By Kristina Valera—
While I was in Journalism class, my professor, Mr. Broderick, asked the class a series of questions. The questions were asked to test our knowledge concerning politics. Along with those questions, he also asked us questions about celebrity gossip, sports and movies. As it turns out, the majority of the class did well when it came to naming the cast of Jersey Shore but almost everybody were absolutely stumped when asked to name the six candidates for this year’s election.
Being a student who attends NJCU as well, I admit I have limited interest and knowledge regarding politics. Let’s be frank here; most students are ignorant when it comes to politics and how the government works. If the Gothic Times, or any other News Publication, were to conduct a survey asking University students why politics doesn’t interest them, the most common answer one would receive, and I paraphrase,“ It’s just a bunch of old guys arguing with each other.” What’s worse than that distorted respective of politics, is the idea that nothing these politicians do have any effect on you.
That’s where you are gravely mistaken. Now, on the other hand, politics appear to be nothing more than disagreements, controversy and scandal! The media has gone out of their way to create this superficial, visual concept to keep you blinded from the truth! They want you to remain clueless and to make you feel like the elections and politics have no impact on you so that politics is just a bunch of people bickering all day. The people in power want to keep you in the dark. Why? Because they realize that young people are the back bone of society. College students’ opinions matter just as much as some unknown politicians. Imagine if you were to use your voice against those who think they can control you. What better way to voice out your concerns than to vote?
