Clackamas Print
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008
Presidential candidates leave colle
issues out of election discussi
Despite many debates,
presidential candidates
still have not touched
on financial issues for
college students
■ Lydia Emily Bashaw
I Editor in Cheif
With a presidential election
less than three weeks away,
Americans keep asking the
same question to the candi
dates, “What are you saying?”
Even more notable is the
number of college students that
are wondering what candidates
will do for them. Presidential
candidates Barack Obama and
John McCain have both failed
in the eyes of college students
when it comes to connecting
the issues.
“The biggest problem
student's have right now is
that no one is speaking out
on our issues,” said Ashley
Camden, first year student at
Clackamas.
“We want someone to talk
about college affordability,
the future of jobs and what
it means to be a youth in
America. Unfortunately, the
only candidate who has even
mentioned it is Obama, and financial aid, create programs
even then the discussion is to help younger students pre
pare for college, expand Pell
lacking,” Camden continued.
In the two debates so far Grants for low-income fami
between the candidates - the lies and eliminate expensive
first on Sept. 25 in Oxford, bank subsidies.
However,
Miss, and the
second on Oct.
the
most
7 - there was
applicable
little to no
piece
of
conversation
Obama
’
s
“We want some
about
what
plan is the
one to talk about
each candidate
Community
is going to do
College
college afford
for students.
Partnership
ability, thefuture
Nevertheless,
Program,
though
the
which
of jobs and what
mainstream
would help
it means to be a
discussions
to strength
youth in America.
en commu
have
not
nity colleg
included stu
Unfortunately, the
es through
dent
issues,
only candidate who
there has been
grants, cre
ating
new
some conver
has even mentioned
sation directed
associates
it is Obama, and.
programs
at students.
even then the dis
and reward
In a cam
ing colleges.
paign speech
cussion is lacking.”
McCain’s
on Nov. 7,
Web
site
2007, Obama
also outlines
claimed that
Ashley Camden
his
plans
he wanted to
freshman
for what he
make college
wants to do
affordable for
for students.
everyone.
“That’s the best investment Some of his goals are to pre
we can make in our future,” pare colleges and universities
said Obama.
for the 21st Century, increase
Obama’s campaign Web tax benefits for those attend
site, at barackobama.com, ing college, simplify the pro
continued this cess for financial aid, improve
statement by the. grant money going to
providing a research programs at universi
j delatled ■ plan ties and-? fix the student lend
of the chang ing programs. When McCain’s
es he would press office was contacted to
make to help expand on these ideas, no one
students.
was available for comment.
One
of
Despite the information
these is the available, the economy has
American taken the forefront. Without
Opportunity detailed discussion about their
Tax
Credit, issues, students are still not
which would convinced.
give an imme
“It is not that I do not
diate $4,000 believe that they support col
refund credit lege students,” said Joshua
to
anyone Ragin, another Clackamas stu
paying tuition. dent. “It is thé fact that nei
This refund ther candidate has put down
would cover a clear cut path of how they
two-thirds of are going to help us. We are
the cost of not middle class Americans;
most public most of us have not even got
colleges and ten the chance to become part
universities.
of a class. We are not in the
Obama’s military, so veterans’ benefits
other goals are do not touch most of us. We
to simplify the are just left out. No one is
application talking about how we are the.
process
for ones who have to keep this
country running
after (the candi
dates) are dead
and gone.”
After three
debates,
Americans
are still seek
ing answers to
questions
no
one cares to fol
low up on.
Following
the two presi
dential debates,
CNN reported
online that 55
percent of view
ers were still
left with unan
swered ques
tions. However,
on CNN’s forum
many voters said
that it was clear
that
Obama
won the first
two
debates,
but that fact did
not clinch their
vote..
“I am not 100
percent in either
direction,” said OBAMA
Kerry Calistero,
a
registered
Republican and Clackamas
student. “I think that the last
debate will really help me
clinch my decision. I am sure
there are many other students
in the same place as I am.”
The current campaign has
turned to the economy, the war
in Iraq and healthcare. With
the largest number of new
voters to date, some are won
dering when the issues will
be directed at them. Yet, most
agree that, either way, the best
choice is still to vote.
“Everyone needs to régis-
ter, and everyone
their ballot turm
Henry Truey, a v
MyDebates.com,
interview.
“It doesn’t i
you agree with; i
is getting your
and telling peopl
think the best dei
America. People
said, ‘If you don
can’t bitch.’ What
have said is, ‘I
vote, you can’t s
whether America
ceeds.’”
The next presidenza
will be held Oct. 151
It will be aired on al
broadcast static
Ballots must be drop
no later than 8 p.m. o
day, Nov. 4. Postmark
count.
GREEN: grant fuels sustainable courses and campus chani
Continued from GREEN, Page 1
“We’re always refreshing
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said.
Vice President of College
The
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