College Students Active on Election Eve

EXETER, N.H.--Despite the fact that the percentage of Americans who participate in the political process is falling nationally, college students who are volunteering in New Hampshire said this week that their activism, reflects a trend of high student interest in the 1992 presidential race.

These students--mostly from schools on the Eastern seaboard--say their campuses are at a high pitch of political debate.

"On any college campus, there's a higher percentage of politically aware citizens," said Tom J. Stamm, a sophomore at Georgetown University. "I don't know anyone who has said `I don't care [about the elections].'''

Stamm, who came to New Hampshire to volunteer for Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, said that many of the candidates are devoting a significant amount of attention to students in an effort to emphasize the long-term effects of their proposals.

And students said that this is precisely the message that they want to hear.

"For college students, it's not a particular issue [that is their main concern] but a general picture of what the future is going to be like--what our life is going to be like in 20 years," said Keigh W. Cooperman, a first year student at John Hopkins, also a Clinton volunteer.

Dehdan A. Miller '93-'94, who left Harvard after the fall semester to volunteer for former Sen. Paul E. Tsongas, said that his candidate regularly takes time during speeches to thank student supporters.

And Miller said that he thinks students bring a unique perspective to their analysis of the candidates' positions.

"Tsongas has a universal message, which is ideal for students," Miller said.

Students said that the manner in which candidates express their ideas makes a difference for their college-age supporters.

"Tsongas has a good chance at winning first place," said Chad Birely, a sophomore at Georgetown, "But Clinton is able to relate all the issues he articulates into one comprehensive program."

In the end, most students in New Hampshire these last few months are themselves good examples of a trend that they say is noticeable on campuses throughout the country.

Sacrificing time and comfort, these students are the epitome of an involved citizen.

Sleeping on floors, standing on street corners and canvassing votes in parking lots is what Jennifer L. Barth, a junior at Indiana's DePauw University, has been doing since Sunday. She and a group of about 15 student supporters of Bush, came to Manchester to assist with crunch-time campaigning.

"I came because I am a Republican and Bush is the best man for the job," Barth said. "and it's exciting to support someone you truly believe in."

That sentiment was echoed by Miller, the Harvard student working for Tsongas.

"I find it remarkable that I'm working with someone who will be the leader of this country," Miller said after Tsongas' speech at Phillips Exeter Academy yesterday.