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NEWS
The final countdown
In the midst of the first debates, the election race heats up for the home stretch of the campaigns
COURTESY FLICKR
Debate time: The start of the debates could be a deciding factor in swing state votes. By Nathan Gimby Staff Writer With election day looming, President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney are campaigning fiercely to sway the American people before November 6. In an election centered on the economy, it is no surprise that Romney’s campaign continues to focus on the poor state of the economy throughout Obama’s first term in office. Besides general criticism for slow economic recovery, Obama’s trade policies with China have recently come under fire in Romney’s television ads and on the campaign trail, especially in Ohio, where manufacturing jobs have been in decline. While the oft repeated slogan of Romney’s attack ads is that “we cannot afford another four years of President Obama,” non-partisan polls released September 25 conducted by Quinnipiac University, CBS News, and the New York Times in the swing states of Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania, show Obama leading by a significant margin. Polls in the other battleground states like North Carolina, Nevada, and Virginia are much closer, with Obama leading by only two points in each state. A CNN average of multiple polls placed the president at 51 percent with Romney trailing at 44 percent. In Ohio, a state vital to taking the White House, polls put Obama a full ten points ahead, with 53 percent to Romney’s 43 percent. In particular, it is likely that Ohio voters
feel that Obama is more dependable when it comes to handling the economy. S o m e h a ve b l a m e d R o m n e y ’s controversial “47 percent” comment, painting Obama’s supporters as dependent on the government, for his dip in the polls. The Obama campaign has made the comment a centerpiece of new campaign ads along with Romney’s recently revealed 14 percent income tax rate and his regressive trickle down tax philosophy. This theory is widely debated however. Analysts like Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, see the economy as the issue that has given Obama his recent edge. “If voters don’t think they are worse off, it is difficult to see them throwing out an incumbent whose personal ratings with voters remains quite high,” Brown was quoted as saying in a USA Today article last week. Skeptical of Obama’s sudden increase in popularity, the Romney campaign claims that their polls reveal a closer race than recent non-partisan findings. “I kind of hope the Obama campaign is basing their campaign on what the public polls say. We don’t. We have confidence in our data and our metrics,” Romney’s national political director Richard Beeson said to reporters according to a CNN article.
THE SAINT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012
AQ students take part in ArtPrize By Chuck Hyde The Saint Reporter
Crowley. Her piece is entitled “Daddy’s Little Girl” and is found at City Church on Alpine. The medium is oil paint and beads on canvas. Crowley stretched the beads herself to display a father
Chip VanderWier. His piece is a bit more three dimensional than Martinez’s and Crowley’s. Titled Artprize is now in its fourth “Bell on Wheels,” it is an interacyear in Grand Rapids and Aquinas tive sculpture made of repurposed has representation in the event yet steel and found objects. The piece again this year. Three students, Tais meant to be struck with tiana Martinez, Serita Crowa mallet so that it creates a ley and Chip VanderWier, sound. It is found outside are entrants in the festivities of St. Mark’s Episcopal this year. Their pieces are Church on North Division. all quite unique and are disVanderWier ’s sculpplayed throughout various ture is one of five pieces venues downtown. to make the Juror ’s Short Martinez’s piece is enList for best use of urban titled “Silent Language” and space. He says that he has is found in City Art Gallery had a positive Artprize at 1168 Ionia. This year is experience all around. her first entry in Artprize, When asked about his though she plans to submit style, VanderWier said that more pieces in the future “much of my work deals as well. It is a series of four with play, curiosity and etchings, all representing discovery. ‘Bell on Wheels’ different words in sign MIRIAM PRANSCHKE / THE SAINT language being formed by AQ Artprize: Art professor Madeline Kaczmarczyk piece, is no exception.” Artprize this year is hands. She used her friends “The Nature of Glamour” is shown at Cathedral Square. filled with artists from and family as models for and daughter together. She said both near and far. With three AQ the different pieces. She chose to that it is inspired by her own father students, some faculty, and several represent the words “Freedom,” who passed away from lung cancer alumni all participating in Art“Fire,” “Soul,” and “Light.” Marin 2006. Her style is a unique blend prize this year, Aquinas College tinez said that sometimes she likes of older styles with contemporary is becoming even more present in to sit near her pieces anonymously, subject matter. On her piece, Crowwhat is quickly becoming the main “listening to their comments, ley said that she created it “as an annual event here in Grand Rapwatching their hands mimic the homage to single dads and… dads ids. Artprize continues downtown movement in the pieces.” that take care of their children.” through October 7. The second AQ artist is conThe final Aquinas student tinuing education student Serita entered in Artprize this year is
A new Student Senate Outlook By Bridget Berns The Saint Reporter Barely past the first month into a new school year, each member of the executive committee in Senate has many changes to adjust to. “This year we’ve divided into two groups, one is the Senate with the executive committee and senators and the other group is the Registered Student Organization assembly,” said Co-Budget Director Madeleine Burns. This new structure is formed for a more free flow of communication between clubs and the Senate. In the next few weeks, Senate will focus on how this new structure will affect student organizations. Vice Chair Chuck Hyde said, “This committee can be extremely vital in figuring out the role clubs would like
in the college, such as collaborating with other clubs to form a group event.” Collaboration with fellow Aquinas services is another vital step for the RSO committee. The RSO committee is looking to make it easier for clubs and organizations to achieve their goals and hold events. Club interaction and easy communication is key in this new system. As for the executive committee members, they too have their own goals they hope to see this year within Senate. Secretary Kaela Bouwkamp said, “I am in charge of the newly formed Commuter Committee. I myself am a commuter for the first time this year so I’m excited to see how we can help address commuter issues.”
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Student Senate is also promoting new ideas from every student with the Senate Research Program. “The Student Senate Research Program is a great way for students to go out and attend conferences or participate in a research program, if the student needs funding all they would need to do is place a request in to this program and it’s a great way to gain new opportunities,” said Hyde. One of the biggest goals for the Senate is for both committees, the RSO and the Senate, to move into a smooth transition from the old setup of the Senate and become as synchronized as possible into the new state of the Senate. With the hopes of an effective transformation, students are at the center of every Senate decision.