College Times

Media Credit: Ryan Ruiz

Many say the youth vote is a crucial piece of the election this year, and to help get young voters excited and motivated, Sabrina Castellon and Adam Lopez Falk, two Phoenix College students, recently participated in a debate on the candidates, their issues and why young people have the responsibility to vote.

Castellon, a freshman studying medical billing and coding, lead the Republican panel, and Falk, a sophomore who has been politically involved for quite a while, lead the Democratic panel.

Despite their difference of opinion about who should win the race and why, both Castellon and Falk agreed on one thing: The importance of voting.

College Times: Do you think the issues of race and age as they pertain to Obama and McCain, respectively, could sway someone to vote one way or the other?
Adam Lopez Falk: I think race is a big issue because it can turn people away or bring them together. I think that people are also realizing with McCain, with his age and his history with health problems, he might not be the best person for the position.

Sabrina Castellon: Age wasn’t a concern with me when I thought about voting for McCain. Race wasn’t that much of a concern either, I didn’t really care – if we had a Black Republican that was running, and he had the same type of ideals as I have, I’d vote for him.

Is there one thing that you would say to young people to motivate them to actually vote?
AF: Let’s look at the facts, and see where both candidates actually stand on the issues. Voting is important, and people need to try to look at where we could be with an Obama administration versus where we could be with a McCain administration.

SC: This is their lives now, and, as a voter, it’s taking on responsibility for your life. These are the things that are going to affect you and that needs to be stressed to young voters.

Why does the Democratic Party appeal to you more than the Republican party?
AF: I consider the government to be by the people. I grew up in a Democratic household, and I just see it as the party that’s going to take us into the future.

Why does the Republican Party appeal to you more than the Democratic party?
SC: As far as business and political policies go, I believe in small government, and not about taxing hugely. I don’t like unnecessary government programs and I don’t like controls on guns. If you want to buy a gun, buy a gun.

What do you hope the people who observed the debate got out of it?
AF: As long as they’re out there voting, no matter who or what the vote goes to, if you’re remaining involved civically, that’s the most important thing.
SC: If somebody just voted [as a result], and did their civic duty, that would be great.

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