By Shaina Smookler
Correspondent
As young voters embark on or continue their college journeys, many experience a profound shift in their political views. This transition to college not only marks a significant moment in their lives, but also exposes them to diverse perspectives that challenge their pre-existing views.
Lauren Manzie, a freshman elementary and special education major at the College, feels more educated on political topics since moving to college. Growing up in Burlington County, she noticed a greater political freedom on campus, which made her feel disconnected from her family and hometown influences.
“I feel like it made me think more openly and I’m not basing my opinions on other people anymore,” Manzie said. “We’re in this new environment with new people that you don’t necessarily know, so no one’s really telling you how you’re supposed to feel.”
Manzie, like many first-time voters, has been influenced by going to college and the exposure of a new environment and new surroundings. An article from Diverse Education shows that nearly 60% of college students reported that a school’s political climate influenced their college choice.
Jude Bazerman, a junior broadcast journalism major at Syracuse University from Essex County, said his political views have changed as well, becoming more conservative since going away to college. Previously a strong liberal, exposure to a range of perspectives has weakened his strong beliefs.
According to Best Places, 77.1% of the Essex County population voted Democratic in the last presidential election. Bazerman said he did not experience much political exposure in Essex County, as he did not see much of the “real world.”
"Growing up in Caldwell, it's a unique environment because it’s a very 50/50 town. There’s a lot of conservative voices, a lot of liberal voices, a lot of voices in the middle,” Bazerman said. “Going out in the city of Syracuse, meeting people from different walks of life, is why my political opinion has changed — not really hearing new opinions, but actually seeing for myself.”
Syracuse has one of the highest overall poverty rates in the nation. According to U.S. Census Bureau, 29.6% of the population was living below the poverty line in 2022, which has allowed Bazerman to personally recognize important issues, such as where his tax money goes.
This issue frustrates him because he believes his hard-earned money could be better utilized elsewhere or kept for personal use, especially since many of the programs appear to be ineffective or underutilized. This perspective has become more important to him since college, he said.
"Looking at the city of Syracuse, it’s a very diverse city in terms of wealth and who has the wealth,” Bazerman said. “If I’m paying a lot of money for taxes and there are people that are not paying anything for taxes, but they’re getting use out of all these programs that either aren’t working or they’re not taking full advantage of, that’s a little frustrating.”
Similarly, since moving away from home, Manzie said she feels that the issue of women’s rights has become increasingly important to her, especially the right for women to make choices about their own bodies.
“I feel like women’s rights have definitely become something I feel very strongly about since moving to college,” Manzie said. “Women have the right to choose what to do with their own body because that’s not a decision men should be making.”
Both Manzie and Bazerman emphasized the influence of their friends and peers on their political decisions. This positive impact affected both students, changing the way they think and view the world.
But Bazerman is amazed by the impact of the Electoral College on voting, observing that his friend’s vote in Pennsylvania holds great significance, while his vote in New Jersey feels unimportant due to the predictable outcome.
However, Abigail King, a freshman music education major at the State University of New York at Fredonia, said her political views have not changed since moving on campus. She explained that many students at her school have similar beliefs and values that she does.
On Sept. 10, Fredonia’s Democracy Initiative club hosted a debate watch party on campus. According to an article by “The Leader,” SUNY Fredonia’s student-run newspaper, the goal of the watch party was to promote civil engagement and inform young and active voters.
King had not seen a debate prior to this viewing on her campus. As a first-time voter this year, she feels that her campus experience has solidified, but did not change, her decision in the presidential election.
Like SUNY Fredonia, the College offers political engagement opportunities for students. TCNJ Votes!, for example, works to inform the campus community on how politics affects them and prepares them to engage politically in diverse ways. Events previously hosted by this program included voting discussions, virtual events, early voting celebrations and movie screenings.
Cecilia Colbeth, director of the College’s Women in Learning and Leadership program, believes that the role of educators is not to interfere with students’ political perspectives, but to empower them to exercise their right to vote and encourage independent research.
Colbeth feels that educators play a vital role in promoting political engagement.
“We are so influenced by who we live with and where we live and that means our community,” Colbeth said. “As professors, we should encourage students to research all of the candidates’ platforms, all the issues up for debate from the local to federal level, and find where their passion is. Students might find that they diverge from their parents’ point of view and there is nothing wrong with that.”
Observing various political events on campus, Colbeth noted a lack of representation for independent and alternative parties. Events being hosted focus mainly on Republican or Democratic parties, she said.
Many, like Colbeth, come from first-generation backgrounds, fostering a shared understanding of the struggles involved in reaching higher education. Attending college in North Jersey, a diverse urban area, allowed her to recognize the struggles and ambitions in each individual’s life experiences, fostering a new way of thinking.
“You have this right to vote, you need to exercise it,” Colbeth said. “Don’t ignore it because, yes, even one single vote does matter.”
