Close election draws student voters

Even though the lines didn't stretch around buildings, hundreds of Penn students hit the polls today, many for the first time. Some noted that they went to the polls today because they realized how important it was to vote. "I came out today because the election was close," Wharton sophomore Brooks Oppenheimer said. "I think it's an election that started with a lot of apathy but I think people [have realized] how important it is," College junior Akiva Fox said, adding that it was his first time voting. Fox was one of several students who registered to vote in Pennsylvania because of the large influence the state had on the election. "I'm from Massachusetts but decided [my vote] would do more good here," added Fox, who said he voted for Vice President Al Gore. Penn students have shown themselves to be overwhelmingly in support of Gore, a Democrat. In a recent Daily Pennsylvanian poll, 67 percent of students said they would vote for him. But the campus is not without its strong contingent of George W. Bush supporters. Wharton sophomore Joseph Maharaj noted that he put in a vote for Bush because of his advocacy of tax cuts. "I don't think Gore's trustworthy at all," he added. And while most students were voting to make sure they had the right representative in the Oval Office, others were voting to keep the wrong candidate out. A College sophomore, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed the sentiments of many. "I came to vote [for Gore] because I don't want Bush to win," the student noted. "I don't think he's shown any responsibility or capability in running any kind of system." "I voted for Gore because I think Bush is an idiot: he doesn't know about foreign policy," Wharton freshman Dwaune Dupree said. Many female students said that abortion was the main reason that they voted for Gore. "I don't want Roe v. Wade to be overturned," said one female sophomore who wished to remain anonymous. Not all students, however, were casting votes for the Democratic and Republican candidates. College sophomore Greta King voted for Green Party candidate Ralph Nader. "[He] seems to be very for the people. He's the reason I came today," King said, noting that she was often disillusioned with politics until Nader came along. College sophomore Brett Singer, who said he voted for Constitutional Party Candidate Howard Phillips, used his vote to voice dissatisfaction with the two major parties. "I did it as a protest vote against the two [major] parties," Singer said. "I think Phillips was the most qualified and intelligent," he added. College freshman Mike Draper cast his ballot for Libertarian candidate Harry Browne. "I don't think the Libertarians are going to win, but if enough people vote Libertarian, maybe it will force the Democrats and Republicans to become more libertarian," said the College freshman, who admitted that he was "a little disappointed" with his options.

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