Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / April 11, 2018, edition 1 / Page 4
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'WEDNESDAY APRIL 11, 2D1D The road to the North Carolina primaries As the voting deadline nears, Elon Votes provides resourees for residents Maggie Brown and Ariana Reyes Politics Editor and Elon News Networ1 | (5)maggieat)rown_ and @elonnewsnetwork The deadline to register to vote for the North Carolina primaries is approaching fast. Friday, April 13, is the last day to vote in the North Carolina statewide elections on May 8. Since the 2016 election, the Republican party has gained control over the state and federal government. The Democratic party has been working to gain more control, and the primaries are a way for more state representatives to be elected. But currently, in the North Carolina General Assembly, the House holds a Republi can majority of 75 to 45. This means the legislature as a whole can override Democrat ic Gov. Roy Coopers vetoes, causing issues with balance of power in the state. In 2017, the North Carolina General Assembly overturned 10 of Coopers 13 vetoes. Ac cording to the North Carolina Veto History and Statistics, this marks the second-most vetoes that have been overridden in a single legislative year. Primaries are happening all around the nation from May to mid-September. But students don’t seem concerned about their representatives running in the primaries. According to an Elon Poll survey conducted in February, 48 percent of college students can identify their House rep resentative, and 17 percent can identify their state senator. Elon University provides on-campus resources for stu dents to help them register to vote. Junior Thomas Armooh is an ambassador of Elon Votes, encouraging students to become civically engaged and informed. “They founded this orga nization to help give access to people who haven’t been able to vote ... and also just make it a larger issue at college cam puses to make sure students are aware of their right to vote,” Armooh said. Elon Votes helps students by partnering with Turbo- Vote, a one-stop voting web- MAGGIE BROWN I POLITICS EDITOR Above: Students can register to vote on the North Carolina State Board of Elec tions’ website. Left: Junior Thomas Armooh, Elon Votes coordinator, wants to promote student voting. MAGGIE BROWN 1 POLITICS EOfTOR site for students from all dif ferent states. Armooh said if college students want to vote but are looking to vote for elections taking place in their home state, they can submit an ab sentee ballot either online or through the mail. North Carolina holds semi open primaries, which means if a voter registers to vote with a party affiliation, then they have to vote for different mem bers only within that party. On the day of primaries, they are given a ballot with members of only one party, rather than see ing both the Republican and Democratic representatives. But the reason why many college students tend to shy away from voting is not be cause of their location or the voting process; it is often be cause they are not informed about who is running. Sophomore Robert Maru- ca said he is not voting in this year’s primaries. “I have not followed the election races and do not feel knowledgeable about the can didates to make an educated vote,” Maruca said. “Many people choose not to vote because they do not feel rep resented by those candidates running for office.” Despite this, youth voting in the primaries seems to be increasing. In North Carolina in 2008, it was estimated that 15 percent of voters were stu dents; in the 2016 primaries, the number of students in creased by 9 percent, accord ing to the Center for Infor mation and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Armooh disagrees with Maruca and said the only way to create policy change is through voting. “Making sure that you un derstand you have this right to vote and use it to influence change. ... If we say we want to make changes, the best way, in my opinion, is to go out and vote to change the people in office who aren’t the best deci sions,” Armooh said. 2008 PRIMARY 2016 PRIMARY Meghan Kimlierling I Design Chief Odyssey co director depart after five years Esther Freeman, a central force beW Odyssey scholars, leaves a lasting impression on Elon’s campus Abby Gibbs Elon News Network! @abby_gibbs When freshman Julie Averette answered! phone last spring, she couldn’t believe her ladj Elon had been her “first choice” since midi; school, and now she would be able to attend, cl? tesy of the Odyssey scholarship. The scholarsl! offered to students seeking financial assistaa from diverse backgrounds, is only awarded to ID ' students per year. “I hung up and started running around myk and screaming. It was so exciting,” Averette said But the path to her dream school would notl easy for Averette during her first year at Elon, I ing a first-generation student from the neighbor: town of Graham, Averette found it difficult to W ance both her home and school lives. “I struggled with going back home in theb^’ ning of the semester. My family wants to see raejj ii THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO GROW, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL ESTHER FREEMAN ODYSSEY PROGRAM CO-DIRECTOR I live so close, so why not?” Averette said. However, Averette realized she wasn’t the« one in her situation when she met Esther Freem the co-director of the Odyssey program, “She’s someone who can relate to me becaa she also was a first generation student who ve to a university really close to her home,” Avetc: said. “Her family... expected her to come hornet the time, and I feel like we had that connectii and I could share a lot of things with her, anddc, would understand.” Freeman, who is relocating to Atlanta within family this month, has counseled dozens of Odyss scholars like Averette who come from diverse situ tions. In an email, Freeman wrote that she continue to counsel students in her own coachii and consulting business. Empowered Campus. “As a Board Certified Life, Career, and Busine Coach, I am focused on coaching high school st dents, college students and recent graduates, Frs man said. “I work with clients to apply strate^ that are proven to build confidence, find com® in being their authentic selves and improve the mindset overall.” Her departure disappointed Averette, “wanted to get to know her,” but Freeman ackno"' edged the Odyssey program’s continuation of viding resources to support Odyssey scholars i their endeavors. “The program will continue to grow, no doubt that it will continue to be successful man wrote. Alluding to Dr. Angela Duckworth’s keynote sentation at Spring Convocation April 5, wrote that Odyssey scholars “have an enormo^ amount of grit.” , One of the ways the Odyssey program is ^P^ ing is through the increase of scholarships y students. While endowments for some of the s arships fluctuate every couple of years, the . is offering 30 new scholarships to students for 2018-2019 academic year. ^ .... Averette was touched by the programs will ness to devote school resources through pm'^ ‘ financial assistance to low-income families. “I think it just shows that they want diversity- ■ want everyone to come to Elon, not just the pe^^ who can afford it,” Averette said. “Just ^ Elon has such a broad mind and open-minde n it makes me feel like I can call this place hofflC' Marcus Elliott, the former co-director of ^ yssey program, will direct the program begin the next academic year.
Elon University Student Newspaper
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April 11, 2018, edition 1
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