Why younger generations need to be educated in politics, cast vote | Column

Every four years, February adds another day, the world hyper fixates on the Olympics and Americans cast their vote for a new president. 

As much as I wish this were a column on Stephen Nedoroscik, it’s not. 

Like every other student on campus, I’m constantly bombarded with people asking if I registered to vote and if I have a plan for Election Day. 

As I walked past one of the booths, there was an individual who said “politics aren’t my thing” and turned away. 

Maybe they were dismissive because they were fed up with the questions, or maybe they truly meant it. 

This individual wore a sweatshirt branded with his fraternity letters, which in a way told me everything I needed to know. 

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say most men who participate in Greek life are between the ages of 18-22, white and straight. 

It’s not shocking to witness a disconnect between this privileged group and the current political landscape. In the 2022 election, 600,000 more women voted compared to men in the 18-24 voter bloc, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.

I’m not saying that they need to run for mayor, but it’s not egregious to expect these individuals to dedicate time to learn and understand the key issues that plague the nation. 

This is bigger than Penn State; this is a nationwide problem in which first-time voters simply can’t be bothered to put in effort to formulate a well-rounded opinion. 

There’s no excuse to be misinformed when organizations have worked mercifully to provide resources that educate the public on all sides of the political spectrum. 

People who argue they don’t want to pick between two evils must realize that equally important state and local candidates are on the ballot. Harris and Trump aren’t the only two who have the power to make change.

Change isn’t going to happen overnight. It’s fueled by the continuous effort put in by community members to make decisions that best encapsulate the needs and wants of its people.

The new president will inevitably face criticism throughout their term, but those who didn’t vote don’t get a say. If they wanted a different outcome, they should’ve taken the steps to make it a reality. 

The best way to address the negative emotions tied to the result of the election is to participate in the voting process.

Older generations are often set in their ways politically, which leaves first-time voters with the power to rewrite the narrative that we have settled for.

Ironically, first-time voters are always the ones with the most to say, yet they haven’t looked into the topics they claim to be so passionate about. 

This isn’t to say there aren’t people who do amazing work to educate themselves and their peers about the election and its candidates, but those spewing lies ruin the hard work dedicated to the cause. 

It's often difficult to ignore the rhetoric aimed at swaying voters toward a particular party and their candidates; however, if younger generations had a better understanding of the distinction between fact and fiction, they would feel confident enough to take on the polls. 

Everyone has problems they care about, and I guarantee voters can find common ground in either candidate's policies, and if they can’t, it’s still not an excuse to not vote. 

Not voting is a vote for Harris or Trump, whether or not you bubble in their name on the ballot. 

Make politics your thing. It’s too important to ignore. 

MORE COLUMNS

+4

The importance of supporting stressed-out students | Column

Two weeks ago, I burst into my 20th century poetry class 20 minutes late, the most egregiously late I have ever been to a class.