Debates heat up at HotHouse

The forum was the third in a serious of Town Hall Forums focusing on the 2004 elections at HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo Dr. Four panelists discussed the position of young people in America during this heated election year. Larry Bennett, political science professor at DePaul University, moderated the free event, which was held Oct. 12 and featured panelists from varied professions and positions.

Panelist Alysia Tate, editor and publisher of The Chicago Reporter, began by asking what exactly people see as “the youth.”

“How do we define youth? I’m in my 30s, but me and my 16-year-old niece are both viewed by the Bush and Kerry campaigns as ‘youth’ that needs to be nurtured and sought after,” said Tate.

A general view emerged of where young people’s place is, as panelists discussed their own analysis on what makes “the youth” tick. The discussion touched on everything from declining voter turnout among younger people and ways panelists are involved with mobilizing to challenge the problems in the electoral system.

Breeze Luetke-Stahlman, an organizer with the Chicago League of Pissed Off Voters, an organization that has been working to mobilize young people across the nation to vote, challenged the idea that young people do not care about politics. She pointed out that the league goes to young people because they are constantly involved and are good at it. They just need to be motivated to participate in a more traditional way.

“There’s an attitude that is often just accepted—society says we’re apathetic, so we must be,” said Luetke-Stahlman. “This can convince young people not to get involved, especially those who aren’t as plugged in as some of their peers.”

Another panelist, ShaRhonda Knott, a Chicago coordinator for Black Youth Vote, agreed and repeated a phrase she said many in the group use: “Young people aren’t apathetic; they just aren’t invited.” Knott said that with Black Youth Vote, an organization like the league that works to mobilize young minority voters, the key is to educate about the importance of voting.

“Sometimes young people don’t understand. You vote so that you have a say in how someone spends your money,” Knott said.

One panelist offered a different perspective. Molly Andolina, a youth in politics researcher at DePaul University, who studies polls and crunches numbers on young voters, said she does not see “a moving target.” Andolina said that this year’s election polls indicate a change from the steady decline of youth voter turnout since the 1960s.

“There really hasn’t ever been a ‘youth vote’—except for this year. There’s a lot of evidence that they’ll actually come out and vote,” said Andolina.

Knott built on that view, and said that may be why young people have been sought out more this year. As she spoke about traveling the country, she mentioned a hip-hop commercial sponsored by President Bush on a radio station in swing state Pennsylvania. To her, that proved politicians are going after every demographic for the election. Knott said this is because politicians need to worry about more than just the youth.

“We’re kind of picking on young people tonight, but it’s America as a whole that is not engaged,” Knott said.

Jennings Hanna, an organizer with the League of Young Pissed Off Voters, attended the event and questioned the panel on whether the problem was youth or older generations.

“I think that the youth feel some resentment, and that older people are purposefully making political language more complicated so we won’t vote,” Hanna said.

Another audience member, Kika Acevez, who challenged the panel on racial issues, said she felt that there were other reasons the youth, especially minority youth, are not getting out to vote.

“Our youth [are] disinterested because we’re not offering them anything,” said Acevez.

HotHouse Program Director Tim Bisig said that though the forum on “The Youth” had the poorest turnout, events like these are important during an election year.

“We wanted to present different issues surrounding the election from a lot of different points of view,” Bisig said. “Let the people decide for themselves what to think.”

The final Town Hall Forum is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. It will cover “The Last 7 Days and Beyond.” Visit the HotHouse website for information on their election night party at www.hothouse.net.