City Election Sidelines Students

With the New York City mayoral election only a week away, student opinion on campus is not overtly visible.

When asked their thoughts about the upcoming mayoral race, some students registered to vote in the city spoke strongly in favor of Bloomberg while others either didn't know who to support or didn't plan to vote.

To a certain extent, student opinion follows that of a majority of New Yorkers, as Bloomberg is leading Ferrer 59 percent to 31 percent among likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac poll released yesterday.

For some, the mayor's quality of life initiatives have made a major impact.

"No one else would have done the smoking ban, and it affects me every day of my life," said Aaron Karp, CC '06, a New Jersey native who said he registered to vote in the city a few weeks into his first year and has voted in every election from that primary on. Karp added that before the city's pioneering clean air law was passed in 2003, he had to dry-clean his sweaters every time he went to a bar to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke.

Other students expressed different reasons for supporting Bloomberg.

"I guess I'm just hoping his fiscal policy will continue to help the New York City economy grow," said Madeline Martinez, BC '08.

Melle Hock, CC '06, simply stated, "I think he's done a good job so far."

But the students who are closely interested in the election seem to be among the minority on campus.

When compared with the fervor with which students followed last year's presidential race, the lack of student interest in the contest for mayor raises questions for some about the disconnect between Columbia University and the surrounding city.

"It seems like living in the University, you're living in a bubble. You're not affected by the things affecting New York adults," said Edward Beaulac, CC '08, who said he most likely will not cast a ballot for mayor.

"We don't pay taxes, we don't have jobs. Me, I'm 19 years old. I want to get good grades and have fun," he said.

"I think students are just more interested in getting active in 'the survival of our Republic is at stake' sort of elections, like last year's presidential election," said College Democrats president Seth Flaxman, CC '07, about the apparent lack of student interest in the mayoral race. "I don't think that campus activism is weak; it's just that this year a huge chunk of it is being directed toward improving the University and not into politics."

Political science professor Robert Shapiro attributed lack of student interest to the fact that, "Overall, this is an off-year election, [as there is] no national office up for grabs."

"Another good possibility," he added, "is that not many students are registered to vote in New York, and are focused on other elections."

"I don't think the candidates really care about my demographic," said Lauren Burke, CC '08. "[Bloomberg's] corporate. That's who he is and that's what he pays attention to." She also said that Ferrer, like other Democrats, "just ends up focusing on minority groups and the Bronx because that's where they can make themselves look good."

But not everyone complained about the lack of attention afforded to college students by mayoral candidates.

"While they might not have put so much into the 18-22 age group, that's probably for the best," said Karp. He reasoned that most college students are only temporary residents who don't often vote in local races, and that he would prefer the candidates to "court people who need government services."

In contrast, Ari Goldman, a professor in the Journalism school, said he believed that "both [Bloomberg and Ferrer] know the importance of reaching the public. I look forward to seeing [their] debate. Since I don't watch political ads on TV, I feel better equipped to make a decision based on their pronouncements and their record," he said.

Goldman, a supporter of the Democratic candidate, said he voted for Ferrer in the Democratic primary and found his performance in the debates "helpful in making my choice."

Still, student support for Bloomberg has left campus Republicans in high spirits.

Peter Law, CC '08 and executive director of the Columbia College Republicans, said, "Bloomberg himself would have won the Democratic primary ... and it comes as no surprise that a large number of Democrats on campus plan on voting for him. It shows that many New Yorkers now care more about results that political parties."