2008 Woodie Awards
Ignored Youth Now Focal Point
Organizations use music to capture the youth vote.
Chelsea Banks
Issue date: 9/8/04 Section: Valley Life
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As Election Day draws near, there seems to be a new, youth-oriented organization forming every day to promote young adults to vote. One thing these organizations seem to hold in common is their use of music as a medium.
Since 1990, ads for Rock the Vote, which uses music icons and Hollywood stars to interest youth in voting, have been on TV and in magazines. But recently, RTV isn't the only one interested in the youth vote.
After the 2000 election that required a court ruling instead of a simple ballot count, there came bitterness and an almost palpable separation between Democrats and Republicans. Also, a resentmant has been built up since the beginning of the war in Iraq.
"Sending the kids to Iraq has kept me from not voting. Because kids are dying and I don't wanna send kids to Iraq anymore," says Valley student, Trevor Keropian.
Unhappiness with President George W. Bush's leadership and fear that he may "steal another election," caused a search for a new source of voters in hopes to increase the numbers enough to turn the marginal difference into a landslide for the Democrats. Where can that many Democrats be found? What about those 40.7 million 18-29 year olds who are famously liberal and have been notoriously MIA at the polls?
"It's my responsibility as an American. It's because I have to, because who else is gonna state their opinion?" says Randy Ramos, a Valley student, when asked about the importance of voting.
Justice Through Music, Punk Voter and Music for America are just few of the organizations that have started since last year. Each one's beliefs and methods are different, but they all want to achieve the same thing: a massive amount of new voters.
JTM, which launched February 2003, is an organization that stresses the importance of civil rights and voting through bands and famous musicians. JTM recently released a DVD that contains interviews with musicians and students, live concert footage, and a fact chapter. Instead of just offering voter registration, the JTM website, www.jtmp.org, also offers a "Facts" page with facts and their sources such as: "The federal government spends billions each year supporting drug eradication in foreign countries while cutting student aid in America."
Since 1990, ads for Rock the Vote, which uses music icons and Hollywood stars to interest youth in voting, have been on TV and in magazines. But recently, RTV isn't the only one interested in the youth vote.
After the 2000 election that required a court ruling instead of a simple ballot count, there came bitterness and an almost palpable separation between Democrats and Republicans. Also, a resentmant has been built up since the beginning of the war in Iraq.
"Sending the kids to Iraq has kept me from not voting. Because kids are dying and I don't wanna send kids to Iraq anymore," says Valley student, Trevor Keropian.
Unhappiness with President George W. Bush's leadership and fear that he may "steal another election," caused a search for a new source of voters in hopes to increase the numbers enough to turn the marginal difference into a landslide for the Democrats. Where can that many Democrats be found? What about those 40.7 million 18-29 year olds who are famously liberal and have been notoriously MIA at the polls?
"It's my responsibility as an American. It's because I have to, because who else is gonna state their opinion?" says Randy Ramos, a Valley student, when asked about the importance of voting.
Justice Through Music, Punk Voter and Music for America are just few of the organizations that have started since last year. Each one's beliefs and methods are different, but they all want to achieve the same thing: a massive amount of new voters.
JTM, which launched February 2003, is an organization that stresses the importance of civil rights and voting through bands and famous musicians. JTM recently released a DVD that contains interviews with musicians and students, live concert footage, and a fact chapter. Instead of just offering voter registration, the JTM website, www.jtmp.org, also offers a "Facts" page with facts and their sources such as: "The federal government spends billions each year supporting drug eradication in foreign countries while cutting student aid in America."
