Students gear up for elections

With the presidential election taking place on Nov. 4, Southern University students have taken notice by having several voter registration booths and candidate rallies.
Last Wednesday, “Louisiana for Obama” kicked off their statewide bus tour at Southern, where they hosted a rally for Obama in “The Circle,” a nickname for the cul-de-sac surrounding the Camilla Shade, Alice A. Boley and Samuella V. Totty Halls. Following the rally, there was a debate watch in the School of Architecture Building.
It was announced that out-of-state students should have registered in the city of Baton Rouge instead of registering as an absentee.
“My freshman year I was registered as an absentee voter, but after thinking about it, I decided to register in Baton Rouge, because knowing the odds, I will not be heading back to Atlanta on Nov. 4,” said sophomore finance and marketing major Timothy Thompson.
Thompson said that he was very happy that students who are registered in the East Baton Rouge Parish are able to vote in F.G. Clark Activity Center instead of having to go off-campus.
Other students are not only excited by the fact that the polls are on campus, but for first time in the nation’s history that there is a chance for a black man to become president.
“This is definitely a significant time in history, having (Senator) Barack Obama as a presidential candidate really shows how far blacks have come,” said Jade Williams, a sophomore mass communications major from New Orleans.
A question many blacks are asked is if they, or any other blacks are voting for Sen. Obama just because he is black.
“Even though I feel that many young blacks are voting for him because he is black, I still feel this is a good way to show that us as black people can stand together” said Williams.
Williams does not stand alone on the point of Sen. Obama making history is a stepping stone for blacks.
Sophomore business man-agement Cedric Clarke from West Mont, Ill., feels that this election is a huge step for blacks in America.
Clarke does not feel that the only reason he fancies Sen. Obama over Sen. McCain is his skin color, but more because of his views.
“Yes, I am happy that he is a black man, but that is not the only reason I prefer him over McCain, it is all about his views and where he stands.
McCain seems to only care for the richer class. Barack Obama is not only for the black race, but also for everyone as a whole. He stresses that he is for the people, which includes the middle and lower class, the elderly, all races and countries.”
For all students who are registered to vote in East Baton Rouge Parish should report to the F.G. Clark Activity Center with a state ID and are asked to not wear paraphernalia pertaining to presidential candidates.