After last week’s first Democratic Debate, I decided to conduct a survey around Sinclair’s campus to get a feel for how people felt about the event. I wanted to know if people had even watched the debate, who stood out to them and were the issues that they felt were important discussed during the debate.
The students surveyed ranged from 18 to 24, included multiple races and genders. While conducting the survey, I hoped to see a variety of which candidate students preferred to win and a plethora of issues students found to be important to them.
Ultimately, the study was conducted to see if students had any interest in politics and the future of America. I did not expect the results I received to be unanimous.
When approaching students and asking them to fill out the questionnaire about the Democratic debate, at first many of them looked puzzled and asked “what debate?”
Most students were unaware that there was a debate last week. Aside from not knowing about it, some students were busy working or simply did not have time to sit down and watch the debate.
When asked if they would watch the next debate, I received the same type of answers: they would watch it if they aren’t busy, if they are aware of it or if they don’t have anything better to do.
Honestly, the results I received did not shock me in the least bit. I fall within the age range of people I questioned and I feel the same way the majority of them felt. Had it not been for The Clarion, I would not have known about the Democratic Debate.
Even though one person did not watch the debate, he felt that the debates are important. He wrote: “politics are important because you should know who and what you are voting for.”
While I do agree, I can’t help but point out, neither of us watched the debate; so how important could it really be?
I believe the age group I questioned is simply living life day to day and not really worried about politics. They are used to immediate change and the change many politicians have to offer may come months or years from now.
A lot of students that filled out the questionnaire wrote or said: “I don’t really care about politics.” I am not sure when this attitude emerged but it seemed to be one that many can relate to.
This leaves me to wonder what the future of voting will look like in the next years to come. Will people continue to be too busy for politics or will they realize every vote counts?
Kenya Dawson Jackson
Intern