VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 6
WWW. READMYBEACON.COM
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012
the
THE
ELECTioNISSUE
Page 2
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012
Voting for the first time? By Kent Berame Staff Writer You drive past a sea of lawn mini-billboards of presidential candidates on your way to Publix. The words “Forward” and “Let’s Keep America American” glower down at you. Sponsored political advertisements flood your TV screen. Election Day is on the horizon. Tomorrow you have the opportunity to vote for the next leader of the United States of America. Do you know how to vote? Students for one day will change their title from college student to voter. Students must vote in the precinct of their legal residence or place of schooling. Most Palm Beach Atlantic University students living on campus have their home address listed on their voter registration cards. Specific polling locations are located on voter registration cards. Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m to 7 p.m. tomorrow. The site www.pbcelections.org is the key help to voters for this upcoming election, according to Susan Bucher, the supervisor of elections for Palm Beach County. On the homepage, a voter can scroll down and click on “Voter Information Look Up,” found to the right of the page if he or she would like to find out if he or she is an active voter, wants to request an absentee ballot or for polling locations.
You may want to bring the sample ballot that you should have received in the mail, filled out so you can easily transfer your vote from the sample ballot to the actual ballot. These sample ballots can also be found on the left of the site by clicking on “General Election-2012” and then clicking on “My Sample Ballot” in red. “This has to be one of the most complicated things I have ever looked at,” said David Denton, a PBA junior, referring to the ballot. Cassie Clark, a junior at PBA, agrees. “Yeah, I definitely will need to do my homework before Nov. 6.” At the top of the ballot, there are instructions on how to vote. The column starts on the left with the vote for the president and vice president. The box below is another box for the United States senator. This box includes Republican Connie Mack and Democrat Bill Nelson. Other voting boxes include the representatives in Congress, state senator, tax collector, and justices of Supreme Court. When choosing a candidate the voter will need to fill in an arrow to the candidate he or she is voting for. The next page lists the amendments proposed along with a small synopsis of each amendment. There will be a total of 11 amendments on topics like taxes, health care, and slot machines. The two amendments that may be of interest to students of a faith background, like most of the students at PBA, are Amend-
ment 6: Prohibition on Public Funding of Abortions; Construction of Abortion Rights and Amendment 8: Religious Freedom. “As elementary as it seems, we shouldn’t go into the ‘booths’ with a clear understanding of our presidential decision yet not have a clue about the other 50 bubbles,” said Denton. “Unfortunately some of these can be candidates or policies we’ve never even heard of, and that’s where voters merely fill in R or D as they see fit. It takes work to dig for information, but sites like ballotpedia.org personally help me get the overall picture of who’s running for which office and what the major issues are.” Amendment 6 is also known as the Florida Abortion Amendment. The proposed amendment would prohibit the use of public funds for abortions, except those abortions that are required by law, to save the mother’s life or in cases of rape or incest. Currently, federal and state statutes already prohibit using public funds for abortions unless in situations like those listed above. A vote of yes supports putting the existing federal ban on the use of public funds
PHOTO BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
Persuading voters: Drivers catch an eye full of the campaign signs for politicians near the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office.
for abortions into the state constitution. A vote of no does not put the existing federal ban on use of public funds for abortions into the state constitution. Amendment 8 would remove language from the state constitution that prohibits public funding for churches or other religious groups. Supporters of Amendment 8 include the Florida Baptist Convention and the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as former Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio. “Amendment 8 simply means that our Florida government can continue to partner with faith-based groups – as it has for decades – to provide critical community services like homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and elder care…services our most vulnerable Florida neighbors rely upon,” said Yes on 8 Campaign Manager Jim Frankowiak. Opponents of Amendment 8 include editorial boards of over a dozen Florida Newspapers. Some say the amendment is a “back-door” maneuver that could lead to lawmakers approving vouchers for religious schools. “The so-called ‘Religious Freedom’ Amendment isn’t about religious freedom at all,” according to the site Votenoon8. com. “Amendment 8 actually allows the government to give our tax dollars to any group claiming to be a religious organization.” If voting tomorrow in Florida, students will need a current form of identification that includes their names and photos. Acceptable forms of ID include a driver’s license, ID card, passport, or student ID. If the one of the forms of identification doesn’t have your signature, an additional form of ID with your signature is required. Voter ID legislation has recently been a topic of issue in this election especially in the battleground state of Florida. There are currently only five states in addition to Florida that have a required photo I.D: Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Idaho. Voter I.D laws are created to protect the ballot from fraudulent voters. Some legal scholars say that photo I.D laws create a “financial barrier” to the ballot box, according to propublica.org. Those opposed to the voting I.D laws contend that the laws affect the elderly, low-income, and minority groups that tend to vote Democratic. Obtaining a valid I.D can be costly in some states, which discourages low-income groups. Ninety-five percent of Republicans support photo I.D while only 61 percent of Democrats support the voting I.D laws, according to the Pew Research Center.
