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Volume 128 Issue 26
Tuesday. October 7,2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Kansan.com | The student voice since 1904
POUND IT OUT
New workout program combines dance and drumming I PAGE 5
Engaging young voters proves to be a challenge
ALLISON KITE
@Allie_Kite
WILL WEBER
WILL wmwebber
With the general election less than a month away in a tight gubernatorial race, both Paul Davis and Sam Brownback are ramping up efforts to pursue voters. But neither candidate appears to be making a significant effort to reach college students.
"It's almost like we're not important enough to make it on their list, and I think that's a problem," said Morgan Anderson, a sophomore from Goddard and president of the College Republicans at KU. "But they also have to look at targeting of who their likely voters are."
Campaigns continue to distribute information through traditional outlets - such as TV advertising and mailing brochures and newsletters that do not reach many students. Anderson said students are more likely to participate in politics through social media.
"Sometimes campaigns respond to social media against a certain issue or against a particular thing that's going on in the world," Anderson said. "But I think a lot of times, with some of the old school tactics of contacting your congressman, or even a phone call, students just don't have the time. It's not what students do."
Chris Pumpelly, spokesman for the Davis-Docking campaign, said social media is a useful tool for reaching students and other audiences, but the primary function is to amplify messages to a general audience. He said the concerns of students are typically consistent with the concerns of all Kansans.
Because students are often first-time voters, they can be difficult to assess and motivate. Burdett Loomis, a professor in the political science department, said he believes the student vote typically hasn't made a difference.
"The student vote is like the great white whale — you know it's out there, but it's rarely seen,"
Loomis said. "And you wonder, no matter what you did, could you get it to show up?"
"it's almost like we're not important enough to make it on their list, and I think that's a problem."
Loomis said he believes students are generally disengaged from the political process. While some are turned off by the political system, others are merely uninformed or don't know the necessary steps to register and vote.
MORGAN ANDERSON Sophomore from Goddard
Every vote counts equally, but it can be difficult for individual students to see the impact of their participation. Brittany Bodenheimer, a sophomore from Topeka and president of Young Democrats, said this is an issue in student voting.
"The state has always treated students as stepchildren," Loomis said. "Vote back in your district,' and stuff like that. I think even most Lawrence residents aren't too crazy about having students vote in their district."
Loomis holds the state partially responsible for low student turnout because of its treatment of young voters. It can be difficult for students to register because the state requires proof of citizenship when voters register for the first time.
"I think a lot of students assume that their vote doesn't matter, and that attempting change is useless," Boden-
Despite the traditionally low turnout, students like Natalie Parker, director of communications for the Future Majority, have attempted to increase the student vote with on-campus
heimer said.
efforts. Numerous campus groups including the Future Majority, College Republicans, Young Democrats, Student Senate and the Dole Institute of Politics have worked together to hold a voter registration drive that began Sept. 30 and will continue through Oct. 7.
In addition to apathy, many students don't vote because of barriers with registration. Others have trouble with absentee voting. Finding information and resources in college can be difficult even as a Kansas native, Bodenheimer said.
"Knowing how to register, where to vote and when, are all questions that we're asked that can sometimes lead to simple disengagement from the process," Bodenheimer said.
The SAFE Act — enacted in January 2013 — requires Kansans to show proof of citizenship upon registering to vote. This can be a challenge for students living away from home, who may not have these documents readily available.
Students registered outside of Douglas County tend to be disengaged from issues in their hometowns and struggle to stay informed.
"I think a lot of people kind of forget about voting when they go off to school unless they switch their voter registration to where they attend school,"
Anderson said. "I think it's really difficult for students to feel like they have a voice in the political process."
With multiple barriers to voting and consistently low turnout among this unproven populace, Loomis said neither party is confident enough in a positive outcome to invest heavily in the student vote.
"With both Republicans and even Democrats, if you look them in the eye you'll find they have better places to increase their turnouts," Loomis said.
Edited by Miranda Davis
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
3 STUDY ABROAD
KU Office of Study Abroad holds info session for travel registry
3 FEEL GOOD
Robinson Center launches program to encourage more gym traffic
4 SEXUAL ASSAULT
"It is our responsibility as a community to keep breaking the silence..."
