Students from a consortium of Louisiana schools attend the College Convention in Concord. (Shawanda Howard)
CONCORD, N.H. (January 6, 2012) — Candidates reach out to voters at diners, senior centers, and rotary clubs, but they often miss a key demographic: college students. That’s why New England College has invited students from across the country to come to New Hampshire and meet the candidates.
Some students from Louisiana, for example, say they came for the chance to witness democracy in action.
“We really want to experience this primary process. It’s one that differs from across the world.”
(Dimitrius Sumner, senior political science major and student president of Southern University at Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
College Convention organizer Jim Walsh says it provides an important role to help students learn about politics.
“This is an opportunity to engage in the political process and engage in the making of history.”
(Jim Walsh, co-organizer of the New England College College Convention)
The students from Louisiana say the experience has changed them for life.
“Now I have an inside view into things. When I watch CNN, I can have conversations into what I’ve seen in New Hampshire. And hopefully I can visit Iowa next year.”
(Erika Evans, Student Vice-President Southern University of New Orleans)
In Concord — Matt Porter, WATD News.
(Matt Porter, a graduate student in broadcast and digital journalism at Syracuse University, is covering the New Hampshire primary for WATD Radio.)
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