Page 3
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012
Florida: the Battleground State With Florida’s 29 electoral votes up for grabs, candidates have focused on political ads and the Hispanic population By Cash W. Lambert and Nicole Saunders Local News Editor and Staff Writer The campaign cannons have been showering Florida with blue and red fireworks ever since the start of the presidential primaries in January. President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney have executed a political war, both vying for the states 29 electoral points. As of Thursday, Nov. 1 early voting polls, the race is one of the closest in recent elections. According to the Huffington Post, “There won’t be a clear picture of Florida until we are further into the in-person early voting period. At best, the early votes confirm the polling that the Florida election will be close.” Politico, a national political coverage website, has similar reports. “Who has the edge is muddled in bigger swing states like Florida.” With the race so tight, especially in Florida, both candidates have
blasted fireworks across the Florida sky in the form of political ads, which have bombarded the state’s 19 million people, from television commercials to billboards. Both candidates’ heavy amount of spending on ads in Florida, a state that holds the third largest number of electoral votes behind California and Texas, reveals just how crucial the Sunshine State is come election time. According to the Washington Post, both candidates have spent a combined $59 million in political ads, more than in any other state. The campaigns have targeted the state’s larger cities, spending over $14 million in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area, $15 million in Orlando, and $16 million in Tampa. Swinging back and forth Although Florida has fewer electoral votes than California and Texas, more advertising revenue is being spent in the Sunshine State. In the past three elections, Texas has predominantly voted Republican and California has predominantly voted Democrat, according to recent electoral maps. But Florida has been carried by both parties in the past three elections, making it a swing state – a state that could go either way in the upcoming election. According to the Florida Division of Elections, Florida currently has 4,214,241 registered Republicans and 4,715,684 registered
Democrats. The reason Florida has not sided with a specific party in recent elections comes down to two interstate highways that stretch down the state, according to Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Adjunct Political Science professor James Watt, who served as a city attorney for West Palm Beach and served four terms in the Florida House of Representatives, from 1978 to 1986. “The simplest way to explain it is to look at I-95 and I-75,” said Watt. “I-95 starts in the northeast and ends in Miami, which brings down snowbirds who predominantly vote Democrat, and I-75 runs from Michigan through the south to Miami, and brings in voters who usually side with the Republicans. If you look at a map, the counties that I-95 runs through vote Democrat, and the counties that I-75 runs through usually vote Republican.” Venice and Naples, two Floridian cities that I-75 runs through, have more registered Republicans, and I-95 flows through Jacksonville and Daytona, two cities that reside in counties that have more registered Democrats, supporting Watt’s hypothesis. “Florida became a quasi-northern state,” said Watt. “Up until 2000 election, Florida was like the other southern states, voting in the Republican column,” said Watt. “But unlike the other southern states, Florida has had huge population growth fueled by retirees from the northeast: they’re not Democrats. It’s been a toss up state ever since.” John Calhoun , professor of history and political science at PBA, voiced the importance of a third transportation system, I-4. “The I-4 corridor is usually the area that decides the election as it is the independent/swing part of
the state,” Calhoun said. “I think it could certainly be the determining factor.” Melting Pot Another firework that has blasted across the Floridian sky deals directly with the state’s population. To win Florida, both candidates have to appeal to the Hispanic vote. According to the Pew Research Center, Florida’s population is 23 percent Hispanic, and it has the sixth largest Hispanic population nationally. As of Oct. 9, 2012, there are 1,660,074 Hispanic voters in the state of Florida, 476,488 of whom are registered Republicans, with 644,878 registered Democrats, according to the Florida Department of State. The Hispanic population is rapidly growing due to the combination of increased immigration and a relatively slower growth-rate for the non-Hispanic population over the last decade, according to The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Census. Given Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s prominence in Florida and his presentation at the Republican National Convention contrasted with Florida’s Mayor Julian Castro’s keynote presentation at the Democratic National Convention, both men can be leading indicators of how the Hispanic voters will vote in Florida. Rubio, a first-generation Cuban-American from Miami, represents the way Cuban-Americans in Florida traditionally vote: Republican. “Most Cubans are passionate Republicans, because it was the Republicans who took a strong
stance against Fidel Castro decades ago,” explains Watt. “That helped Florida continue to become a Republican column in the ‘90’s.” Mayor Castro, on the other hand, represents the way nonCuban Latino Americans vote, Democratic, with immigration as the factor. Calhoun explained that in order for Obama and Romney to garner support amongst Latino voters in Florida, each candidate would have to take a firm stance on immigration reform and unemployment amongst Hispanics. “Cubans want to be tougher on Castro without affecting their right to go there and send money to their relatives,” Calhoun said. “For the rest of Hispanics, both parties would have to endorse The Dream Act, or at least support a comprehensive immigration reform and some kind of program to lower Hispanic unemployment.” Tomorrow, one candidate’s flying colors will reign supreme over the state and over the country. Whichever candidate wins Florida and its 29 electoral votes will have impressed enough undecided voters with political ads and will have stolen the hearts of the Hispanic and Cuban voters.
