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Students at UMD contemplate upcoming mayoral election
By Lisa Kunkel and Julia Davis
STATESMAN STAFF WRITERS
With the mayoral general election less than a month away, some students are soaking up as much knowledge as they can about the candidates to prepare themselves to vote, while others find themselves clueless about the current issues that may affect them regarding the election.
"I didn't know there was an election," junior AdamBazama said. This seemed to be the case with many of the students on campus, as many seemed confused at the mention of the election. In some cases, they even had to be reminded there was one.
"I don't feel like there's anything that goes on regarding student issues," Anthony Wiseman said, as his friends nodded in agreement.
The most prominent trend among UMD students is that they just don't care about what's going on with politics or the current mayoral election. Senior Sara Mennes feels differently. She feels that student votes are among the most important. "I think that we, the students, are the people that have the power,"
Mennes said. "If we get out there and vote ... we can get the word out as a collegiate union." However, the reason they don't care might be because they are uninformed, either by their lack of interest in the topic or a lack of resources readily available to them."Idon't feel like I am well informedenough to make a decision," said senior Jill Schiffler. Mennes agrees with Schiffler, butnotwholeheartedly.
"I think we could have better resources," Mennes said. There are, however, resources on campus that are available to students with information about these types of political issues. Various political groups on campus provide general information as well as links to other resources regarding the election.
This ensures that students can find out such things as how to vote, where to register and who is running for mayor. Some students wereaware of theelection, but still unsure who wasrunning.
"I know that Bell appeals to the older crowd, while Ness is more for the younger crowd," said Ben Marsh.Wiseman felt that a newmayor should further the city's economic development.
"I'd vote for a mayor who wouldbring a Buffalo Wild Wings toDuluth," said Wiseman.Other students have done theirresearch onDuluth's issues, andhave discovered that many issueswill ultimately affect them."The issues that are most important to me are school board issues, since I am an art education major," Mennes said. "I want [the teachers] to survive,I want them to thrive."
Mennes also seems to be thinking forward into the future and what itholds for the city of Duluth."I want them to bring jobs toDuluth,"Mennes said. "I want themto find out how to make studentswant to stay."
