Spring Break
Old pros: Graduate students head back to the polls
Perry Robbin
Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: Election Special
The novelty's gone, but voting in this election is even more important to Ben Carbonetti, a second-year graduate student studying political science, than it was when he first cast a ballot in a presidential race.
After voting in his first election in 2004, "I felt a great sense of fulfillment," Carbonetti said in an e-mail.
He was a student at the University of New Hampshire at the time, and the whole campus was caught up in election fever.
"There was talk that New Hampshire could be decided by a few thousand votes, many of which would come from college students at UNH," he said. "So there was a great incentive to vote regardless of my political affiliation."
This year, however, he is a resident of Connecticut, a solid blue state.
"It is hard to escape the knowledge that my vote is not quite as influential as it was in New Hampshire; this is a major problem with the electoral college," Carbonetti said.
Even though the magic's gone, the 2008 presidential election is even more important to Carbonetti this year in terms of its direct impact on his life. He's married now and considering having children, so the economy and health care are two major issues he is thinking about this election cycle.
"All of a sudden I have to think as a pair," Carbonetti said. "Is her job safe? Will I be able to finish school if things get bad? Will we have to move? Issues in 2004 seemed important but also abstract. The war, which struck me on a more philosophical level touched me less directly than the economy which has a much greater impact on most of my friends, family and myself."
Other graduate students on campus also report feeling a greater connection and interest with this election than previous ones.
Andrew Grubb, a second- year graduate student in medieval studies, said he is more excited for this year's election. However, Grubb also expressed concern that issues in previous elections have made him more hesitant about the results.
After voting in his first election in 2004, "I felt a great sense of fulfillment," Carbonetti said in an e-mail.
He was a student at the University of New Hampshire at the time, and the whole campus was caught up in election fever.
"There was talk that New Hampshire could be decided by a few thousand votes, many of which would come from college students at UNH," he said. "So there was a great incentive to vote regardless of my political affiliation."
This year, however, he is a resident of Connecticut, a solid blue state.
"It is hard to escape the knowledge that my vote is not quite as influential as it was in New Hampshire; this is a major problem with the electoral college," Carbonetti said.
Even though the magic's gone, the 2008 presidential election is even more important to Carbonetti this year in terms of its direct impact on his life. He's married now and considering having children, so the economy and health care are two major issues he is thinking about this election cycle.
"All of a sudden I have to think as a pair," Carbonetti said. "Is her job safe? Will I be able to finish school if things get bad? Will we have to move? Issues in 2004 seemed important but also abstract. The war, which struck me on a more philosophical level touched me less directly than the economy which has a much greater impact on most of my friends, family and myself."
Other graduate students on campus also report feeling a greater connection and interest with this election than previous ones.
Andrew Grubb, a second- year graduate student in medieval studies, said he is more excited for this year's election. However, Grubb also expressed concern that issues in previous elections have made him more hesitant about the results.
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