PHOTO BY AMY ANDRESS
Page 4
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012
The Jesus Vote In a recent poll, 67 percent of people surveyed believe that “it’s important that the president have strong religious beliefs.” As election day looms, how should a Christian’s faith factor in? By Chris Hernandez Managing Editor When polling places open in West Palm Beach tomorrow at 7 a.m., if they have not voted already, residents of Florida will line up to cast their vote on whether current 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, will fulfill his duties for another four years, taking on another term or if Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will take the reins as the 45th president of the United States. As the candidates finish up their campaign efforts, the citizens of the U.S. have a decision to make between two men who have said time and time again that the polarity of their differences in regards to policies is big and, at times, divisive. As voters prepare to choose who they believe should direct the country, each candidate’s stance on health care, the economy and social issues such as same sex marriage and overturning Roe vs. Wade will be weighed against the other’s in an effort to make a decision that would be relatively best for the voter.
Catholics are the most likely to view the president’s religious belief as important, according to the survey.
Politics from the Pulpit
David Nelms, senior pastor at Grace Fellowship West Palm Beach, feels that, when reading through the Bible, there is no way to avoid the politics infused within Scripture. On Oct. 28, he preached a sermon entitled, Not Who, but How that touched on the issue of the church and the political season, drawing inspiration from Tony Evan’s book How Should a Christian Vote. “If a pastor is a Bible preaching pastor, the pastor is going to talk about politics,” said Nelms. Nelms cites books like 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, and Esther as books with stories that revolve around the concept of government. According to Nelms, the Biblical role he attributes to the president can be found in Romans 13:3 and 4. The NIV version of the passage says, “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” According to Nelms, the passage highlights the role of the president as a protector, bearing the authority of God to do good and bearing His sword to defend. “When I vote, I look for the guy who is going to keep us (the United Sates) the safest, keep us the strongest,” said Nelms. “Obviously I would like the president to come from a born-again background, but, we are not voting for the next pastor-in-chief; we are voting for the next commanderin-chief.” When discussing politics, Nelms believes in being unbiased toward political parties. “To use a quote from Evans, ‘God does not wear a blue tie or a red tie. He is on his own side. His own agenda,’” he said. “Either party does not enforce God’s agenda. “A Christian is essentially voting for the lesser of two evils,” he
“We are not voting for the next pastorin-chief; we are voting for the next commander-inchief.” - DAVID NELMS
Another factor that will be taken into consideration, especially from people of faith based communities, is religion. According to a Pew Research Center study, 67 percent of people surveyed believe that “it’s important that the president have strong religious beliefs.” In a similar survey taken May 2011, 61 percent of adults surveyed said “they would be less likely to support a presidential candidate that did not believe in God.” Of those surveyed, 81 percent of Republicans felt strongly about this as did 66 percent of Democrats. Demographically, white evangelical Protestants, black Protestants and Hispanic
continued. “When he or she casts the vote, it’s not a pure vote. You have to weigh the issues out and see which ones are the most important.” According to the Pew Research Survey, 66 percent of Americans believe that churches and places of worship should not take part in endorsing a candidate, while 27 percent believe they should. That 27 percent is made up mostly of people who attend religious services regularly or hold religion as a big part of their lives. Though these views are in place, due to their status as 501(c) (3) nonprofit, churches can’t openly endorse a candidate. If they do, according to the Internal Revenue Code, the tax exemption for the church may be revoked. This means the income for the year would be income taxed. The church can also be charged an excise tax. There are certain exceptions. A pastor can speak indirectly about a candidate by discussing the issues he or she believes that voters should vote for, not necessarily connecting them to a certain candidate though the connection may be obvious. Though churches and religiously affiliated organizations have tried to battle these restrictions in the Supreme Court, arguing it is their First Amendment right, the First Amendment does not cover this restriction placed on all religious and non-religious nonprofits. Despite the restriction and possible consequences, 19 percent of churchgoers say that their pastors have openly endorsed a candidate, while 55 say that politics are discussed in general. Of those surveyed, black Protestants are more likely than white Protestants and Catholics to have heard of political discussions.
Billy Graham, a dominant figure in the American Christian Evangelical movement. According to the Mormon faith, the Book of Mormon, a book translated by founder Joseph Smith, and the Holy Bible are both divinely inspired by God and hold equal weight. Followers of the faith believe that Satan and Jesus are part of God’s spiritual children. Jesus is separate from God. There is no acknowledgment of the Trinity. Because of the differences in the role and origin of Jesus, the Mormon faith has been placed as a faith separate from and heretical in context to the Evangelical Christianity community and thus labeled as a cult, or new religious movement, by the latter. On Dec. 6, 2007, Romney addressed his faith to a crowd at the George Bush Presidential Library in Texas in a speech entitled “Faith in America.” The speech was made during Romney’s first attempt at the Republican nomination, which he lost that year to John McCain. In the speech, Romney draws a connection between him and another non-protestant president, John F. Kennedy. He said, “Almost 50 years ago another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for president, not a Catholic running for president. “Like him, I am an American running for president. I do not define my candidacy by my religion,” he continued. “A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.”
