News

Younger voters hold more power; tapping into that potential, high turnout expected

By Julie Hirshan | gargoyle@flagler.edu

David Matulewicz, sophomore and a vice president of the Political Guild, doesn’t believe the popular myth about apathy in the college-age voting demographic.

With many students attending recent political events like Rock the Vote on the West Lawn and the vice presidential debate in the Ringhaver Student Center, students at Flagler College show that they care about the political issues and plan to use their voices in the upcoming election.

According to Matulewicz, many students from Flagler are active in political campaigns around town.

The Democratic headquarters in St. Johns County has more for students to help with, but the Republication group enlists the help of Flagler students as well.

Design by HAHAUYELI YISRAEL

Take away the image consultants, focus groups and ads and what’s left? Nothing but the issues. How are you, the voters, supposed to know what the candidates really stand for?

Here is your chance to see each candidate’s views without the frills and mud-slinging politics can bring. No names, no altered pictures. But can you figure out which views go with which candidate?

War/Foreign Policy
This candidate strongly believes that when Iraq is capable of both governing itself, as well as protecting the people living there, is when the U.S. troops should come home.

He says in order to avoid an even more expensive war, it is important to ensure the stability of the state of Iraq and seeing that it is not left vulnerable to terrorists. By leaving a small “strike force” in Iraq, he says we would be making a poor strategic choice.

War and Foreign Policy
There would be a phased withdrawal of the troops in Iraq over a 16-month period. The withdrawal would be coordinated with the Iraqi government and directed by military commanders on the ground.
He would create a counter-terrorism force that will remain in Iraq for specific missions, and will continue to train Iraqi security forces. This candidate wants to encourage Iraqi leaders to take more responsibility toward creating stability.

He would also encourage them to use oil revenue for reconstruction.

By Chelsi de Cuba | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The Florida Public Relations Association gave the Bob Myers Lifetime Achievement Award to Flagler College Communication Department Professor Rosemary Tutt on Sept. 4.

Tutt, a memer of the Flagler College faculty for five years, continues to pursue a lifetime full of achievement.

She began her career in retail advertising and then opened a public relations firm, which she ran 16 years. Clients included healthcare and nonprofit organizations.

Florida Lottery-funded Bright Futures scholarships struggle to find support

By Erica Eding | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The future could be dim for Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship program.

The program, a source of financial aid for almost 1,000 Flagler College students, is struggling to come up with the money it needs. Bright Futures is funded through the state’s lottery system.

Governor Charlie Christ passes law for right to keep and bear arms in motor vehicles

By Lauren Belcher | gargoyle@flagler.edu

A Florida law went into effect this July that says employers can no longer bar employees from concealing a registered gun in their car.

Also covered by the law are volunteers, interns and customers. Today, some local business owners are outraged and afraid of what will happen now that guns are allowed on their property.

By Julie Hirshan | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument will provide free admission to the grounds as part of the National Park Service’s National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27.

This event is held annually across the country as an opportunity to encourage the public to spend time outdoors and visit historic and cultural sites.

By Josh Wolonowski | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Since its inception in July, the Amethyst Initiative has sparked debate all over the country. More than 129 college presidents have signed on to the push that calls for lowering the drinking age below 21 years of age, according to www.amethystinitiative.com.

The objective of the initiative is to promote responsible drinking, and the organization’s mission states, “21 is not working. A culture of dangerous clandestine ‘binge-drinking’ – often conducted off campus – has developed.”