By Andy Silva

The Daily Campus

STORRS, Conn.

At the very least, some people think it is possible for students to get a local leader elected, if they really wanted to.

"If everyone at [the University of Connecticut] mobilized around a single candidate, they would probably be able to elect the congressman for our district," said Lyle Scruggs, a UConn political science professor. "One of the things that alienates people is everything is pitched at the national level. Even if you don't feel you can make a difference at the national level, you have a greater opportunity at the local level."

According to information from the U.S. Census Bureau, voter turnout among college-age people was fairly low in the 2000 election. The data shows that only 32.3 percent of registered voters 18-24 voted in the 2000 elections. This was the lowest turnout for any demographic, according to Census Bureau information. That data shows voter turnout increased with the age of the voter.

Scruggs, who teaches a class on Western European political behavior, said he is not sure whether this is solely the case in the United States. "My understanding is that young people everywhere are less likely to participate in Western countries," Scruggs said.

Richard Hiskes, who teaches human rights classes for the UConn political science department, said he is not sure students are less concerned about politics. "My sense of the students is that there has not been a drop-off," Hiskes said. "I teach human rights and the students I get in human rights classes are very involved, informed and committed, but I recognize that is a small sample." Hiskes said he has been pleased with student involvement in politics.

"Generally, I have been pretty impressed with UConn students' information and involvement in the last decade," Hiskes said.

Both Scruggs and Hiskes said limited time and resources are reasons politicians do not seem to put as much emphasis on the college demographic as they might on others..

"They could do more, but generally speaking they do not do more because the propensity for students is to vote less," Scruggs said. "Politicians go where the votes are." In 1992, MTV started the "Rock the Vote" campaign. It, along with the attempts made by Bill Clinton to get young people to the polls, was successful to a certain degree.

However, Scruggs said it is difficult to determine how much of a lasting effect programs like "Rock the Vote" have. "Those programs have undoubtedly had some effect, but it's hard to gauge," Scruggs said. "There are so many variables there." Scruggs also said getting people to start voting at a young age is a positive thing because it creates a tendency for them to vote in future elections...

Read complete article at: Wayne.edu,

URL:http://southend.wayne.edu/days/2003/december/1232003/nation/election/election.html