Concerns of the day prompt students to get more involved

As gas prices began their incessant climb and college tuition costs started to soar, University of North Alabama student Bishop Alexander realized that if he wanted to see some changes to the issues that directly affected him, he'd better get involved in elections.

"If (young people) don't stand up and try to get involved then sooner or later down the road when we are adults those decisions and issues that we ignored will come back to impact our adult lives," Alexander said. "Our vote will decide how the future impacts us now and later on in life."

Like Alexander, young Americans between 18 and 24 have come out in droves during this election cycle to support their candidates in local, state and national elections, and political scientists say it's the result of these candidates reaching out to these young voters in significant ways.

Joan Baltes, an economics and political science professor at Northwest-Shoals Community College, said her students "are being communicated with on their level, and that has encouraged them to have a stake in the movement. These candidates are communicating in a way that young people understand, and it makes them feel as though the candidates and issues relate to them. It makes them feel empowered and, if they're empowered in their choices, then they feel involved."

In addition to the use of text messaging to alert supporters of announcements, candidates also have used social networking sites, including facebook and myspace, to reach out to followers. And their young supporters have responded by giving their time and energy to the campaign process.

Christa Waldrop got excited about elections after helping her stepfather in his bid for state representative.

"Even though he lost the race, the passion I had for politics and campaigns in particular grew," said the UNA student who is also president of the College Democrats. "I realized that, win or lose, you have to work hard for what you believe in."

Since then, Waldrop has volunteered on other local and state campaigns by passing out signs and canvassing elections because, she said, she understood "that every little thing you do, whether it be sporting a bumper sticker on your car, wearing a campaign T-shirt or knocking on constituents' doors and asking for their vote, pays off in one way or another."

This year, however, marks her first experience with a presidential race, and she said she's excited about the election night as it approaches. But school and her 30-hour-a-week job come first.

"Sure, there are times when I have a big test or something school-related, and I have to miss meetings (with the College Democrats) or an opportunity to campaign," Waldrop said. "I see it this way: Elections do not happen every day, so I have to give it all I can offer when it is an election season. There is just too much at stake on the state and national level during this election to be lazy."

Unfortunately, lazy is how this age group is often characterized by political pundits, willing to help out when it suits them but not when it comes to voting.

Baltes said this election cycle should reveal a new side to the 18- to 24-year-old voter, one that not only gets involved but votes as well.

"Demographics matter when it comes to who these students support," she said. Baltes teaches at the Muscle Shoals and Phil Campbell campuses of the community college. "They get tired of the mudslinging, but they want to know how they're going to put gas in their cars, pay their college loans and transition into the work force. They want to know what's going to be done for them, so I tell them to pay attention to the issues, not the party."

Since getting involved with the election process, Alexander has become a political science major and served UNA as the Student Government Association president. He's involved with the College Republicans and supporting conservative candidates in their quest for office.

Like Waldrop, Alexander has gotten the word out for his candidates, volunteering his time in between school and work commitments.

He said he's also noticed how more and more students are becoming actively engaged in the issues.

"The issues affecting our country will also have an impact on any college student across America," Alexander said. "A lot of students on the UNA campus are watchful and more engaged in what is going on with our country, especially with the bailout plan and the presidential debates because we are all wondering how it will affect us and everyone around us."

Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745 or michelle.eubanks@TimesDaily.com.