DENVER - UW-Madison students Jamie Stark, Molly Rivera and Bryon Eagon, and recent grad Awais Khaleel represented the university and the state of Wisconsin as delegates at the 2008 Democratic National Convention this week.
Wisconsin state officials and UW-Madison student delegates said the youth vote will matter more in this election than any other election in the past, and these students are critical to the momentum of Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama's campaign. Eagon earned a seat as a Wisconsin delegate at the 2008 DNC through his work as state coordinator of UW-Madison's Students for Obama chapter.
This campaign is honestly about bottom up, about engaging the communities, creating networks of students and community members that will be here beyond the election,"" he said. ""The heart of the campaign is at the grassroots level - peer to peer contact.""
Jamie Stark, of Green Bay, will be a freshman at UW-Madison this fall and is currently the youngest serving delegate for the state of Wisconsin.
""I still don't believe it ... it is hard to believe that I am actually here and able to do this,"" Stark said.
Many of the young Wisconsin delegates said they feel a sense of pride by serving the state's delegation and representing America's youth. Khaleel said he wants everyone to know he was a Badger.
""I feel a sense of pride of not only being a delegate from Wisconsin, but from being a former student from UW-Madison,"" he said. ""I have a huge responsibility, but at the same time I know this is never about me.""
Rivera and Khaleel both attended Bradford High School in Kenosha, Wis. Rivera said she looks up to Khaleel because of his contributions the large political student movement at UW-Madison.
""I think students play a huge role in this process, especially in Madison,"" she said. ""I think whoever wants to win this election needs to contact the students in Madison.""
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said he too realizes the impact of the youth vote.
""The student vote will be crucial to the outcome of which candidate wins Wisconsin,"" he said. ""They played a direct role in delivering a key state in 2004, and that is going to count this time.""
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said she could not be more proud to live in the Madison community and represent a constituency that has record high turnout for Obama.
""I've seen that over the last many years, we defy all stereotypes about the involvement of university students and young people in politics, and it's just been born out and demonstrated in you.""
Wisconsin Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton said people ages 18 to 30 have a different view of the future than those older than them. '""
""Their arch for the future is much higher, and if we don't take that into account we will never win,"" Lawton said.
Wisconsin delegates said their main concern is to encourage voter turnout at the polls in November.
