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Connor Greenwall:
Welcome back to the podcast! This week, we will interview both parties for the election watch party and The Student Social.
Ava Peguese:
I’m Ava Peguese.
Connor Greenwall:
I'm Connor Greenwall, and this is State Press Play.
Ava Peguese:
This week we interviewed students from both the Young Democrats of ASU and the College Republicans of ASU during presidential debate watch parties. For the Young Democrats at ASU, we interviewed Connor Gentry and Angela Gomez and for the College Republicans at ASU, we interviewed Haakon Carraher and Cameron Jones.
These are student-led opinionated discussions and everything said may not be fully factual. However, during this episode, we will correct the misinformation to keep you as informed as possible going into this election season.
Why is it important for this generation to be engaged in the political process and have their voices heard?
Angela Gomez:
So last presidential cycle, Arizona was a difference between 11,000 votes between going for either Biden or Trump, and that is less than the population of Arizona State University students who vote on campus in Arizona. So I think it's really important, because we can be the deciding factor this cycle here, right on campus, we can decide the whole state.
Connor Gentry:
Yeah, Angela makes a great point. Totally agree on that front. Additionally, I think it's important to note that young people have so many issues at stake for us this election, right? So obviously Donald Trump wants to impose an abortion ban, right? That's something that young people are against.
Ava Peguese:
Fact check! Donald Trump has not outwardly said he would ban abortion, although during his presidency he did appoint the judges that made the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Connor Gentry:
We want criminal justice reform. We want an end to a lot of the Trump-era tax cuts, and we want an economy that's just for all. And the difference between the two candidates could not be different. Kamala Harris supports a just economy for all, legalizing abortion and other issues that Gen Z really cares about. So I think it's important that we focus on that and really get the word out to young people.
Haakon Carraher:
It's a good question. I think it's important because this generation is going to be the generation that decides the future of the country, versus those who are in office right now. So it's really a big deal that we, like our graduating class, kids younger than us, and, like, a couple years older than us, get involved, because at the end of the day, the future of the United States of America is in our hands.
Cameron Jones:
Big question. It's because as Haakon said, We are the future of this country. And I would like to actually add something to what he said, where it's just like we need to make the youth voice heard. We need to, We need to, My grandfather had a saying, if you don't stand for anything, you'll fall for everything. And I have really taken that to heart. So like you, I would, It's one of the reasons I make such an effort to vote. It's like, I'd rather have my voice heard, and it not go anywhere, than just have someone, the way it was framed to me, is speak on my behalf.
To hear more from Angela, Connor, Haakon and Cameron, please tune in to State Press Play.
READ MORE: ASU student groups host debate watch parties, share thoughts on candidates' performances
Connor Greenwall:
Welcome to Student Social! My name is Connor Greenwall, and I am here with Chase Westberg. Chase is a journalism and mass communication major in her sophomore year. Chase, how are you today?
Chase Westberg:
I’m doing good, how are you?
Connor Greenwall:
I’m doing pretty good, thanks for asking. Where are you from, Chase?
Chase Westberg:
I am from Hillsboro, Oregon. So it’s about 30 minutes away from Portland.
Connor Greenwall:
And why did you choose ASU?
Chase Westberg:
So I have family in Arizona, and I always wanted to live here, and then when I found out the journalism school’s amazing, I decided to stay looking at ASU, and then I just kind of dreamed about it and wanted to come here.
Connor Greenwall:
What classes are you currently taking?
Chase Westberg:
Okay, I’m taking intermediate news reporting and writing, media ethics, philosophy. I have Spanish, and I also have, I think that’s it. Actually, economics, actually, there we go.
To hear more from Chase, please tune in to State Press Play.
Connor Greenwall:
And that’s all for this week’s State Press Play. I’m Connor Greenwall.
Ava Peguese:
And I’m Ava Peguese. State Press Play is produced by our podcast desk editor, Kylie Saba. Our original music is by Ellie Willard and Jake LaRoux.
Connor Greenwall:
Special thanks to our managing team, Morgan Kubasko and Matthew Marengo.
Ava Peguese:
You can check out all these stories and more on statepress.com. See you next week.
