The Tiger Democrats and College Republicans will speak today ata political discussion forum about the 2004 presidential electionand politics on campus.
"We want to get students in Freshman First interested in joiningpolitical groups around campus, especially with this being a bigelection year," said sophomore Laura Fowler, College Republicansvice president and political science major. "We feel there areRepublicans and Democrats who may not know these kinds of groupsexist on campus."
The program will be an informational event primarily about the2004 presidential election. It will include a discussion aboutRepublican, Democratic and third-party candidates.
The event will be held in the Richardson Towers game room at 8p.m. The forum, sponsored by University of Memphis Residence Life,is open to all students.
"It's not supposed to be a debate," Fowler said. "This is moreof an informational session to tell students about political campusorganizations."
The session will also present to students the importance ofvoting, Fowler said. There will be a question and answer session,as well as an opportunity for students to register to vote.
Sophomore English major Sally Joyner said she thinks it'simportant for students to vote and be informed about issues.
"I think it's especially important (for students) to vote andget involved," Joyner said. "Funding for schools and scholarshipscome into play, and we don't want a government that isn't carefulwith money or thinks education is not important."
Sophomore economics major Donald Moyer said he agrees.
"I think it's useless to just vote and not get involved," Moyersaid. "A citizen needs to be informed about the candidates and whatthey stand for. I think if you are really into a particularcandidate, it is good to help in their campaign."
Freshman Paul Lynch, microbiology major, disagreed, sayingforums are a waste of time.
"Those who are not planning to vote won't change their minds bygoing to one of these (forums)," Lynch said. "I feel voting andgetting involved are decisions you have to make for yourself. Goingto some meeting about it isn't going to help."
Event organizers said by getting young people to vote leaderswould hopefully pay more attention to issues important tostudents.
"I feel that many young people are under-represented," Fowlersaid. "This forum is important for a lot of young people who don'tthink their vote matters."
