Historic election grabs interest of Poly students

By KATE HAMILTON
Assistant news editor

In the midst of the political chaos that is the 2008 Presidential Election, we ask ourselves, “How do we compare to past generations who were living in similar climates?”

For faculty members, many of whom have seen generations of students pass through Poly, it is apparent that political awareness and interest ebb and flow from election year to election year, echoing the cyclical nature of political intensity. This year, then, is perhaps the equivalent to the flooding of the Nile. In the political climate we find ourselves in, how can students not be involved in politics on a day-to-day basis?
In past years, according to History Department Chair Roger Ipswitch, students requested a senior elective course in American Government, held mock debates and elections and ran polls through The Paw Print, analyzing not only the outcome, but also the number of people inclined to vote. There were students who wrote opinion articles regarding the presidential election and California propositions. This year, students, teachers and the ASB have worked diligently to create awareness and interest in politics, sparking discussion in the courtyard and in the classroom.
Much of the political activity on campus stems from two seemingly opposing clubs with similar goals: the Poly Young Democrats Club and the Poly Young Republicans Club. Both strive to create safe forums in which students can speak openly with each other regarding politics, and hope to raise money, volunteer and spread the word about their respective candidates simultaneously. The Poly Young Democrats Club has held two phone-banking events, calling over 1500 people in hopes of getting them to volunteer for the Obama-Biden campaign, and has had a speaker from the Congressional Campaigns come and speak to its members. Clubs such as these make volunteering and getting involved easy and fun and have certainly added to awareness on campus.
Director of the Upper school Jamie Neilson obtained “voter registration forms because [he] wanted to be sure that eligible Poly students would remember to get registered and exercise their right to vote.” With these two clubs, who work with individuals helping to get eligible students registered to vote, politics is certainly at the forefront of students’ minds.
Upper School faculty are doing their best to keep students well informed—both the English and History departments are having their students read speeches by both candidates and their vice-presidential nominees, analyzing political advertisements of both parties, watching the upcoming debates and analyzing political satire. Even at sports practices, according to cross country coach and history teacher Rick Caragher, “the runners have engaged in fairly objective discussions on several occasions.” Students are writing papers, examining rhetoric and persuasion tactics, debating in the first five minutes of class—students are talking.
Assistant Head of School Carmie Rodriguez has also scheduled Tom Hollihan to speak to Poly’s faculty. Hollilan has served for ten years as Associate Dean at the Annenberg School for Communication. He is the author of several books including Uncivil Wars: Political Campaigns in a Media Age, and has worked as a consultant for both political candidates and elected officials.
All of this hype, all of this discussion, all of this time spent debating and arguing will culminate into one large political frenzy during America Week, hosted by the Associated Student Body. The ASB is returning to the actions of those before us, holding a mock debate and election, and a full day of fun and carnival activities this coming Friday to “celebrate our American-ness,” declares ASB President Stephen Siciliano.
All in all, this presidential election will be one for the books; we are seeing history being made, and the heightened awareness of and interest in the political climate on Poly’s campus certainly reflect this. Although students aren’t protesting outright, and tanks aren’t rolling down Berkeley’s Telegraph Avenue as during the Vietnam War, students aren’t completely passive; many are using their American right to vote and speak freely, whatever their opinions.