During the speech, Romney expressed his unwillingness to distance himself from a faith that has been rooted in his family for generations. “I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs,” he said. “Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. “Americans do not respect believers of convenience,” he continued. “Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.” A recent Pew Research survey shows that, of those who are aware of Romney’s religious beliefs, roughly 81 percent are comfortable, don’t care, or have no opinion. Billy Graham recently took Mormonism off his list of cults on his website, coincidentally after meeting with Romney. A rep for Graham insisted that the move was a way to separate the site from the debate regarding Mormonism and Christianity during the time of this election. Romney, who has distanced himself from open forums regarding his faith during this election, addressed the graduating class of Liberty University that past May, acknowledging the difference between his Mormon tradition and the Evangelical tradition of the students. “People of different faiths, like yours and mine, sometimes wonder where we can meet in common purpose, when there
More than Mormon
In regards to religion, Romney and Obama come from two backgrounds that have been highly debated throughout their campaigns since 2007. Romney comes from five generations of Mormon men. After a year at Stanford, Romney traveled to France for missions and then transferred to Brigham Young University, a university founded by one of the Mormon movement’s prominent figures. Romney served as a bishop for and was highly involved at his home church, the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints in Belmont, Mass. Up to recently, Mormonism was on the list of cults cited by
BEACON STOCK PHOTO/ GRAPHIC BY KAILY TYRRELL
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012
Page 5
2012 Quality Initiative Faculty and Student Research Grant Poster Session
are so many differences in creed and theology,” he said. “Surely the answer is we can meet in service, in shared moral convictions about our nation stemming from common worldview.”
A Prayerful President
“Faith and values play an enormous role in motivating us to solve some of our most urgent problems.”
Obama, unlike Romney, did not grow up in family of religious tradition, a story he shared at the 2012 and 2011 National Presidential Prayer Breakfast. Though Obama’s father, who Obama has only met once after the divorce of his parents when he was younger, was raised in the Muslim faith, he lived most of his life as an atheist. Obama’s mother spent most of her life as a skeptic of organized religion. Obama’s family makeup influenced his own beliefs. By the time he graduated Columbia University, Obama was a self-described religious skeptic. This family backgtround has often led to confusion from the American people regarding his faith. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2008, 55 percent of voters viewed Obama as Christian, 31 percent did not know of his faith and 12 percent said he was Muslim. Today, the number hasn’t shifted in support of Obama’s Christian faith. Today, 49 percent are aware that Obama is Christian, 31 don’t know and 17 percent believe he is Muslim. Most of those who view Obama as a Muslim, according to the research, come from a conservative Republican background. In 2007, Obama openly spoke about his testimony and becoming a Christian in a speech entitled “A Politics of Conscience” to the United Church of Christ General Synod. In the speech, Obama connected with a restlessness and a search for meaning he felt the American people were feeling at that time. “It seems to me that each day, thousands of Americans are going about their lives…and they’re coming to the realization that something is missing. They’re deciding that their work, their possessions, their divisions, their sheer busyness, is not enough,” he said. Ironically, after college, Obama became a community organizer for a group of churches in Chicago. It was at this moment that he said he had to “confront his own spiritual dilemma.” As he began to work with these Christian men and women, he began to see something in them that he felt would quench his thirst for meaning. He realized he needed to step out of being an observer of Scripture. “I came to realize that something was missing as well – that without an anchor for my beliefs, without commitment to a particular community of faith, at some level, I would always remain apart, and alone.” One Sunday, after hearing a sermon entitled “The Audacity of Hope,” Obama surrendered his life to Jesus. “I learned that my sins could be redeemed. I learned that those things I was too weak to accomplish myself, He would accomplish with me if I trust in Him,” he said. “And, in time, I came to see faith as more than just a comfort to the weary or hedge against death, but rather as an active, palpable agent in the world and in my own life. “The skeptical bent of my mind didn’t suddenly vanish. But kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side,” he continued, “I felt I heard God’s spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth and carrying out His works.” During his first campaign in 2008, Obama’s faith was hit hard by the racial and radical comments made by his home church pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright. During
- Barack Obama
