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The Brown and White Vol. 130 No. 18 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 ‘All the Lehigh News First’ Structural barriers hinder local voter turnout High school promotes civic participation By JACQUELINE TENREIRO Editor in Chief This year’s presidential elec-tion season has been underfoot for months, with more than half of U.S. states and territories voting or cau-cusing to select their party represen-tatives. On April 26, Pennsylvania voters will flock to their polling places, con-tributing to an already high primary election voter turnout. According to the Pew Research Center, 2016 pri-mary voting has reached its highest percentages for both Republican and Democratic voters since the ’80s and ’90s, respectively — disregarding 2008’s record turnout. But this year’s numbers rival even that election sea-son, according to the data. But while the current national race may see steadily increasing par-ticipant numbers, the same cannot be said of elections that take place closer to home. Of the 297,735 residents of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 65.8 percent are registered voters, according to census and public data. On Nov. 3, those eligible were given the opportunity to cast their ballots in municipal elections, part of a greater collection of United States general elections taking place on the day. The 149 county polling places stayed open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for decisions to be made on candidates, among which were prospective selec-tions for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as well as district attorneys and mayors, among others. Yet only 41,387 Northampton res-idents took part, resulting in a 2015 local election turnout of 21.13 per-cent. But these low numbers are neither unique to the county nor rooted in any one issue. Mirroring the national trend, local election turnout has been consistently low — Northampton county’s data from November prov-ing no different. Officials and voters alike share a two-fold reasoning for dwindling civic participation: a lack of political engagement supplement-ed by structural barriers. “It’s a rational behavior, sadly, for Americans to only vote in presiden-tial elections,” said Saladin Ambar, a professor of political science at Lehigh. “And even then, it’s harder for voters to see the efficacy of their vote.” While gauging importance of a single vote in an election of millions might pose difficulties on a national scale, local elections face a similar, yet heightened, issue. Local elections may more directly impact voters based on sheer government-citizen proximity, but according to Ambar, those same individuals may find it hard to perceive a county judge or school board member’s position as clearly as a president’s. By JACQUELINE TENREIRO Editor in Chief Like many educators, Jeffrey Corpora teaches his Easton Area High School students to participate. But it’s a different kind of partici-pation than answering a question or raising a hand. It’s a participation that extends to the surrounding environment — the community that Corpora works to make his advanced placement gov-ernment and politics students care about as members of a democracy. It’s why the classroom itself is adorned with posters of former pres-idents, maps of electoral college vote distributions and a sheet bearing the name of Matt Cartwright, congress-man for Pennsylvania’s 17th district — the one EAHS falls into. It’s why lesson plans include learning about mass media, political framework and civil rights, Corpora said. It’s why, when faced with the real-ity of low turnout from young voters both nationally and locally, Corpora’s students aren’t at a loss for ideas on how to garner interest from their generation. Though many of the high school seniors are not yet of legal vot-ing age, the class has learned of its demographic’s hesitation to engage, and the perception of how the politi-cal sphere pushes youth away. “I feel like most of the people that are running, they don’t care about us,” student Harneet Mandair said. “The points that they make are about the old(er) and the dying.” In a study by Google, the top five searches pertaining to the 2016 national election issues are immigra-tion, education, taxes, economy and gun control. See VOTING Page 4 See CIVIC Page 4 Visiting D-Life students cited for alcohol consumption Local voter turnout consistently remains lower than participation in national elections By CHRISTINA MUELLER B&W Staff During Diversity Life Weekend, which was held from April 8-10, accepted students from socio-econom-ically, regionally or racially diverse backgrounds spent the weekend at Lehigh and explored the campus. The 144 students who participated this year attended workshops and pre-sentations, and were encouraged to learn about life at Lehigh. They were not, however, encouraged or told to attend parties. This year, two participants of Diversity Life Weekend, who were accepted into the Lehigh class of 2020, were cited by police for under-age alcohol con-sumption. The two individuals were not named in the Lehigh Crime Log because they are minors. The two incidents are under investiga-tion by the Office of Admissions, and the students’ accep-tances to the uni-versity could be repealed. Bruce Bunnick, the director of Admissions, said the university does not promote any events that involve drugs or alcohol during D-Life Weekend. Before Diversity Life Weekend par-ticipants arrive on campus, members of the Admissions Office require the prospective stu-dents sign an agree-ment that they will not use alcohol or drugs while at Lehigh for the week-end’s program. The document also states participants are liable for their actions and informs students that their admissions decision could be changed if they are involved in an alcohol- or drug-related incident. “We have taken steps to ask stu-dents for a description of their side of the story and for a response to our office that will allow us to make a decision about their application,” Bunnick said. “We have not made a decision.” A third underage individual was cited for alcohol consumption during the weekend, but Bunnick said this See D-LIFE Page 2 “Unfortunately, students who arrive on campus make their own decisions. Bruce Bunnick Director of Admissions ” Kelly McCoy/B&W Staff; France map and Germany map courtesy of Wikimedia; United States map courtesy of pixabay.com
Object Description
Title | Brown and White Vol. 130 no. 18 |
Date | 2016-04-19 |
Month | 04 |
Day | 19 |
Year | 2016 |
Volume | 130 |
Issue | 18 |
Type | Newspaper |
Source Repository | Lehigh University |
Coverage | United States, Pennsylvania, Lehigh, South Bethlehem |
LCCN | 7019854 |
Source Repository Code | LYU |
