Props, taxes, weed Day of Politics explores social reform

MOHAMMAD DJAUHARI Reporter @17thletter

In the last eight years, less than 30% of young, eligible voters, voted during elections. With 2016 becoming an important election year cycle, the Day of Politics aims to change that by getting more students involved in the political process.

The annual Day of Politics is on Wednesday, Oct. 19 in the Great Hall. It encourages young adults to be more involved in the political process by focusing on issues and local propositions that affect their futures.

“A lot of our students are apathetic because they don't really feel like they're connected to government, they don't feel like it represents them,” said Denise Robb, professor of political science and one of the organizers of Day of Politics. “There's no better proof for how important government is than the propositions because there are seventeen of them.”

One of the propositions on the ballot that affects students is Proposition 55. This would extend the personal income tax on taxpayers with incomes of $250,000 or more for an additional 12 years, to fund education and healthcare, according to an LA Times article.

Ouimet said. “Eldin is amazing. He’s still doing the races, he’s winning. He’s still a lifeguard at Santa Monica. He comes here [to Pierce]. He’s at East [L.A. College] teaching 700 hours a day and then he still goes fishing.” Onsgard said he is grateful to have attended Pierce when he did, because the school was at its peak in both the athletic department and community involvement.

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“Prop 55 is going to be an interesting one,” said Lynette Quintero, president of the PoliSci Society at Pierce. “Everyone at school is there for education so hearing the opposing side will definitely be interesting.”

Day of Politics is sponsored by the PoliSci Society, the ASO, the Campus Vote Project, Alpha Gamma Sigma and the Vegan Society.

“We partnered up with Denise Robb and our role is to support the students that are going to be involved in the debates and discussions between the senators during the Q&A session,” Quintero said. “We want to incorporate all forms of politics and involve all the ballot initiatives during the November election.” computer over in student engagement or ASO area. That computer has Venus Software and that software sets up a remote session with a computer that’s located in north of mall that has stopped working.”

Another proposition that will affect students is Prop 51, which allows the state to issue $9 billion in bonds to fund K-12 schools and community colleges, according to Yeson51.com, a website that supports the initiative.

According the Smith, the Computer has a Venus Software that sets up a remote session with a computer located in north of the mall which has stopped working.

“That computer is connected to the controller inside the sign with fiber that runs underneath the pavers of the main mall into the sign. So you would update on the software and then the software would contact that computer and the computer would contact the sign and update the sign.”

The marquee on the mall is not able to be updated due to ineffective computers in the North of Mall. Associate Vice President, Larry Kraus said that it might be a problem accessing it due to construction.

“I know that it is not working,” Kraus said. “It is related to the construction, so until the construction is finished, they can’t get into certain areas.”

The marquee was turned off from a power breaker for most of last semester but was turned on at the start of this semester.

“They [Plant facilities and Information Technology] were able to find out that the breaker is in the electrical room in the old library [which is] connected up to IT,” Smith said.

“Once we figured that out, we went in and shut it down and it was off for quite a while,” Smith said. “But at some point, someone turned it back on. I don’t know why it was turned back on and it wasn’t

Though these two propositions will be in dispute at the Day of Politics, other issues will be debated on during the event that will benefit students’ interest, such as reducing sentences for nonviolent criminals, ending the death penalty and the legalization of marijuana.

“A lot of times, people tend to vote for the presidency and overlook the rest of it because it's hard to find unbiased information,” Quintero said. “By doing this, we hear both sides and provide unbiased information so students can use it as references to do more research.”

Between 2008 and 2012, 38 percent of voters ages between 18 and 24, while almost 70 percent of voters are between the ages 65 and older, according to a study by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Though the study does not indicate the reason why voter turnout for young adults is low compared to older adults, disenchantment with the voting process could be a cause, a sentiment shared by 20-year-old Pierce College student, Jake Anthony.