his first months as president, Obama distanced himself from Wright and resigned his membership from the home church where he had first encountered God. Though the president has not designated one church his home church in Washington D.C., he often worships at a famous presidential spot: Camp David. The nondenominational church at Camp David consists of 50 to 70 members and provides a more secluded area for the president and his family to worship, away from the spotlight and distraction that would follow him to a more public church. Before the final debate this election season at Lynn University, the president is said to have spent the three days prior in seclusion and prayer at Camp David. At the February 2012 National Prayer Breakfast, Obama discussed the role of prayer in his life. “But in my moments of prayer, I’m reminded that faith and values play an enormous role in motivating us to solve some of our most urgent problems, in keeping us going when we suffer setbacks, and opening our minds and our hearts to the needs of others,” he said. “We can’t leave our values at the door. If we leave our values at the door, we abandon much of the moral glue that has held our nation together for centuries, and allowed us to become somewhat more perfect a union. “I wake up each morning and I say a brief prayer, and I spend a little time in scripture and devotion. And from time to time, friends of mine, some of who are here today, friends like Joel Hunter or T.D. Jakes, will come by the Oval Office or they’ll call on the phone or they’ll send me a email, and we’ll pray together, and they’ll pray for me and my family, and for our country,” he continued. “But I don’t stop there. I’d be remiss if I stopped there; if my values were limited to personal moments of prayer or private conversations with pastors or friends. So instead, I must try -- imperfectly, but I must try -- to make sure those values motivate me as one leader of this great nation,” As they are with Romney, a majority of voters are comfortable with Obama’s religion or don’t care. Nelms believes that God has used presidents of different faiths in the past, and because a candidate says he is a believer does not necessarily make him an active believer. “By their fruits you shall know them,” said Nelms. He continued, “If I have heart surgery, I want the best heart surgeon I can get. I’d wake up on the day of surgery, say a prayer and get that surgeon. You want the guy who is going to do the best job.”
Warren Library Rotunda Thursday, November 13 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Posters will be available through November 18
Dr. Roger Chapman, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Science, American Isolationism and Anticommunism: Selling the Marshall Plan to the Midwest and West Dr. Tom Chesnes, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Science, Benthic Secondary Productivity of Seagrass Communities in Lake Worth Cove, Lake Worth Lagoon Palm Beach County, Fla. Mylissa Fraser, senior psychology major, School of Education and Behavioral Studies, Factors that prove to be most influential in the retention abilities of preschoolers Dr. Jonathan Grenz, Associate Professor, School of Ministry, Factors influencing regular attending in student ministry activities Professor Tyler Hamilton, Assistant Professor, School of Education and Behavioral Studies, Cardiac Emergencies in Sports Medicine Dr. Craig Hanson, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Science, Rationality and Future Discounting Dr. Lee Prescott, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Science, “If I Should Forget Thee, O Jerusalem”: Going to the Source – Israel Dr. Mireille Aleman, Assistant Professor, School of Arts and Science, with junior biology major Josh Gradwhol, Integrative Approach to Science Learning: from STEM to STEAM Dr. David Compton, Professor, School of Education and Behavioral Studies, Effects of adolescent exposure of Mitragynine from Mitragyna speciosa Korth on Cognitive Function in Adult Rats Dr. Jamie Fairclough, Assistant Professor, Gregory School of Pharmacy with pharmacy major Janelle Ludwig, Moderators and Predictors of Stress and Depressive Symptomatology among Student Pharmacists: A Second-Phase, MultiMethodological Approach Dr. Peggy VanArmen, Professor, School of Arts and Science, with senior biology majors Katherine Harvey, Samantha Loutzenhiser, and Lucas Young, Torry Island Study: Nutrients in leaves, soil, and water of Annona glabra swamps in relation to Everglades restoration Dr. Steve Zombory, Associate Professor, School of Education and Behavioral Studies with senior psychology majors Chelsea DaSilva, Brian Gradwohl, and Matthew Pipitone, and theatre major/psychology minor Erin Welsh, Environmental Engagement and the Contours of Wisdom For additional information, contact Carolanne M. Brown, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Effectiveness (561) 803-2050 or carolanne_brown@pba.edu
Page 6
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012
Students debate the next pres. From the Left By Matt Crumb Guest Columnist
By Belle Herrera Guest Columnist In my humble opinion, there is no other choice for president than Barack Obama. He has made countless amazing, historic and beneficial moves to bring this country forward. That’s the thing about President Barack Obama. He doesn’t want this country to go backward. Backward is what Mitt Romney wants to do and he hides it with his “complaining rather than explaining” tactic. That is something that in this day and age, we definitely cannot afford. Mitt Romney has made claims against women that he wants to take away rights dealing with OUR reproductive systems and stop funding for Planned Parenthood. How can you want to take something away that has successfully been implemented as a progressive move for women who have been pushed down long enough? Women have a voice now. This isn’t the 1950’s. Even from a Christian’s perspective, we can’t impose our beliefs on an entire country that is built up of so many different ones. So, saying that a woman shouldn’t have a right to choose is imposing that belief on others. I don’t believe abortion is right, but I also think that just because I don’t believe in it, doesn’t mean I should want to change it so that every other woman can’t have it. Taking it away would just move it to the black market and doctors with dirty knives and no license would take over. How dangerous does that sound? Mitt Romney has claimed that he wants to give tax breaks to the wealthier population. Trickle-down economics have been proven to not work successfully. You can’t grow an economy from the top down; it needs to be built from the middle out. The wealthier part of this country should do
