Candidates Pit-Sit to Discuss Issues, Inform Student Voters

The Political Action Coalition for Modern America Nonpartisans sponsored the event, which hosted 24 candidates from Orange County and across the state.

With posters and promotional materials scattered among the tables, candidates fielded questions regarding both local issues and prominent national issues such as the Iraqi crisis.

Many students said they were undecided on who they were going to vote for, whereas others came just to meet their candidate of choice.

Two of the most popular tables belonged to U.S. Senate candidates Democrat Erskine Bowles and Republican Elizabeth Dole. Both were unable to attend and sent representatives.

Bowles, who was busy campaigning in the eastern part of the state, sent Matt Arbuckle, communications director of the Students for Bowles Campaign.

"Many people don't realize the importance of the election," Arbuckle said. "Who's looking for jobs? Young people. Who'll fight in the war? Young people. They need to be involved."

David Chesley, youth director for the Dole campaign who represented her in the Pit, said Dole is interactive with thousands of students in numerous colleges across the state.

N.C. Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, who is running for re-election, stressed how important it is for candidates to talk to students and said she was looking forward to hearing students voice their opinions.

"Students are very absorbed in what they have to do with papers and projects," Kinnaird said. "An event like this makes them aware, and they see that campaigns and elections are going on."

First-time candidate Robin Staudt, a Republican nominee for Orange County commissioner, said she knows of other campaigns where college students have had significant impact.

"I think it's great to encourage young adults to participate in the political process," Staudt said. "Too many are jaded."

Cecilee Page, a junior business major, headed up the event, backed by 13 committee members.

Only two candidates declined the invitation because of prior engagements, while 24 candidates showed up, with two sending representatives.

"Honestly, most students at UNC don't know who's running and where they're from," Page said.

Page said that she thought the Political Action Day was the perfect solution but that her greatest fear was getting students out to participate. "Students generally can be apathetic about this."

Some students didn't know any of the candidates before wandering into the Pit. The one-on-one contact gave a sense of much-needed familiarity for students, though some were disappointed in how they were treated by the candidates.

"Most of them have been talking down to us," said junior Vadas Gintautas who attended with his friend junior Brandon Lunk. "It's as if they have been quizzing us on what we know about the issues."

Lunk and Gintautas said they still are planning to vote in two weeks. Lunk said, "If anything, it just discourages me to vote for that particular candidate."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.