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2 North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 NEWS & OPINION October 31, 2008 Issue In-Focus: Who’s Your Pick for President? This semester Dr. Cameron Matthews is teaching Political Science 495, a course focused on the 2008 presidential election. On October 13, his students were asked by The Decree to endorse a candidate. Of the 20 students, five students voiced their support for Senator John McCain, while 15 endorsed Senator Barack Obama. Here are their comments: James Beale; I am going to vote for Obama, because most of his views are geared towards helping out the middle-class Americans. Being that my family is in the middle class, he's got my family's votes. Steven Burant: I believe that John McCain should be elected for a number of reasons. First, he ha.s an extensive career in the Senate and knows what it takes to deal with Congress and get issues passed. Second, he doesn't get caught up in partisan politics as much as do other politicians, especially Obama. And third, Obama's plan to recover the economy will involve an increa.se of taxes that will cripple the middle class even further, not rescue it as he claims. McCain may be Republican, but he is a far cry from George W. Bush, so the comparison is an unfair one that shouldn’t drag him down. Tiara Cromartie: We Need Change! Ba rack Obama is the first presidential candidate that I will be voting for. I have never been so involved with politics until this election year. I feel that Obama is the best presidential can didate for the following reasons; His issues, his reliability to the people, and his experience yet inexperience at the same time. Barack is the only candidate that 1 feel is going to bring about the change that America is finally ready for. He relates to the everyday American, but also relates just as well to high-end society. He is the fresh new hope that America needs in such a trying time as this. Barack is also a great candidate because he isn't focused on what his opposition is doing but instead on what he plans on doing once he wins this 2008 Presidential Election. As Barack said, “I’m asking you to believe, not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington....I’m asking you to believe in yours.” Vote for change on November 4th! Ahmad Cnidup; 1 feel that Barack Obama should be our next president. Millions of Americans are going through hard times, with people losing their homes, having to choose what bills they can skip in order to afford gas for the week. And now there's one of the biggest economic crises we've seen in recent years. We need a leader that will focus on pulling this nation out of this recession and making the American people trust their government again. Clifton Edmundson Jr.; I think that Senator Barack Obama should be the president of the United States because the nation is in need of change. I believe that Senator Obama has the best chance of helping our economy, and bringing our nation back to the way it used to be. Senator Obama has great leadership and 1 know that people will support and follow him in the decisions that he makes. Lawrence Frazier; The 2008 Presidential candidate that will receive my vote, with unwavering assurance, is Barack Obama. Understand that race and ethnicity have no role in my decision. 1 was convinced to vote for him because he appeals to the everyday individual. I cannot vote for a man, McCain, who speaks on poverty or talks about change when he was never poor, or lived below the poverty line or had to endure through the hardships that people like me have faced our entire lives. It is true that McCain and Obama have .some similar goals but there are far more differences in their campaigns. For example. day for WESLEYAN $564,510 The "Day for Wesleyan," the college's annual fund-raising event, netted $564,510. Pictured left to right are Interim President Dr, Stanley Caine; Michael Pratt '66, community chair of this year's event and headmaster at the Rocky Mount Preparatory School; Jessie Warren, staff chair and director of the Internship and Career Services Program; Dr Patricia Brewer, faculty chair and assistant professor of education; Wayne Autrey, '99, of Embarq; student Taylor Huffman, president of the Future Alumni Association; and Malcolm Woodall, vice president of development, pr Photo TtiE Decree since I960 "of. hy. and for the Wesleyan community." STAFF Editors, News & Features Joyce Collins James Randolph Editors, Sports & Activities Jarad Brown Jade Johnson Senior Editor Jessica Smith Cartoonist Lorenzo Whitley Faculty Advisor Dr William Grattan 171 Braswell ■ Phone: 985-5336 Email: WJGrattan#ncwc.edu Staff Writers Ashley Ball Mikey Case Julienne Cyr Richie Fender (ADP correspondent) Meghan Herd Amanda Landi Kimberly McCorkle Kathleen Penrod Makeda Rose Catherine Weathers (ADP correspondent) Staff Photographers Kathleen Penrod Claudricia Thomas Lorenzo Whitley Special Contributors Grace Wallace The Decree office is on the first floor of the Hartness Center. Copyright Policy The Decree holds the copyright of every article and graphic for one-time and future publication at the discretion of the editorial board. Submission implies agreement with this policy. Editorial Statement Commentary/opinion and letters to the editor represent the individual author's views, and not necessarily those of North Carolina Wesleyan College, the Decree staff or the Decree advisor. Submissions To suggest an article, or submit an opinion piece or letter to the editor, send an email attachment (Microsoft Word) to: WJGrattan@ncwc.edu. Note that the Decree staff checks all submissions for accuracy and edits in accordance with acceptable grammar and punctuation as well as AP Style. Corrections The Decree corrects mistakes of substance. If you would like to request a correction, send an email to WJGrattan@ncwc.edu, or call 985-5336 gas prices, retireinent benefits. Medicare and school funding are the important things to the less privileged, and McCain is not talking about these things because they have no affect on “his world.” People of lower or no wealth are affected directly by those things that I listed and should be frontline topics in every debate. Michael Grooms; The candidate that 1 am supporting is Illinois Senator Barack Obama. For the past four years, the country has been going downhill, thanks