their part and be taxed a little more in order to make progress towards a stable nation. He won’t be able to balance the budget. He even makes claims towards the fact that President Obama hasn’t fixed the economy in four years, but yet says he can fix it in eight to ten years. How does this add up? It doesn’t. It’s a blatant attack to remove President Obama based on the reason that they just don’t like him and won’t give him credit for anything good he has done while in office. Mitt Romney has changed his views on various issues entirely too much. Even Republicans know that. How can someone like that ever be taken seriously or seen as someone who is truthful? Obama has done so much for this country. He grew up as an average citizen. He wasn’t born into wealth; he knew struggle. That’s what I believe makes him so relatable. He has been in your shoes and knows what it feels like not to have everything. He also knows success because you can’t just make it happen at the touch of a button. You have to work hard in order to achieve your goals. That’s what Obama has done. He is blamed every single day for not fixing the economy so fast. How is one man supposed to fix something so detrimental in four years? It was made in eight; he deserves another four to fix it. President Barack Obama has signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which promotes equal pay for women, because equal work should receive equal pay. He created health care reform which now allows people to stay on their parent’s health insurance until they are 26. People will no longer be denied if they have preexisting conditions. He made the call to take Osama Bin Laden out. He saved the auto industry and didn’t let Detroit go bankrupt which resulted in saving over a million jobs for people. He cut taxes for middle class families which saved almost $1000 a year. He created the DREAM act which promotes immigrant justice for children who were brought here when they were young and gives them a path to citizenship. President Obama has done so much to bring the country forward and it’s time for people to see this. Speaking as a Christian and as a Democrat, Obama is the correct choice to make when electing a candidate. He cares about the people and it’s evident. He wants everyone to have a chance, not just some. He believes in opportunity and chance. It’s also time to see that as a Christian, God is not aligned with a particular party. He actually isn’t aligned with a party at all. So it’s time to see past party lines and make the decision that will set right in your heart. I hope I brought you some insight from the other side! In the wise words of Dr. Calhoun, “Christians can be Democrats too!”
Have you voted yet? Are you going to? I think the real question is do you think it’s even worth it. I would vehemently suggest that you do. We are all affected by the outcomes of the political process, ALL of us. To add some guilt to your decision making, people died and continue to risk their lives for your right to vote. That may be a little much, but it’s true. Anyways, let’s get to the good stuff. It is no secret that the United States of America is in need of some large-scale repairs. The federal government has spent itself into a 16 trillion dollar debt that is increasing. In the private sector, the recession has resulted in lost jobs and diminishing capital. My last few articles highlight America’s woes in more detail (check them out at ReadMyBeacon.com). This mess was brought about by irresponsible politicians on all sides, Republicans, Democrats, and independents. Our next cycle of politicians must display fiscal responsibility
From the Right as well as make tough decisions regarding those government programs that need to be trimmed or eliminated. The status quo is unsustainable and President Barack Obama has only made matters worse by attempting to spend his way out of debt. America needs leadership with good business sense. Enter Mitt Romney (his real first name is Willard, ha!). Mitt Romney is a politician, but he was a businessman first. After graduating from Harvard Business School, Mitt founded Bain Capital, an alternative asset managing firm. During his tenure at Bain, he helped revive companies like Staples, Sports Authority, and Bright Horizons. In 1999 Romney became the CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He took over when the games were on the brink of collapsing as budget and security failures loomed. In a short amount of time Romney righted the ship and oversaw a successful Winter Games. Mitt Romney’s political career began when he was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002. As a Republican governor in an overwhelmingly Democrat state, Mitt accomplished a surprising amount of changes. Massachusetts was, like Washington D.C., a fiscal mess with overwhelming taxes and struggling businesses. Although he did not create a conservative wonderland, Romney was able to work with his opponents to lower the unemployment rate, reorganize the education and health care systems, and lower taxes. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign
features a Five Point Plan that tackles the most important issue of this election, the economy. Part one focuses on making America energy independent by clearing the obstacles in the way of accessing our plentiful amount of oil, natural gas, and coal. This will end our dependence on Middle Eastern oil and all other foreign providers. Part two focuses on easier educational access, reforming a complicated job training program, and adjusting immigration in part by attracting the best and brightest from around the world. Part three is a plan to broaden the market by establishing new trade rules and agreements as well as holding China accountable for manipulating its currency. Part four deals with the out of control federal budget. Programs will need to be trimmed, consolidated, or cut completely and our welfare programs need to be reformed into sustainability. Lastly, part five helps lift the burden off of the private sector by lifting regulations, lowering taxes, keeping public unions in check, and tossing Obamacare. Romney’s Five Point Plan is, in my opinion, the most important part of his platform, but I encourage you to go to MittRomney.com to read about his full plan for America’s future. Obama had his opportunity to improve our broken institutions and he has failed. It is time to give someone else a shot. I also strongly encourage you voters to do research on your candidates for U.S. representatives and senators, as well as your state politicians. As I said before, ALL politicians in this next election cycle must be moral, responsible people and it is your responsibility to send the right ones.