Digital Responsible Institution | Lehigh University |
Digital Responsible Institution Code | LYU |
Issue/Edition Pattern | Semiweekly |
Title Essay | Published twice a week during the college year by the students of Lehigh University |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Date | 2016-04-19 |
FullText | The Brown and White Vol. 130 No. 18 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 ‘All the Lehigh News First’ Structural barriers hinder local voter turnout High school promotes civic participation By JACQUELINE TENREIRO Editor in Chief This year’s presidential elec-tion season has been underfoot for months, with more than half of U.S. states and territories voting or cau-cusing to select their party represen-tatives. On April 26, Pennsylvania voters will flock to their polling places, con-tributing to an already high primary election voter turnout. According to the Pew Research Center, 2016 pri-mary voting has reached its highest percentages for both Republican and Democratic voters since the ’80s and ’90s, respectively — disregarding 2008’s record turnout. But this year’s numbers rival even that election sea-son, according to the data. But while the current national race may see steadily increasing par-ticipant numbers, the same cannot be said of elections that take place closer to home. Of the 297,735 residents of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 65.8 percent are registered voters, according to census and public data. On Nov. 3, those eligible were given the opportunity to cast their ballots in municipal elections, part of a greater collection of United States general elections taking place on the day. The 149 county polling places stayed open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for decisions to be made on candidates, among which were prospective selec-tions for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as well as district attorneys and mayors, among others. Yet only 41,387 Northampton res-idents took part, resulting in a 2015 local election turnout of 21.13 per-cent. But these low numbers are neither unique to the county nor rooted in any one issue. Mirroring the national trend, local election turnout has been consistently low — Northampton county’s data from November prov-ing no different. Officials and voters alike share a two-fold reasoning for dwindling civic participation: a lack of political engagement supplement-ed by structural barriers. “It’s a rational behavior, sadly, for Americans to only vote in presiden-tial elections,” said Saladin Ambar, a professor of political science at Lehigh. “And even then, it’s harder for voters to see the efficacy of their vote.” While gauging importance of a single vote in an election of millions might pose difficulties on a national scale, local elections face a similar, yet heightened, issue. Local elections may more directly impact voters based on sheer government-citizen proximity, but according to Ambar, those same individuals may find it hard to perceive a county judge or school board member’s position as clearly as a president’s. By JACQUELINE TENREIRO Editor in Chief Like many educators, Jeffrey Corpora teaches his Easton Area High School students to participate. But it’s a different kind of partici-pation than answering a question or raising a hand. It’s a participation that extends to the surrounding environment — the community that Corpora works to make his advanced placement gov-ernment and politics students care about as members of a democracy. It’s why the classroom itself is adorned with posters of former pres-idents, maps of electoral college vote distributions and a sheet bearing the name of Matt Cartwright, congress-man for Pennsylvania’s 17th district — the one EAHS falls into. It’s why lesson plans include learning about mass media, political framework and civil rights, Corpora said. It’s why, when faced with the real-ity of low turnout from young voters both nationally and locally, Corpora’s students aren’t at a loss for ideas on how to garner interest from their generation. Though many of the high school seniors are not yet of legal vot-ing age, the class has learned of its demographic’s hesitation to engage, and the perception of how the politi-cal sphere pushes youth away. “I feel like most of the people that are running, they don’t care about us,” student Harneet Mandair said. “The points that they make are about the old(er) and the dying.” In a study by Google, the top five searches pertaining to the 2016 national election issues are immigra-tion, education, taxes, economy and gun control. See VOTING Page 4 See CIVIC Page 4 Visiting D-Life students cited for alcohol consumption Local voter turnout consistently remains lower than participation in national elections By CHRISTINA MUELLER B&W Staff During Diversity Life Weekend, which was held from April 8-10, accepted students from socio-econom-ically, regionally or racially diverse backgrounds spent the weekend at Lehigh and explored the campus. The 144 students who participated this year attended workshops and pre-sentations, and were encouraged to learn about life at Lehigh. They were not, however, encouraged or told to attend parties. This year, two participants of Diversity Life Weekend, who were accepted into the Lehigh class of 2020, were cited by police for under-age alcohol con-sumption. The two individuals were not named in the Lehigh Crime Log because they are minors. The two incidents are under investiga-tion by the Office of Admissions, and the students’ accep-tances to the uni-versity could be repealed. Bruce Bunnick, the director of Admissions, said the university does not promote any events that involve drugs or alcohol during D-Life Weekend. Before Diversity Life Weekend par-ticipants arrive on campus, members of the Admissions Office require the prospective stu-dents sign an agree-ment that they will not use alcohol or drugs while at Lehigh for the week-end’s program. The document also states participants are liable for their actions and informs students that their admissions decision could be changed if they are involved in an alcohol- or drug-related incident. “We have taken steps to ask stu-dents for a description of their side of the story and for a response to our office that will allow us to make a decision about their application,” Bunnick said. “We have not made a decision.” A third underage individual was cited for alcohol consumption during the weekend, but Bunnick said this See D-LIFE Page 2 “Unfortunately, students who arrive on campus make their own decisions. Bruce Bunnick Director of Admissions ” Kelly McCoy/B&W Staff; France map and Germany map courtesy of Wikimedia; United States map courtesy of pixabay.com |
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