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SAU students share election thoughts

Name: Samantha Sancen
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Silvis, IL
Class: Freshman

Q1: What issue is most important to you in this upcoming election?

“Issues with race and how to help minorities is a big one, as well as, poverty and government aid as I come from a lower class family. Being able to have healthcare and educational grants is what is important for me and my family.”


Q2: What are your thoughts on free college and cancelling and lowering student loan debt?

“I think free college is a great idea but it won’t happen overnight. There’s public schooling from K-12 and getting a degree in a certain field should not be any different. Student debt is a huge issue for me and while there are lower cost options for college, it doesn’t always cover the needs of every student.”


Q3: What are your feelings about this upcoming election, and what do you think about the two candidates running?

“People tend to vote on a certain political party and that’s the end of the story and that is not the case for me. While I do consider myself democrat, I did vote and understand some republicans points of view. As a person of color with a family who needs aid and other helpful government resources, we don’t feel as if Trump will protect and grant us our rights and we think Biden will at least lead us in the right direction.”

Name: Reece Powell
Major: Criminal Justice and Political Science 
Hometown: Boone, IA
Class: Junior

Q1: What issue is most important to you in this upcoming election?

“The most important issue with this next election is ensuring the survival of the American Constitution and the rights that are given to all people by God, not by the government.”

Q2: What are your thoughts on free college and cancelling and lowering student loan debt?

“Free college is an immature and rather ridiculous policy because our parents paid for their college, and we are not entitled to anything different. Secondly, college expenses will put a ton of weight on the American economic system. Lastly, the citizens of the United States have access to free lower education where many schools and students are lacking what they need to achieve their potentials. The same principle would be applied to our nation’s colleges and universities.” 

Q3: What are your feelings about this upcoming election, and what do you think about the two candidates running?

“This is a fight for America. We are currently in a cultural civil war and whichever side comes out victorious will determine the future of this great nation. Joe Biden and Donald Trump, have been placed there by God, and I will trust that He knows what He is doing. Regardless of the outcome, God is ultimately in control and will provide His children with peace, guidance, and will shower them in love.”

Name: Karina Marquez
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Class: Junior

Q1: What issue is most important to you in this upcoming election?

“Environmental issues are extremely important, but there’s a particular feeling of ‘time running out.’ Our personal relationship to the environment can be really well developed and all that, but without government action it is difficult to actually instill dramatic change.”

Q2: What are your thoughts on free college and cancelling and lowering student loan debt?

“Free education is a cornerstone of societal improvement. If humanity’s perpetual goal is to make life easier for future generations, accessible schooling will help us achieve that. A people who learns, grows, and genuine growth allows for a better quality of life. I hold hope that one day individuals will be able to spend their time learning, developing, and creating without financial pressures being imposed on them.”

Q3: What are your feelings about this upcoming election, and what do you think about the two candidates running?

“While voting and participating in politics seems fruitless, it doesn’t make it any less important. The two running candidates leave a lot to be desired, but they’re not the only names on the ballot. My idea here is to focus on the minutia, which may be more likely to immediately affect the people I care about.”

Name: Mike Schmidt
Major: Political Science/Pre-Law
Hometown: Rockton, IL
Class: Sophomore

Q1: What issue is most important to you in this upcoming election?

“I think the first thing that needs to be fixed is the economy by bringing unemployment down and raising wages for all demographics. Police reform is also something that needs to be done by the application of community-centered police force.”

Q2: What are your thoughts on free college and cancelling and lowering student loan debt?

“I am a big proponent of personal responsibility and working hard, but I understand that not everyone has a great family situation or a prospering community willing to aid in financial burdens of people. I am also not in favor of it because of the ever increasing dropout rates. 40 percent of students drop out of community colleges, and 50 percent drop out from state universities. It seems fiscally irresponsible to fund something with such uncertainty.”

Q3: What are your feelings about this upcoming election, and what do you think about the two candidates running?

“I personally don’t like either of them. On the one hand you have a self-absorbed president who is very controversial, and on the other you have a potentially senile politician who has a terrible leadership record and devastating polices.”

Name: David Weaver
Major: Cybersecurity
Hometown: Marion, Iowa
Class: Sophomore

Q1: What issue is most important to you in this upcoming election?

“The environment because this is the only planet we have, and we need to take care of it. How a president presents themselves is also important, particularly to leaders of other countries.”

Q2: What are your thoughts on free college and cancelling and lowering student loan debt?