Page 7
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012
Youth of the nation The youth vote holds powerful potential, yet only 51 percent of those ages 18-29 voted in the last election. By Megan Human and Gabriella Hoge Staff Writers The youth vote, which includes the votes of those between the ages of 18 and 29, is expected to be an important factor in this election, and participation by the demographic as a whole has increased. In the 2008 election, President Barack Obama’s appeal to the younger generation turned out record young political action, and now, it seems that political movement for students and young adults is continuing the upwards trend. This being said, the growth in votes is not enormous and the portion of the demographic that turns out at the polls is still only just above half of those eligible. But according to statistics, most young people will not show up at the polls. In the last election only 51 percent of all those ages 18-29 used their vote in the election. Contributing factors to the struggle to get young adults to the polls are numerous. For Kyle McConnell, vice-president of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Republican Club, it all comes down to perspective. “At this point in our lives, it doesn’t affect us directly,” he said. “Politicians are talking about taxes and health care and college students only care about going out with their friends and getting decent grades. College kids usually aren’t in the workforce yet; they don’t have to provide for their family so they don’t see how taxes and legislation can affect them.” As former president of PBA’s Democratic Club, Ricky Mark sees other influences on voter turnout. “I think it’s a combination of voter apathy and many other factors. While things are much better this time around compared to the way they were during the last election season, times are still tough and we as a nation are still getting back on our feet. Thank-
fully, there has been a recent uptick in political interest in recent months, especially with Election Day moving closer and closer,” said Mark. Although Obama still leads in the youth vote demographic, which generally leans both liberal and Democratic, a recent shift has showed that more young adults identify with being what is known as “fiscally conservative.” According to the Associated Press, one poll now indicates that 42 percent of 18 and 19 year-olds consider themselves to be conservative, and only 33 percent consider themselves to be liberal. Since 18 and 19 year-olds only make up a portion of the youth vote, this has not over-ridden the opinion of the demographic as a whole, although it shows some indication of a shift in thinking. This new trend towards conservatism is almost entirely economic, as most young adults remain either moderate or liberal on the social side of the political spectrum. However, after being deemed as what the Associated Press calls the “un-employed generation,” most young people are worried about their financial future. The Associated Press also reports that unemployment has become the most important issue for young adults in this election. Despite the recent increase in awareness, many young adults still do not care enough about politics to place a vote. Even for those who do, interest can be limited. “I am registered to vote but I feel like politics is becoming less and less important,” said freshman Matt Uhlman. “So many people on Facebook think they know everything about the election. This makes me even more uninterested.” For others, the lack of will to vote comes from a lack of selection that they feel tolerable. “I hate politics,” said Thomas
Sivert, a PBA freshman. “Nobody cares about the election because both candidates are horrible. We are just trying to figure out which is the lesser of both evils.” This frustration with the political system does not wholly encompass the youth demographic, and some students feel the need to encourage their generation towards more political action. For these students, the importance of the election surpasses their dislike for the system as a whole. “I would say that slightly over half of my friends care about the
election,” said Megan Saslow. “I think that all of them should go vote because they are the ones who complain when it doesn’t go their way.” McConnell reaffirms this notion. “I think that there should be a concerted effort to get young people interested in politics. That is why I am a part of the Republican political club on campus,” said McConnell. “The younger you start, the more you make a habit out of voting and discovering what you believe in.
“I want to encourage other young people to not just go along with what their parents told them but to really go out and figure out what they stand for and get involved.” While the youth vote has the potential to make an important influence on this, and any, election, much of that potential will go un-tapped. Unemployment and other shifts in the economy have driven some young voters to the polls, but many remain silent.
PHOTO BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
Youth’s voting power: In the 2008 election, President Barack Obama’s appeal to the younger generation turned out record young political action, and now, it seems that political movement for students and young adults is continuing the upwards trend.
