What's Brewing ...

Drexel Students On Watch During Pa. Primary

Drexel University Hosts Campus Wide Watch Party

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― Global warming, healthcare and high tuition costs were just a few issues on the minds of Drexel University Students Tuesday as they gathered to view race results of the Democratic Presidential Primary.

The campus-wide event, which was held in Drexel's W.W. Hagerty Library, was well attended with nearly every seat in the Bookmark Cafe filled. Students from all walks of life attended the event, but for very different reasons.

Drexel freshman Sadia Rharbite, 19, said she felt it was her civic duty to attend the campus event. "I know it sounds kind of cliché, but I feel like it's my duty to go out and vote and inspire others to do the same."

Others students like 20-year-old sophomore Nikhil Shah did not plan to attend the event and did not vote in the primary. He blamed his lack of participation on not knowing enough about the issues and the candidates.

"I didn't want to just go out and vote for someone just to vote for someone. I wanted it to mean something," Shah explained.

Still, Shah said the event inspired him to become more politically active. "Seeing the interest that college students take in all of this really makes me want to learn more."

When asked whether or not the majority of their peers are politically active, 19-year-old freshman Catey Burtness-Adams said, "I think we have both ends of the spectrum. A lot of people are really politically active and want to spread the issues around and then we have a lot of people who are just indifferent."

Nineteen-year-old freshman Dave Bria of Langhorne, Pennsylvania is not one of those people. Bria said his reason for attending the watch party and voting in the primary is, "A lot of the issues will affect me and I just want my voice to be heard."

According to the students at Drexel's watch party, "going green" is extremely important this election year. Rharbite explained, "The environment is a very hot topic among young voters because that affects our future the most."

Eco-friendly operations may be considered trendy, but Burtness-Adams said, "I think it's more than that, or at least it should be."

As the discussion shifted from the issues to the numbers, Burtness-Adams reacted to the first three percent of the votes. With 53 percent going to Hillary Clinton and 47 percent to Barack Obama, she said, "I think this is Clinton's last chance. If she doesn't pull out a pretty solid victory, I think it might be time for her to step down."

Nineteen-year-old sophomore Kaushal Sheth also commented on Clinton's early lead, "It will keep her in the running, but I think there are other states that still have to vote."

Halfway through the Watch Party, CBS News projected Hillary Clinton would defeat Barack Obama in the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary.

The news was a let down for Obama supporter and Drexel junior Jeremiah Waters. "It's pretty disappointing. I was really hoping, despite what was being said on the news that we could pull out a win tonight."

Librarian Jane Bryan sympathized with Obama supporters saying, "I think a lot of Drexel students may be disappointed and I understand how they feel. Barack brought a lot of excitement and hope."

Moving forward, the university hopes those same sentiments will invigorate its students to continue their path of political activism regardless of which candidate they support.


RELATED LINKS:
http://www.drexel.edu/

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