Broward Community College - Silver Sands Yearbook (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

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194 L .Rh f, Y If s- kiwi il 3 J 1 X , fl? I X X lo r w. , J, - is is all ,p M' :PN 1 X i '- i il 133 .W I 5 2 Three party debate: painted, pensive, pendantir: . . . ' , f i .lflllif ff - lfyy . pl ' .ll fflll i-', ll . XXX li .l. .and political. Where ore fl t Thou, A better man than l once said that politics was a strife of interests masquerading as as contest of principles. And it is true, it seems, that politics is playing an increasingly important role in our lives these days. To some in our society, there appears to be a constant struggle for political power among those that be. To others the same tired faces keep cropping up mouthing the same inuendoesg content to rest on past laurels and having a propensity of saying nothing a great deal of the time. It used to be thought that students I 8 Year-old voters were content just going to school, studying for some suitable career, and perhaps swallowing an occasional goldfish or two. Nowadays it is nearly impossible to visit any campus that doesn't have its own group of political activists. Broward Community College is no exception. ln recent months various groups have sprung up and have matured into youth-oriented parties. The once defunct Young Republican Party and Young Democrat Party have once again appeared on campus, the form remaining essentially likes its pare organization and the latter evolvi into the Young Democrat Coalition third party has also made i appearance--the New Party. The N Party is composed of a small, b dedicated group of young people th desire more radical, faster chang than either of the established part: l l l are willing to accommodate. Each these parties have some of t idealistic radicalism that earmar youth. What is needed today is a mon concerned and involved student bod s t o By Steve Humphri . -,, l ll 'i Ql l

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STAFF: Co-Edi tors: Chylene Corbett Eugene Spadoni Associate Editor: Julie Calsi ' l Qssistants: Nancy Mixon Candy Rms G. Michael Smith Photographers: N Michael Fullerton G. Michael Smith Special Photo Credits: X. X X f. Advisor: David Babcock Marty Bienek Ralph Clark Richard Marley Steve Humphries Larry Nagelbush Frank Pinzino Larry Singer Ted Turnbull Albert VWlls Fabrice Ziolkawski Mrs. Betty Owen WRITERS: Ruben Be tancourt Grace Cambareri Mary Edling Bob Gordon Barbara Graybeal Joyce Hartman Steve Humphries Maurice Hynes Bill Jacques Terry Jones Patty Loftus Lonnie Loveland Janis Mara Ann Martin Joe Miranti Nancy Mixon Candy Ross George Sands G. Michael Smith Alicia Stern Ted Turnbull Monica Wilson . f-4' ,A. ,, 1 is!...,i 1 President, Dr. Hugh Adams: VicePresident and Dean of Academic Affairs: Dr. Clinton Hamilton: Dean of Students, Dr. George Young. Silver Sands is a bi-annual publication produced by the students of Broward Community College and financed through the Student Activi- ties fee. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the staff or the administration. i 1 4.3 it n 45- . -- 6-, at. V. ..s.. A A - g - , -X '-' K 'U' s- Q, t'- -5-' '21 ' . --.. - S -1 v-.1 -a--vw -. - . -q'x.Y '-5' '

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ny groups, such as the Young iat is aware of what is happening ound them in their community and ie 'world at large. lt is time to iandon the academic secularism and impus cliches that have dominated stitutions of higher learning. Colleges id universities can no longer afford 1 be solely an intellectual recluse ir those that are content to banish iemselves from their fellow man. ho few have taken seriously the lvent of the eighteen year old ght-to-vote. Not only is this true for any of the powers-that-be, but with e newly enfranchised voters emselves. It is appalling to find that is is the case. There has been no 'ger increase of the voting ranks ice the female populace gained the iht with the passage of the 19th wendment. it simply, this single conglomerate of ople has the potential capability of ianging the entire political make-up this country on all fronts. Yet this, not ignored, is played down by any political experts throughout the tion. ver since the youth were given the 'ting privilege a few months ago, ere has been an active campaign roughout the United States to have is group register. mocrats, Young Republicans, League of Woman Voters, and other civic organizations have attempted to organize and lead the youthful voters. On campuses, student government associations often planned a voter registration drive to kick-off their years activities. ln Broward County there are a possible 23,000 eligible voters in the 18-21 year range. Of these, there are about 6,000- 7,000 actually registered. Of the rest, many haven't the time, others don't care, still others are unsure of themselves, and then there are those who believe that 18 is just too young an age to take on the responsibility of electing public officials and those responsibilities that are commiserate with adulthood. Many in this group believe that they can only vote in a presidential or national election. But it clearly states that they can vote in all elections and referendums, as long as the requirements are met. This lack of information is slowly being eradicated. The registration drive at BCC netted an additional 769 voters to the county books, the bulk of which fell in the 18-21 range. These young adults, along with those polled afterwards, remained basically within the two party system. Only a small precentage have gone with the splinter groupsg such as the New Party, Wallace's American Independent, and Independent. BCC students have on the most part gone Democrat. The aura of the Kennedy's, the McCarthy movement have given an impetus to the Democrats that will be difficult to overcome. The major problem for them will be in finding a person that can capture the imagination of the youth. It will be left up, not to the radical activists, who have also been in the minority, but to that student who epitomizes the American youth of today. The youth want change, they want improvement of life and life's standards. To realize their potential will mean more involvement than has been shown. Whether responsive officials are elected depends on the concern shown. Returns are only proportional to the effort supplied. But most important, it is up to youth to see that their vote is counted. They cannot be content to sit back and let the other guy make their decisions. If so, then this generation will slowly sink into the morass that engulfed past generations. The fruits of many peoples efforts have blossomed, it will be up to the newly enfranchised youth to see what benefits are reaped. Assitant Ed itor's Note: During the time of on-campus voter registration, 769 names were added to the rolls, the great bulk of these falling into the 18-20 year age bracket. The Democratic party gained 389 membersp Republicans, 244. Third and fourth party registrants, along with those claiming no party affiliation accounted for the remaining 36 newly lregistered voters. lt is believed that more students would have registered NP lno partyl if not for the fact that primary elections are open to only members of that particular party. The Young Democrat Coalition, under the leadership of June Hartwick, num- ber 20, twice as many as Steve Cutler's Young Republicans. Both organiza- tions have been reactivated only since Term I began. Cutler commented that the purpose of the club was to stimulate political interest and activity among young voters, and to make the young voter a conscientious voter. l-le conceeded however that one or two members may be strict party-liners, adding that As far as conservativism is defined today yes, as a group we are conservative. As far as the traditional definition of conservativism, no. Miss Hartwick stated that her group considers themselves rugged individuals who recognize that the TWO-party system is the basis for American politics and chose to allign themselves with the Democratic party.