to the Republican agenda. Gas prices are at an all-time high, the economy is going downhill, and soldiers are dying every day for a war that does not need to be fought. It is time for change and Barack Obama is a change that I can believe in. Barack Obama is the change that can make a difference in this country and bring the USA back to the global powerhouse of its golden age. He plans on helping the middle class, finding a feasible solution to the war in Iraq, and making good education and good health care available to every American. I am tired of a Republican in the White House. Eight is Enough. Obama/Biden 08! Rachel Hernandez: 1 believe that Obama should be president because he has a sound economic policy, which includes equal pay for men and women, lower gas prices, and a tax break for families whose annual income is under $250,000. Under an Obama presidency, health care would become more affordable as well as stable and there would be a measurable plan to vacate Iraq and turn the responsibility over to Iraq, which is experiencing a financial surplus and has hundreds of thousands of American-trained troops. Our country will become more secure, safe, and financially stable to provide for a better life for American citizens. Obama provides a realistic plan of action to bring this country back on track, Brandon Long: I am writing this endorse ment in favor of Barack Obama for reasons that are far from any racial reason(s). If there was a different Democratic, such as Hillary Clinton, 1 would hypothetically vote for that person. I feel this way because the Republican Party has been in office for the pa.st eight years and the Republican Party's actions have driven America into the ground in every way possible. Obama is an intelligent man and great speaker. I truly believe that Obama will be a great president because he has been on both sides of the economic spectrum. This makes him more of a well-rounded person because he can truly relate to the struggles of the poor Americans and the values of the wealthy Americans. He understands that the costs of college tuition, gas, and food are out of control, so he has plans to help fight our problems. America is in a critical state right now and needs a change from the Republican/ Bush-based policies that Senator McCain agreed with far too often. We need change and OBAMA IS THE ANSWER!!! Melissa Mangum: The 2008 Presidential Election is by far the most important election we have had. Right now, the United States is looking for “change”, and 1 definitely believe Barack Obama has proven himself capable of making those changes. Our economy is undeniably out of sync, and I do not believe that John McCain can fix a lot of problems that we are having. I say this because picking McCain for our president is like reelecting Bush, something our economy does not need. Though I agree with a few concerns McCain has, the concerns that Obama has are more important to me. They include healthcare, taxes and the current economic crisis, Alyssia Martinez: I think that Barack Obama should be the next President of the United States. I have decided to vote for Obama because a lot of the issues that he discusses, I agree with. I think that although a lot of things he has promised to do will be hard to accomplish, at least he is trying to get things done. I can't see myself living in the United Stales with another President—aka John McCain—that acts just like George Bush. I also believe that vice presidents have an im pact on who people vote for. I feel that Sarah Palin doesn't really know what she is getting into and she never really seems to answer the questions that she is being a.sked. That shows me, personally, that she may be able to lead the people of Alaska, but she cannot lead the people of the United States, Ashley Meadows: The presidential candidate I am endorsing is John McCain. I am endorsing this candidate because of his experience in a war. The experience this candidate provides is exactly what the people need to support America, especially since we have so many troops in other countries. McCain also portrays the kind of experience that the current president has been lacking. America should put aside how the Republican Party has been represented by President Bush and open themselves to a new candidate, who has had a fundamental amount of experience and is ready to take on people who want to bring the country further down. Whitney Moshier: I support McCain in the upcoming election. I support him because I agree with his conservative views, and I don't trust Obama. I do think the country needs change, but I don’t think Obama is the change we need. McCain has the experience and intelligence needed to run this country and will make a fine president. MTV Star Syrus urged Wesleyan students to vote in the upcoming presidential election. "We have to find things in both these candidates that we like," he said "But if we have another four years like the last eight years we got a problem." Syrus, a cast member in "The Real World: Boston," made a stop at the Dunn Center as part of national tour Photo by Joyce Collins. Shannon Pugh: 1 believe that Barack Obama should be the next United States President, not because he is black, but because of his stances on the issues. Obama's plans will help college students in so many ways. How about those high tuition bills and all this money that college students pay out each year? Really out of the two candidates, who is there to help us? When it comes to the Medicaid policy, Obama is the man who is willing to look out for those of us who do not have all the money in the world to spend on medical bills. When it comes to health care, he will not look the other way. More than his opponent John McCain, Obama can identify with the issues most important to me. Brooke Richardson; I would like to see Barack Obama win the presidency. I think that Obama has a lot of good ideas for this country, ideas of change that could help our economic situation and also get our troops out of Iraq in a safe and orderly fashion. Obama stands for the majority of our citizens, the middle class, and under his presidency I feel that a lot of policies will be changed for the better. Makeda Rose; I strongly believe that Barack Obama should be the 44th president the United States. He is one of the only senators who has addressed the fact that our