Two years ago, University of Michigan students poured into the streets and the Diag with shouts, drums, and signs in ecstasy after the election of President Barack Obama.
Two years later, these sentiments and expectations have ostensibly withered. A recent AP-mtvU poll from a random sample of 2,000 students from large universities reveals that 44 percent of U.S. college students approve of the job Obama has done, down from a 60 percent approval rating from the same population in may 2009. Polling done by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics indicates only 27 percent of those under 30 will be “definitely voting.”
Charles Bogren, the Michigan College Republicans chairman, was not surprised by these statistics.
“When it comes to Obama, I see a lot of buyer’s remorse among college students,” he said.
The poll also revealed that 27 percent of students are unhappy with the stewardship of Obama; up from 15 percent of unhappy students in May 2009.
“The hope and change Obama promised to run on is not there,” Bogren said. He believes that while Obama promised to promote bipartisanship. “We have gotten is a hyper-partisan, liberal president, not good for college students or the country.”
Many students at Michigan who supported Obama two years ago have cooled in their support.
Christopher Anderson, a Junior BBA, said that while Obama “has made some good progress since being in office,” he finds that “his work for the LGBT community has been somewhat disappointing,” citing the Justice Department’s emergency request to maintain ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t tell’ as one example.
In 2008, 15 million first time voters, most aged 18 to 24, helped Obama get elected. Polling on turnout, however, coupled with expectations for the upcoming elections, which some commentators say could net the GOP 48 to 60 Congressional seats, indicate the Democrat’s 2008 victories probably won’t stand.
This change in political sentiment is not going unnoticed by the president, who’s been on a heavy campaign schedule with a focus on universities. Recent trips included a rally at Ohio State University and a speech at the University of Washington, both in states with tight midterm elections.
“If you have not voted yet, you’ve got to get that ballot and put it in the mail,” Obama said at the University of Washington. “Don’t delay. Do it right after this rally. You’ve got to then talk to your friends. You’ve got to talk to your neighbors. you’ve got to make phone calls. You’ve got to knock on doors. you have to make sure that you are as fired up and as excited now as you were two years ago-because the work is not yet done.”
Tony Eljallad, a senior Political Science major, voted for Obama in 2008 and still retains that hope he had two years ago.
“I think a lot forget that something is easier to break than fix,” he said. “People are not happy with the economy, but it takes more than a year or two to fix major problems caused by Bush-inspired policies.”
Bogren, who said that attendance for College Republicans events is at an all-time high, thinks it is a little too late for Obama.
“Something is fundamentally different this time around,” he said. “It is not just another random swing back to Republican favor, but rather a protest from the people against our giant, overarching government.”
Nathan Torreano is a staffwriter for the Michigan Review. He is a contributor to the Student Free Press Association.
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