By Michelle Westgate
Between the pokes, jabs, and dodges and policy proposals, John McCain and Barack Obama have a lot to say. However, some University students say it isn’t enough.
Following Tuesday night’s presidential debate in Nashville, Tenn., several students said the candidates were not talking about the issues that matter most to them.
Amanda Perrico, a senior legal studies in business major, said that some University students express their disdain about the mudslinging between the McCain and Obama campaigns.
“Many students would rather hear the candidates focus more on how they will affect change instead,” she said.
Perrico is concerned about educational costs, and would like to hear more about the candidate’s plans for college tuition. “Obama says he will make tuition more affordable, but he hasn’t said how he will do this,” she said.
Sean Nabi, president of the College Republicans, also wondered whether the candidates are going to do something about rising college tuition prices.
“Both candidates mention education but they don’t explain what they are going to do about it,” Nabi said.
However, when students talk to Nabi about their concerns, he mainly hears about the economy and the Middle East.
“A lot of people are caught up with the economy, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq. All of the questions seem to center on the economy and Iraq,” said Nabi.
Anthony Lucci, the president of the University’s chapter of Students for McCain, said the issues change in every election. “Immigration was the big topic last year, and this year it is the economy and Iran,” he said.
Lucci suggested that students are concerned about the same issues as other registered voters.
A CBS News/New York Times Poll in September found that 56 percent of registered voters said the economy and jobs are their main concern during this election, with terrorism and national security following at 11 percent.
Michael LaFemina, a graduate student, believed that the town hall debate did get the candidates talking more about the issues that mean the most to young people. Health care, paying for college, job opportunities, economic stability and energy are issues he said are important to students, but there are still some issues that he feels are not being addressed enough.
“The issue I still want to hear raised is environmental sustainability; they don’t talk about sustainable agriculture, air or water toxicity,” LaFemina said.
He would also like to hear more definitive answers about the handling of Russia.