Discussion • California
Secretary of State, Bruce McPherson,
visits CSULB to discuss “Journalism’s
Role in Civic Participation.” Tracey
Roman / Online Forty-Niner
Students
have ‘pathetic’ voting
statistic, speaker says
By
Elena Encarnacion
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Students and faculty gathered in the University Student Union Wednesday to
hear California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson’s discussion, “Journalism’s
Role in Civic Participation.”
The topics discussed included whether the media’s responsibility is to
promote or simply report civic participation, giving back to the community,
how to improve voter turnout and the Nov. 8 state special election. But the
most prevailing topic was how to improve the desire in 18 to 24 year olds to
participate in elections.
McPherson said he feels democracy deserves better than what the citizens of
California are producing. Only half of the citizens in the 18 to 24 year old
bracket eligible to vote are actually registered and in the 2004 presidential
election only half of those registered actually cast a ballot,
McPherson said. McPherson calls this’“a pathetic statistic.”
During the question and answer segment of the event, one audience member pointed
out that some young people feel their vote does not count.
McPherson pointed said this is not true.
“
On election day we are all equal,” he said.
Ozzie Ramadan, a fourth-year journalism student who attended the event, said
when he hears his peers say they do not vote because their one vote can not
make a difference, he thinks they are stating an excuse rather than a reason.
Having immigrated to this country at the age of five, Ramadan has not yet attained
citizenship. However, he relishes the day when he will have the opportunity
to cast his first vote, which he calls his “civic duty of democracy.” So,
he said, it is disheartening when he sees this right being taken for granted.
“
People should be embarrassed that they don’t vote,” he said.
For McPherson, it is simple. He said not voting is choosing not have an impact
on your community.
It is especially imperative citizens turn out to vote in the upcoming special
election, he said.
“
What happens that day will have a huge impact on their lives,” he said.
After the discussion, tables were set up outside the Ballroom A, where students
could register to vote. Students picked up information packets explaining the
different propositions on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Before he began his career in politics, McPherson, a Republican, worked as
a reporter and editor for his formerly family-owned newspaper, the Santa Cruz
Sentinel. In 1993, he began his first term as an assemblyman, and he was appointed
to his current office earlier this year by Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, after the elected secretary of state stepped down.
The secretary of state is responsible for overseeing elections and heading
an agency involved with investigating voter fraud and political reform.
Carla Yarbrough, an assistant professor in the CSULB journalism department,
was intrigued by his journalistic background.
“
It’s interesting how he’s parlayed himself from journalism to politics,
and been conscious of not mixing the two,” Yarbrough observed.
Professor in and Chairman of the journalism department William Babcock, who
introduced the secretary of state at the beginning of the speech, was pleased
with the event overall.
“
Anytime you can get a senior person from the state to come in and chat with
students, it’s a wonderful opportunity,” Babcock said.
But mostly, Babcock felt it was good for students to hear the message of registration
from someone with a strong background in journalism.
“
Civic participation is a message you can’t hear loud enough,” he
said.
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