ANNA NEILL
6 MAROON 5
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
Havens: Women portrayed as prey in new music video
IT department provides tips for online security
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. The University's IT Department gave students tips on how to stay secure online, such as avoiding resuing old passwords.
University student ambassadors show prospective KU students the view from the south side of campus behind Wescoe Hall on Monday.
@ChandlerBoese
CHANDLER BOESE
@ChandlerBoese
With wireless Internet provided all over campus and multiple devices simultaneously connected to the Internet, many students take being plugged in for granted.
This month, National Cyber Security Awareness Month, provides an opportunity for students to learn about the dangers of the web and how to be proactive in protecting themselves.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FRANK WEIRICH/KANSAN
The University's IT department proactively monitors security risks, and most issues are taken care of before they impact students, said David Day, IT director of External Affairs. For this reason, there aren't specific numbers of how many security problems are prevented by the IT security office. Even though security risks are monitored, Day said students should still take preventative measures.
Sharing specific security problems is not possible because of privacy, but Day said there is one frequent online issue.
Sarah Wages, a freshman from Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., said she doesn't know or understand how exactly to take such measures.
When a hacker wants to get personal information, he or she will often do something called "phishing." Basically, they trick their target into giving up important information by masking websites as prize giveaways or fake websites.
"One fairly common technique is emails that look like they come from a bank or other financial institution, asking you to click on a link and log into your account," Day said. "That should always raise red flags."
"The challenge with students is that security problems can be related to their KU accounts or their personal accounts;" Day said.
Day said students can deal with possible phishing emails by calling the bank to see if it sent the email or simply going to the institution's website directly and logging in through it, rather than a link provided.
KU IT devotes most of its time to dealing with issues on University accounts, Day said, so it's up to students who use multiple personal devices and accounts to take preventative
Pennie Liu, a sophomore from St. Louis, Mo., said she takes a few measures to protect herself online. If a website asks for her email, she gives a fake account, so they can send her spam emails but not get her personal information.
measures to protect themselves.
Watching email accounts for
suspicious emails is important but there are more ways that students can protect themselves online. Day said it is important to always be aware of what you are doing online and what information you are providing.
"By default, share with friends only," said Rob Arnold, the university's IT security.
ficer. "Carefully consider what you share widely. Don't make it easier on the thief."
It's also important for students to consider what passwords they use for online accounts. Both Day and Arnold advise against reusing pass-
SEE CYBER PAGE 2
CRYPTOQUIPS 6
OPINION 4
News of the court's denial is particularly important for LGBTQ students at the University. Jake McMillian, a third-year law student from Kansas City, Kan., got the news from a friend who works on Capitol Hill about an hour before the news went public. McMillian was sitting on his couch when he got the call.
SPORTS 10
SUDOKU 6
McMillian was initially disappointed at the court's denial to hear the cases. McMillian said he feels same-sex marriage is an important enough issue that requires the immediate ruling of the court. Despite his initial disappointment, McMillian is
What does this mean for Kansas? According to www.freedomtomarry.org, Kansas is part of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals along with Oklahoma and Utah, both of which have legalized same-sex marriage. Sharing the same circuit court with two states where same-sex marriage is legal has many thinking Kansas will soon follow suit. The website also reports that same-sex couples in Kansas have already applied for marriage licenses after the news of the Supreme Court's refusal broke this morning, but they were denied due to its currently being illegal.
Don't Forget
CLASSIFIEDS 9
CROSSWORD 6
Kansas could see samesex marriage legalized
Monday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court denied to hear cases on same-sex marriage bans that involved Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Indiana. The denial marked another victory for same-sex marriage advocates in those five states, whose bans on same-sex marriage were struck down by federal appeals courts earlier this year.
KELSIE JENNINGS
@kelcien
SEE MARRY PAGE 2
For same-sex couples in 11 states, including Kansas, Monday morning was a life-changing day.
To redeem your basketball tickets.
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansai
Today's Weather
Sunny with a zero percent chance of rain Wind NW at 18 mph.
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