Cedarville students’ mixed feelings on the election

By Ashleigh Clark

It does not take a degree to realize that politics are divisive. Social media ads get hijacked by political slogans and news media broadcast every sound bite. Tension rises between friends and family as well. Elections bring the messiness of American politics to the forefront. 

With the 2024 presidential election nearing, the opinions of young people are even more important. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, approximately 40 million  Generation Z (people 18-27) citizens are eligible to vote. 8 million of those youth became eligible since the midterm elections in 2022. 

Despite what some political analysts may say, Gen Z is passionate about politics. However, they engage in unconventional ways. They wield “Gen Z” social media and college organizations to promote their sociopolitical values. 

For many college students at Cedarville, their social environment influences their political opinions and thoughts on the election. Whether or not one’s parents are politically minded can affect how they view their civic duties. Some students view elections as critical to national stability. Other students prefer to keep the election talk at arms-length. 

Evan Weise, a senior Political Science major, is a college student who is passionate about his family’s political beliefs. 

“I am very interested in politics as well. I follow political stories as well as news stories all day long,” Weise said. 

Weise and his family show their passion through involvement in grass-roots campaigning. 

For this election cycle, Weise is volunteering for the Bernie Moreno Ohio Senate Campaign. Weise aims to make 10,000 phone calls on behalf of Moreno’s campaign. So far, he has canvased over 7,200 people via phone calls. 

He is passionate about this election because of its potential impact on the country. 

“I view this election as literally the most important election of the past 100 years,” Weise said. “I believe that so much is at stake…My family also views this election as one of the most important elections in our entire lifetime.” 

For Weise, his family’s cohesive political identity strengthens his views. When they talk about elections, Weise noted that they rarely argue. In a way, his parents have served as a model for how to engage with civic duties. 

“We don’t have any sort of intense arguments or disagreements about anything,” Weise said. “It’s really much more of an informed discussion and conversation than anything else.” 

His parents also model good civic behavior by getting involved with grass roots campaigning. 

“[My father] has had some practice with tabling booths over the summer,” Weise said.

However, not every student on Cedarville’s campus is as interested in politics as Weise. 

Noami Brimer, a junior Political Science major,  is cynical about the elections but still thinks civic engagement is necessary. 

“[Elections are] very divisive…It’s more about the candidates themselves than what they are trying to accomplish…” Brimer said. “I find myself not wanting to vote but I know it’s my civic duty,” Brimer said.

Brimer also roots her feelings on the election in the way her parents modeled political behavior when she was young. 

“It was never a big deal as a kid,” Brimer said. “They would take us to voting day [and] I knew where they stood on issues but we never talked about it as a family. My parents say it is in the Lord’s hands, no matter the outcome.”

Other students come from homes where politics are divisive. They may believe different things about politics from their parents and siblings. This exacerbates tension, especially in an election year. 

Eileen Elder, a senior History major, comes from a politically divided home and sees politics as something to be avoided. 

“I am not politically active, nor am I interested in politics,” Elder said. “It is important only because it could affect my future as a citizen. I do not care enough to actually engage in the election process.” 

For her, politics at home is not a friendly topic. Like the last few election cycles, this year’s election has been turbulent for Elder’s family. Part of this is because of the ideological split between her relatives. 

“My family is strongly split between conservative and liberal,” Elder said. “I disagree with my sister and brothers on many issues. Issues such as abortion, legalization of drugs, same-sex marriage…They tend to be on the more liberal side of everything. I am more neutral to most of these.” 

She engages civically through voting, but she does not go beyond that. However, Elder is planning to vote in this election, despite her frustrations.

Not everyone in her family feels the same about casting a ballot for a candidate. 

“I believe it is important to exercise one’s right to vote,” Elder said.“My brother does not find it as important and he will not vote if he does not like any option.” 

For her, she remains squarely in the middle of her family’s beliefs, especially when it comes to views on the presidential election. In general, Elder prefers to keep her political views to herself. 

“I believe we cannot push certain beliefs on others,” Elder said. 

The Presidential Election is on Tuesday, November 5. 

Ashleigh Clark is a senior Political Science major. She loves hiking and playing video games with her fiancé. 

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