“I think free college sounds really good, but I’m not sure how well it would work. Instead of taking out loans, giving back a portion of your salary to the university is a good idea because I know it’s the interest rates that are the problem. Cancelling student loan debt would grow our economy by reinvesting it instead of giving it back to the schools and loan companies.”

Q3: What are your feelings about this upcoming election, and what do you think about the two candidates running?

“I am not super excited about either candidate. Let’s get a universal basic income!”

Name: Ashton Stipp
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Streator, IL
Class: Sophomore

Q1: What issue is most important to you in this upcoming election?

“The most important are healthcare, who’s morally the best candidate, and who’s going to be best for the economy. I’m for universal healthcare, especially those in low income. It should be available to those who need it and want it.”

Q2: What are your thoughts on free college and cancelling and lowering student loan debt?

“I am for free college, and I think it’s a good way for college kids to get involved in politics because it’s so important as student loans are increasing rapidly. Putting a cap on that would allow us to not pay as much money and not profit off of education. I am also for lowering student loan debt because more people are expected to go to college now, otherwise kids are in debt for many years to come.”

Q3: What are your feelings about this upcoming election, and what do you think about the two candidates running?

“I’m excited because this is my first presidential election voting. I’m not super excited about either candidate, but the debates should be really interesting coming up. I would show support for Biden because morally, that’s the best decision in a candidate.”

Name: Emily Liskunas 
Major: Accounting and Business Management
Hometown: Oswego, IL
Class: Senior

Q1: What issue is most important to you in this upcoming election?

“Social justice is important, especially the events surrounding George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. I am very interested in the candidates opinions on pro-life vs pro-choice because I am a feminist and a woman, and I think the government should not be allowed to tell us what to do with our bodies.” 

Q2: What are your thoughts on free college and cancelling and lowering student loan debt?

“The optimistic side of me wants to be like, ‘Yeah! Free college would be awesome,’ but the business and financial side of me knows that free college isn’t actually free. Eventually, we would pay for it in taxes, and there would be inflation in other things like, textbook materials, property taxes, or even gas prices could be affected. College in itself is overpriced, so I think the issue of student loans wouldn’t be bad if that issue is resolved.”

Q3: What are your feelings about this upcoming election, and what do you think about the two candidates running?

“I think they are kind of old just speaking from a younger generation, I can’t really relate to them on a ton of things. But, I always say, ‘how is this the best America has to offer?’ But, I’ve learned that it’s really not, it’s the candidates that have had the most money to put into their campaign, which is sad especially when you compare to other countries. I am excited for the day we have a female president.”

Name: Hugh Lugg
Major: Political Science and International Studies
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Class: Senior

Q1: What issue is most important to you in this upcoming election?

“The economy is number one since I am going to be a graduating college student and going out into the workforce. Making sure that the economic market is good for me is probably my biggest priority. Because I am a catholic, social issues and religious issues are also important.”

Q2: What are your thoughts on free college and cancelling and lowering student loan debt?

“The idea of college is well-intentioned but misguided. We do need reform in how colleges are funded, and I think that is a real conversation to have, but I think free college really undermines college as an institution itself. Countries, like Korea and Japan, where there is high access to college results in an inflation of degrees, so it doesn’t really matter if you get an undergraduate since everyone has one.” 

Q3: What are your feelings about this upcoming election, and what do you think about the two candidates running?

“There seems to be an issue of age, and they both seem to struggle to see the issues that face younger people. They’re one in the same coin and very similar with just an R and D in front of their name. This is an election where I don’t think we will have the best turnout. I think the sentiment is there, but people are not motivated enough to show up, and the results will be similar to 2016.”

Name: Rachel Wiedman 
Major: Philosophy, History and Psychology 
Hometown: Villa Park, IL
Class: Senior

Q1: What issue is most important to you in this upcoming election?

“Our willingness to actually foster dialogue within political disputes by listening to each other and finding compromise is important. We need to question our own ideas, what we think is right, see if that really holds up under scrutiny, and question what other people say and try to build answers together.”

Q2: What are your thoughts on free college and cancelling and lowering student loan debt?

“If it’s a goal we should be pursuing at all, it’s a long term goal. We should make education more readily available, particularly for parts of the community who are under privileged, and don’t have access to as many opportunities because education is a potent force for helping people change the trajectory of their lives.”

Q3: What are your feelings about this upcoming election, and what do you think about the two candidates running?

“I’m disappointed, but not surprised. We want the president to fix all of our problems and that’s not ever how our system of government was ever meant to be designed. Our representatives are supposed to represent these smaller interests within our country so that more voices can be heard. The president is meant to execute those laws, and it’s really the legislature that is supposed to be writing the laws.”

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