The Ithacan Thursday, April 12, 20 12
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Volume 79, Is s u e 2 5
Dems readjust focus to inspire younger voters by tinamarie craven staff writer
take in years to come. The panel was split on whether primary care or preventative care would be most significant in the future. The Affordable Care Act would insure patients who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions, help small businesses pay for their employees’ health care, remove dollar limits from the amount of care providers pay for and expand Medicaid coverage. Joe Sammons, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes, said the act would open up reproductive health possibilities to women, including covering preventative services such as mammograms and cervical cancer screenings under their insurance. The addition of contraception to this coverage has caused political and religious uproar recently.
With Rick Santorum’s announcement Tuesday to drop out of the GOP race, President Barack Obama is turning his campaign sights not only to frontrunner Mitt Romney, but also on gaining political support from the younger generation. Obama’s 2008 presidential win was primarily supported by a young constituency — 61 percent of his voters were between the ages of 18 and MYRICK said 29. According voters turn out when they are to a recent Pew inspired in politics. study, 63 percent of young voters are supporting Obama in the 2012 election, but this doesn’t mean America’s young adults are making it to the voting booths. In an effort to get students at Ithaca College more involved with national politics and interested in the upcoming election, IC Democrats and Created Equal co-hosted an event Tuesday to educate students on why they should vote and how to convince others to register to vote. According to Pew data, 49 percent of voters ages 18 to 29 approve of the president’s performance in office, down 24 points since February 2009. However, Obama has made strides to interest student voters, such as focusing on student debt solutions. In February, the White House held a conference call with college and university journalists about making college more affordable for Americans. The event on campus involved a panel of speakers, which included City of Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick and associate politics professors Juan Arroyo and Patricia Rodriguez. Junior Rob Flaherty, president of IC Democrats, acted as the panel’s coordinator and asked panelists why students would elect not to vote and how to incorporate students in politics. There was a general consensus among the panel members for increased student engagement within politics. Myrick said students need to be driven by an issue to vote, and many of them haven’t experienced or connected with the issue that will drive them to become politically involved. “Those who plan to vote, those who turn out to vote, vote because they are motivated by something,” Myrick said. When Flaherty asked panelists if the U.S. should enforce compulsory voting, Myrick said forcing
See health, page 4
See vote, page 4
explore online Visit theithacan.org/sga-results to watch a video with Rob Flaherty.
IC Progress, SGA's next leaders, met for the first time Monday in the Student Activities Center to discuss their budget for next year.
rachel orlow/the ithacan
IC Progress sets sights on SGA future By henry apostoleris contributing writer
The Student Government Association’s newly elected leaders, IC Progress, plan to implement changes in structure, transparency and campus events next year. IC Progress, led by junior Rob Flaherty, won last week's election over Be Heard, the opposing group led by junior Ellis Williams. The group will take over for the current board, The Constructionists, in the fall. The Constructionists, who are finishing up their year, said they accomplished most of their initial goals, including establishing the first Spirit Week, making student senators
more accessible and creating a program to raise money for students in financial need to pay for college tuition. Senior Scott Nachlis, the current SGA president, said his board was successful in completing their platform goals and added a few along the way. “We added an international senator,” Nachlis said. “We completely revamped that elections act. We endorsed a no-fracking policy, we endorsed the Asian-American Studies minor.” Members of IC Progress plan to focus on three main initiatives: restructuring SGA by eliminating a standing committee called the campus affairs committee, focusing on
transparency to its constituents and planning more community-inclusive events. “The idea is that our senate will be structured more based on tasks and progress and results, and less on sort of process procedure,” Flaherty said. “We want to make it much more streamlined.” Elections for SGA were held last week from April 2 to 4 with the two competing boards, IC Progress and Be Heard. Though the number of student votes increased from last year, the turnout was 16.7 percent of the undergraduate student body. This
See progress, page 4
Health care debate spurs dialogue among Ithacans by patrick feeney staff writer
Women's health issues, primary vs. preventative care and the financial burden of mandatory health insurance were among the key topics discussed at an Affordable Health Care panel Thursday at Ithaca College. The Affordable Care Act, sometimes dubbed by Republicans as “Obamacare,” is shrouded in a storm of controversy that has recently brought it to the Supreme Court. Some issues in particular have students and local experts talking. The ACA has multiple provisions that would affect college students nationwide, including one that states anyone under the age of 26 would be allowed to stay on their parents’ health plans. It will also allow those with pre-existing conditions to get coverage and make preventative care free in new health plans. These provisions and issues
Joe Sammons, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes, speaks about the Affordable Care Act Thursday. rachel woolf/the ithacan
were discussed in a panel of local experts last Thursday in Klingenstein Lounge. The panel was held to stress the impact of the contested legislation on students. Panelists,
Honest Art Local exhibit works to raise awareness about sexual violence, page 13
including local physician Frederick Barken and associate economics professor Jennifer Tennant, focused on what drives up costs in health care and what direction care will
Proud in pumps
Bro Battles
Sophomore dresses in drag to help express gender identity, page 15
Brothers play off friendly rivalry through tennis and pingpong, page 23
f ind m or e onl ine. www.t heit hacan.org