Page 8
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012
the
CHRIS HERNANDEZ Managing Editor Chris@readmybeacon.com JOHN SIZEMORE Executive Editor John@readmybeacon.com
iewing parties Students met throughout the semester to watch debates, get informed, and participate in dialogue with one another before Nov. 6. By Carlie Morley Campus News Editor Throughout the past several weeks there have been viewing parties for the presidential debates here on the campus of Palm Beach Atlantic University. Students gathered to watch the televised debate and then had a moderated discussion facilitated by a professor. “I was immensely pleased by students’ response to it,” said Dr. Craig Hanson, moderator of the Oct. 16 debate on campus. “The participation level and enthusiasm of students to listen to the issues were pretty impressive.” The first presidential debate, which took place on Oct. 3, was held at the University of Denver and facilitated at PBA by Dr. Tom St. Antoine. This debate’s overall topic was domestic policy. After attending the first debate on Oct. 3, PBA student Britta Smythe was impressed with the overall experience of the event. “How they handled it really helped me get a grip on what each candidate stood for by discussing it afterwards instead of just listening to it and trying to process it on our own,” said Smythe. “It was really helpful to hear everyone’s opinion.” The post-debate polls, taken by CNN, show that Governor Mitt Romney “won” the debate, with 67 percent, over President Barack Obama, with only 25 percent. The second debate, which was the vice-presidential debate, took place on Oct. 11 at Centre College in Kentucky, and was facilitated at PBA by Dr. Roger Chapman. This debate’s topic was foreign and domestic policy. To sum up his content with the debate Chapman said, “About 50 students sat together and watched the debate. Afterwards we had a 30-minute discussion on what was said. I am very proud of the intelligent analysis of these young people.” Chapman walked away pleased with the mature and respectful way that students handled the debate. “Differing views were expressed with nuanced thought and nobody got mad or acted disrespectful toward those they disagreed with,” he said. “There was real thinking and cordiality.” The second presidential debate was in New York at Hofstra University, on Oct. 16 and was held town meeting style, in which people asked questions pertaining to foreign and domestic policies. This debate was facilitated at PBA by Hanson. “One of the things I was most pleased with was seeing the students get together and realize that they are not the only one who cares about politics, there are actually lots of other students on campus who share the same interest,” said Hanson. “I think the debates are meaningful to the students,” he said. “There was some cheering and booing, which is great
fun.” Referring to the students’ portion of the debate, Hanson said, “It was intense at times. There was very serious and passionate disagreement, but it was very civil. They would have talked for another hour if we hadn’t cut them off.” The polls taken by CNN after this debate showed Obama “winning” with 46 percent and Romney close behind with 39 percent. There was not a viewing party at PBA for the third presidential debate, but it took place right in our own backyard at Lynn University in Boca Raton on Oct. 22. The overall topic for this debate was foreign policy. This debate’s poll results were similar to the results of the second debate according to CNN, with Obama in the lead with 48 percent and Romney with 40 percent. According to the Huffington Post’s analysis before the third debate, “Before the debate, 24 percent said they leaned to Obama and 20 percent to Romney, with 54 percent completely undecided. After the debate, 46 percent said they would support Obama, 32 percent Romney and 19 percent were undecided.” The debate viewing parties have played quite a role on campus over the past few weeks and it is all leading up to tomorrow. There will be an election night viewing party for students to attend in the Wean Faculty Club on election night, Nov. 6. For many students, this will be the first time voting in a presidential election. The party provides an opportunity for students to watch the election with a community of people in the same boat. However, if you are looking to get off campus to watch, local restaurants will be having broadcast parties including Duffy’s on Clematis Street and E.R. Bradley’s Saloon on Flagler drive. Important political figures in West Palm Beach will be taking part in watching the election in their own ways on Election Day. Dave Aronberg, Democratic candidate for state attorney, will be hosting a viewing party at the Embassy Suites Hotel on Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach. The Republican Party of Palm Beach County will be hosting a victory celebration on Election Day at 7:30 at the Palm Beach Kennel Club. Hanson hopes students will take advantage of the opportunity to watch the election with the PBA community at the viewing party. Hanson said, “The election watch night is the next fun thing. Students can come and go at will and there is free food, that always gets them there.” Tyann Mullen contributed to this article.
DUANE MEEKS Publisher CASH W. LAMBERT Local News Editor Cash@readmybeacon.com KAILY TYRRELL Art Director Kaily@readmybeacon.com CHELSAE ANNE HORTON Multimedia Manager Chelsae@readmybeacon.com CARLIE MORLEY Campus News Editor Carlie@readmybeacon.com KENT BERAME Sports Editor Kent@readmybeacon.com Weekly Staff: Caroline Case Gabbie Hoge Greg Halmos Heisy Padilla Kayla Viaud Megan Human Nicole Saunders Rebecca Stripe Tyann Mullen Victoria Vartan Amy Andress Naomi Wallen
Submissions: If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, a news tip, corrections, or contribute to the Beacon, email the managing editor at readmybeacon@ gmail.com
Corrections: See an error we did not catch? Help hold us accountable by emailing the editor of the section. Our goal is to bring you the cleanest copy possible. Front and back page photos: Cover Graphic by Charlotte Wynne For more pictures, audio and video visit readmybeacon.com by scanning the QR code No part of the Beacon may be reproduced without permission. The opinions expressed in The Beacon are not necessarily those of Palm Beach Atlantic University administration, staff or faculty.