Campus opinions differ on re-election

By MAURICE NDOLE

Optimism, shock, anger, disappointment and support were all the emotions surrounding President Bush’s re-election Tuesday.

Michael Becker, a political science professor, said the American political system is designed to preserve the status quo.

“It is an opportunity for us, for those who want to see significant change [in America], to pull together and make the change,” Becker said.

Becker said Bush’s re-election served the interest of corporate America more than the poor people.

“The share of tax burden paid by corporations in the U.S. has declined from 30 percent to 5 percent,” Becker said. “There will be a record corporate profit increase and the gap between the wealthy and the poor will continue to increase.”

Becker predicted that under the Bush administration, taxes paid by corporations will continue to decline.

Tal Eslick, president of the College Republicans club at Fresno State said he hoped the country will be more united in the coming months.

“I think in the next four years, people will rally behind the president,” Eslick said. “George Bush will lead the nation to come together the same way he did after Sept. 11.”

Eslick said he expected Bush to do more in his second term.

“Presidents in the second term get a lot done because they don’t have to worry about another term,” Eslick said. “Hopefully he will handle the situation in Iraq, the economy and the deficit.”

Richard Sanikian, president of the College Democrats club, said he was skeptical about the coming four years.

“All you can really do is go by somebody’s track record and judging from Bush’s record in environment, war in Iraq, education and healthcare, I think nothing will change,” Sanikian said. “The issues have not changed; we still have soldiers coming back draped in our flag and our environment is ruined.”

Sanikian said Democrats lost the election because the media focused on moral values, which favored Republicans.

Ruth Obel-Jorgensen, president of the Campus Peace and Civil Liberties Coalition, described Bush’s re-election as scary.

“I was shocked and really upset, a combination of anger and sadness. I could not believe half of the population was fooled by what he said,” Obel-Jorgensen said. “It’s bad news for women rights because he’s going to try and change Roe v. Wade.”

Roe v. Wade is a 1973 class action suit that gave women the right to abort a pregnancy. In its decision on the case, the Supreme Court held that a woman's right to an abortion fell within the right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment.

Wael Alrawashadeh, an international student from Jordan, said he knew Bush was going to win because Bush sounded stronger and addressed the issues better than Democratic candidate, Sen. John Kerry.

“I wanted Kerry to win because he has a better approach in foreign policy,” Alrawashadeh said. “I think Bush is going to have the same policy, which will have a negative effect internationally. He’s not going to get any allies.”

Senior Ross Lenz, who voted for Bush, said he expects the country to unify after the election.

“I think there is a sense to get unified and I think the anti-war sentiment will also decrease,” Lenz said. “I think the country is beginning to see the need to get behind a leader whether they see he is right or wrong.”

Eric Wilderson, a member of the Campus Peace and Civil Liberties Coalition, said he was disappointed with Bush’s re-election.

“I don’t want to think about the next four years; it’s scary all the things he is doing,” Wilderson said. “The attack on human rights, and human lives. I thought we would have learned a lesson from the last four years.

“I’m disappointed, but they [Democrats and Republicans], didn’t give America much of a choice.”