to find work and start a family (such as Obamacare taxes on businesses). If a Republican was in the White House now, these 18 01.12.2016 University Press
new graduates would have an easier time finding work and would be less likely to have to go on to government assistance programs such as food stamps and Medicaid. Another thing that affects students that our party addresses is having a safe and secure nation, which is something everyone wants. The Democrats would have students believe that we are safe and that our plan against ISIS is working. Our party recognizes that we are not safe right now and that ISIS is winning. Like it or not, students are not only going to have to deal with the challenges of finding work and paying taxes, they will have to deal with decisions presidents make about foreign policy. That is why the Republican party is the party to vote for, because not only will we help secure a stable country domestically, as the leader of the free world a Republican president can help create a more secure world for Americans to live in. You should vote Republican because we are in dangerous times and we need leaders who can help create a more prosperous America and world. We need one to help open up our economy and protect us as a people. Vote Republican if you want to see, as my favorite candidate Marco Rubio says, “a new great American Century.” And this century will be one where Americans prosper and the world prospers from a strong America.
College Democrats The President of FAU’s College Democrats explains why students should vote Democrat. Story by Catherine Theriault Illustration by Ivan Benavides For most college students, the 2016 presidential election will be their first time ever casting their vote. Students will make their decisions based on the candidates, their stance on issues and likely the political affiliation of the candidate. Ultimately, regardless of who they choose to vote for, their choices will shape the course of American politics for decades to come. The next president will likely appoint as many as four Supreme Court Justices. Issues like climate change, economic inequality, foreign policy and student loans will be debated extensively throughout the next year, and students will need to make an informed decision come 2016. President Barack Obama has been president for almost seven years, and under his presidency the United States has seen progressive policies implemented on numerous issues, ranging from healthcare to environmental. For instance, because of the Affordable Care Act, no one can legally be denied healthcare coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and young people can now stay on their parents’ plan until the age of 26. Additionally, during his terms President Obama has shown overwhelming support for LGBT Americans, and thankfully discriminatory policies such as Don’t Ask Don’t Tell are no longer in existence. More so, marriage equality is now a nationwide reality, and violence against LGBT Americans is now considered a hate crime under federal law. The Democratic candidates for the U.S. Presidency are all committed to continuing President Obama’s legacy. All the candidates bring to the table years of commitment to social justice, and are devoted to working to build a better future for the nation. Senator Bernie Sanders is dedicated to fighting the growing disparity between the wealthiest and richest Americans, Secretary Hillary Clinton brings to the table her foreign policy and diplomatic expertise,
which will be undoubtedly necessary in the years to come, and Governor O’Malley has come out with detailed approaches to immigration reform and gun violence prevention. The Democratic candidates are committed to helping Americans and are ready to address the issues of student debt in the nation. Hillary Clinton has proposed the “New College Compact,” a plan that would make community college free. Similarly, Bernie Sanders has proposed to make tuition free at all public college and universities, and stop the U.S. Government from profiting on student loans. All the Democratic candidates have noted that making vocational programs more accessible is also of the essence if we are to continue to thrive as a nation in the 21st century. The 2016 Presidential Elections will likely be one of the most important elections for our generation. Voters will be tasked with electing candidates willing to tackle the issues.
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You Don’t Say Students sound off on the upcoming election season. Interviews by Nicholas Brooks and William Deckler Photos by Nicholas Brooks
“Whatever the case—there’s always that person that’s on the outside so I’m always interested in seeing what [the candidates] have to say about that.” - Spring Canada, English major
“No way in hell will Donald Trump win. College is just too expensive—but health care could be altered.” - Jamari Brown, Psychology major
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“I wouldn’t want [Trump] as the nominee because he’s just absurd and unrealistic. I think my vote matters, it mattered last election. Guns don’t kill people—but in the hands of the wrong people…. that’s scary.” - Alyssa Hunt, Biology major
“Growing up, I used to look up to Ben Carson. He was the director of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins and performed the world’s first separation of conjoined twins and even revived the hemispherectomy — but after hearing his views, I lost all respect.” - Christine Luong, Biology major
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“Police brutality is an important issue for me. I would really want to see that eliminated. Another big button issue is systematic racism—it still exist and it will take years to eliminate but it needs to be addressed. No one is talking about that.” - Winfred Chad McKendrick, Marine Biology major
“There isn’t any political issue that is super important to me. For millennials, I think we kind of feel like there’s so many people it doesn’t really matter—it’s not that significant if you don’t vote.” - Jonathan Binns, Biology major
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“Legally, I am a registered independent so that I can vote in the primaries but in actuality, I consider myself independent because both sides can have good views or bad views.” - Jonathan Rydlun, Finance major
“We have to fix our foundations. State governments have to understand that they have to manage the state like a mini country.” - Farah Alhalabi, Studio Art major
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