troops are fighting and dying in a war in Iraq that had nothing to do with Bin laden or Al Qaeda. After the September 11th attacks, Americans were promised that who so ever committed these wrongs against our country would be punished and that has yet to happen. Our military’s efforts should be concentrated on protecting us from those who have and who are seeking to harm us. Senator Obama has created a stratagem which includes a timeline that will get our troops home to their families. This is not promised by Senator McCain and is one of my tiiajor concerns with his current policies. Ashley Sm’ith: My endorsement goes to Barack Obama. This country has voted Republican in the last two elections and nothing has improved for American society. It is time for change and I think Barack Obama can bring about the change the country needs. As a college student, I like that Senator Obama is trying to make college more affordable. As a future teacher, 1 commend him for efforts to give teachers the pay and respect they deserve and for trying to retain good teachers for today’s youth. He has big plans for this country and 1 believe that if people give him a chance, the sky is the limit for America. Gregory Viggiani: I will be voting for John McCain in the upcoming presidential election. 1 like the way that McCain is running his campaign. He is following the foot steps of George W. Bush and I think Bush did a great job in the way he handled our country after September 11,2001.1 support the war 100 percent and I do not like how every time I hear Obama speak he is talking about ending the war and pulling our troops out. If we pull our troops out, it will show nothing to other countries except for America giving up and not fighting for what we believe is right. John McCain came from a background of military service; he understands the strategic plans and way to encounter our enemies. He is a leader and I support him to lead our country as president. William A. Whitehead; America is going through a difficult time right now. During this time of crisis, our country needs a leader that is experienced, a leader who has proven that he is capable of handling similar critical situations. That is why my endorse ment is going to John McCain, because now is not the time to be handing our country over to someone who has little experience to help get us out of this economic situation. Instead we should give it to a proven war hero, who is used to making the critical decisions that will help America get back on the right track. Milani Wilson; I am endorsing Barack Obama. I've made this choice because he is the candidate who has addressed the issues that affect my day-to-day life and he wants to make the changes that will affect me in a more positive way than John McCain. After all of the debates and ad campaigns, McCain has given me a lot of reasons not to vote for Barack Obama, but he hasn't given me any reasons to vote for him. "Why should I vote for you?" McCain hasn't answered that ques tion and I am voting for the better candidate. Barack Obama will win this election because he focuses on the issues and the people. So. if you don't know, 'Yes," I'm voting for THAT ONE!" LOL Student Opinions Surveyed on lA Day By Taylor Huffman and Tammy Robinson Students have been urged to provide the college with feedback as part the campus-wide Institutional Assessment Day activities on Wednesday, November 5. The feedback will help the college to initiate improvements and set priorities for budgeting. “This is about providing students with opportunities for feedback,” said SGA President Jacob Strickland, a junior. “We pay for a number of services with our tuition, so the college needs to know our opinions about how satisfied we are with those services and where we would like to see improvements. It helps the college improve, and helps the students improve.” According to Dr. Bob Perkins, vice presi dent of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, the students will complete the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ). It was prepared by Indiana University, and is used nationally by a number of colleges and universities. The idea is for the results to be presented in January by student leaders in an open campus fomm. Student leaders and college administration would like to see greater participation on as sessment day. “In the past, student participation on lA Day has been hit-and-miss,” observed Dr. John Thomell, vice president of Academic Af fairs and Dean of the College. “We've engaged some students, but not others. This time we have committed the resources to ensure every student is able to participate.” The new approach involves participation from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon by 300 freshmen in the cafeteria, 200 sophomores in the Dunn Center, 150 juniors in Gravely, and 100 seniors in Pearsall. First-year and second-year students will complete the CSEQ survey. Upper classmen will take the CSEQ and the MAPP test, a measure of progress in general education. “Institutional Assessment Day also affords our students the opportunity to tell us what they think about academic quality at Wesleyan,” explained Dr. Thomell. “The information we get from that effort is crucial in terms of identifying the strengths and weaknesses of our educational offerings.” This new cooperative approach changes the primary focus. Instead of lengthy tests on academic subjects for seniors only, the new campus-wide focus is on student satisfaction and improvement of services. Seniors graduating in December will also be taking major field exit exams at later times as scheduled by the departmental faculty in their major. And Dr. Vivienne Anderson will host a Writing Assessment Essay for 58 English 112 freshmen and sophomores at 1:30 p.m. upstairs in Braswell. Assessment day activities have been coordinated by Dr. Jon Wiggs and Tammy Robinson in the Office of Institutional Research. “Nov. 5 is a mid-week instructional day, and so there should be excellent attendance,” Dr. Wiggs said. “Student feedback is so important that professors give up class time to ensure a full turnout. We only ask that students show up on time for three hours and do their best to give us honest answers to questions about how things can be improved. It’s power to the people.”
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