UNC Mirror

Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: News

It's still 337 days away, but the 2008 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most scrutinized races in history.

Politicians have already begun campaigning, people have chosen sides and the debates are already raging.

While many students at the University of Northern Colorado said they support either the Democratic or the Republican parties, others say they will take advantage of the next few months to learn more about the candidates.

"I haven't quite made my decision about who I'm going for yet," said Alexis Cerdena, a sophomore French major. "I need to see some more debates and get a better picture of candidate's platforms."

According to a Reuters/Zogby poll from Nov. 14, Hilary Clinton leads with a 38 percent preference for the Democratic Party nomination. That same poll shows Rudy Giuliani as the forerunner among Republicans with a lead of 29 percent over his competitors.

These polls, however, are not important to some students.

"I think that most UNC students are pretty chill when it comes to politics," said Marshall King, a sophomore secondary education social sciences major. "A lot of them know what their parents or friends believe and just kind of go along with that."

The most critical issues for students in the upcoming election will deal with the Iraq war, marriage rights, immigration, healthcare and abortion.

"I need to see who is supporting the things that matter to me most, like international affairs, same sex marriage and abortion laws," Cerdena said.

Several students said they would like to see politicians appealing more to the issues that impact the younger generation.

"Almost every student in a college is old enough to vote," said Chance Ballegeer, a sophomore history major. "College visits can help voting turnouts and to get students involved."

Other students said politicians need to appeal more to their younger constituents.

"They need to get on campus and speak directly to the students," King said. "We need to know that we occupy at least some of their thoughts."

In terms of UNC, many students said - despite Greeley's conservative reputation - the campus was more liberal.

"To be honest and I hate to say it, but I think the University of Northern Colorado has more of a liberal atmosphere," Ballegeer said. "A lot of teachers have liberal views, and a lot a students tend to agree with their teachers. I have had more than one class where a teacher has bashed the Bush administration."

Others said the political climate is subject to personal values.

"It depends on who you surround yourself around," said PJ Culley, the president of UNC College Democrats and a junior French major. "If you want to find conservatives, they are easy to find. Personally, I find liberals easier to find."

Other students, however, say politics are the least of their worries.

"Well, I don't know why I don't really care," said Jessica Blanchard, a sophomore French major. "I just don't. I mean I still try to keep up some with what's going on. I just find it so exhausting."

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