| Some may question student involvement in politics today, but the Internet paints a different picture |
Michael Reschke | IDS | 9/25/2007 |
The forum for political activism on college campuses has moved away from the streets to networking Web sites on the Internet.
Just as television became an important part of political campaigns in the 1960s, the Internet has become just as powerful in the 21st century. Politicians ranging from the local to national levels now have their own Facebook profiles where students can click to support their campaign and post messages. Other Web sites, like
www.meetup.com, have helped students organize political groups and raise support for candidates.
“I am a very strong believer in the Internet becoming the new paradigm of political activism,” said Andrew Sharp, president of Indiana University Students for Ron Paul. “People are not going to be able to ignore it anymore. Internet is the secret weapon that mainstream media has not caught on to.”
Sharp said his group has “generated a good amount of buzz” by chalking Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul’s name on sidewalks and buildings around campus, but the buzz began on meetup.com. Sharp said that the site is where a lot of Paul’s supporters go to meet other supporters and coordinate events. Last week, Sharp and six others drove to Chicago to see Paul speak at a rally that they had learned about through the Web site.
Torrey Kittle, state coordinator and online organizer of Students for Barack Obama, said his group’s presence can be felt online through Facebook groups and
www.my.barackobama.com.
“Technology turned campaigns upside down in 2004,” Kittle said. “This is just the beginning.”
The Internet has become a great tool for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s campaign, said Chapter Coordinator Tim Granholm.
“It makes it a heck of a lot easier for students to get in contact,” Granholm said. “We post meetings online so they’re available for anyone.”
The Internet also helps the IU chapter of Students for Barack Obama communicate with other schools. On Sept. 1, Granholm and Obama supporters from other schools around the state traveled to Iowa, the first state in the primary election, as part of a program called Indiana to Iowa. The group met with other supporters at Obama’s field office in Cedar Falls, Iowa. They talked to students at the University of Northern Iowa and tried to encourage them to vote for Obama in January, Granholm said.
Granholm said joining a Facebook group could be perceived as a lazy form of political activism, but it’s better than the alternative.
“At least they’re taking that first step and opening the door to more involvement,” Granholm said. “Maybe next time they’ll be more likely to volunteer. Small steps are better than no steps.”
Although the Internet is changing the way political campaigns reach voters, traditional forms of activism are still alive on college campuses.
The IU College Republicans will hold debates with the IU College Democrats as the presidential election approaches, said College Republican Chairman David White. The IU College Republicans also holds weekly meetings on Mondays in the Indiana Memorial Union. White encourages students to attend a meeting whether they are Republicans or not.
“You don’t have to be one way or another to come to our meeting,” White said. “Hang out and learn a bit.”
Other student groups not focused specifically on one candidate or party are also a political presence on campus. Last Friday, Indiana Public Interest Research Group took students to Indianapolis to interview Republican presidential hopeful John McCain about his position on global warming as part of a national campaign called “What’s Your Plan?” The group, which holds meetings on campus, aims to convince presidential candidates to pay attention to younger voters. INPIRG Treasurer Lindsey Lucenta said that the Internet plays a large role in reaching the 18-30 demographic.
“Our generation is becoming more dependent on electronic means, whether it’s e-mail, Web sites or Facebook,” Lucenta said. “I think it’s a valuable commodity.”
