The Democratic and Republican parties have worked to court the youth vote with young, hip speakers and rock bands at their national conventions. But some political experts and MSU students wish the youth vote was taken more seriously.
"They want to treat them like a parent would," said Carl Taylor, a professor in MSU's Institute for Children, Youth and Families. "To me, that's where you make the mistake - you really have to step in and respect youth culture."
Although young people have one of the lowest voter turn-out rates of any group, Taylor said the potential is there for political power.
"If young people all got together … then politicians would pay attention," he said. "We need young people to be stake holders."
Some, such as MSU Students for Bush chairwoman Katie Allardyce, say the camps realize the significance of the youth vote.
"Young people are concerned about issues like the war on terror, the economy and jobs," she said. "Voter turnout rates have been improving and people are more concerned, especially since the 2000 election."
Allardyce was one of more than 30 Bush supporters who met in a Wells Hall lecture room Thursday night chanting "four more years" as they waved "Bush-Cheney 04" and "Sportsmen for Bush" signs. The group was closely watching their presidential candidate speak at New York City's Republican National Convention.
Jesse Bjorkman, a recent Students for Bush recruit, joined in the applause. He said the campaigns are doing a good job of addressing the necessary issues.
"The major concerns for people our age are the same concerns that people of all ages have," the history and Spanish junior said, adding national security is a big concern to all Americans.
National Republican Party convention spokeswoman Alyssa McClenning said the party tried to use the convention to attract the youth vote.
"This year, the Republican Party is taking strides to include them, embrace them," she said, mentioning efforts such as a speech contest with MTV called "Stand up and Holla!" and a program that put students on the convention floor with delegates.
Also included during the four-day convention were speeches by Bush's twin daughters, the nephew George P. Bush, Miss America 2003 Erika Harold and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The twins joked about everything from their grandmother's outdated ideas, their own rebellious behavior and not being very active in politics
"Parading the Bush daughters out there, it's more of a publicity stunt," MSU College Democrats spokesman Stephen Purchase said. "It does have it's place, but it's not a serious engagement of what young people are facing."
And on the Democratic side, Purchase said the Kerry daughters served the same purpose as the Bush daughters when they spoke at the Democratic convention in August.
"That's nice for the format, but again it's about taking us seriously," said the international relations and political theory junior.
Purchase said the candidates on both sides of the political spectrum should speak to younger voters' concerns, which include job security after college graduation and affordable health insurance.
"It's delving into the issues that really do affect us," Purchase said.
Most of the time, it's up to students to motivate other students, Purchase said, adding his group is planning to knock on every student door on campus before the last day to register to vote, Oct. 4.
Still, the politicians have to include more young people in the process, said Anne Mervenne, co-director of the Michigan Political Leadership Program at MSU. The program works to train new politicians in the state.
"They can do better," Mervanne said.
Mervenne said many issues that are important to young people, like economic security and the environment are rarely addressed from a youth perspective.
"(Politicians) need to listen," she said. "They need ask questions of our youth and then sit back and listen."
Evan Rondeau can be reached at rondeau1@msu.edu. Elizabeth Piet can be reached at pieteliz@msu.edu.
