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DECISION 2012 A Photo Story

A golden children productionPhotojournalism

Temple University

DECISION 2012

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Contents

Signage

Preparation

First Time Voters

Election Day

The Results Are In.

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Every four years, Americans are asked to exercise their civic duty by participating in the election of their Commander in Chief. This years contest was between incumbent, President Barack Obama, and his Republican challenger, former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney. The race was fierce from the start, with both candidates campaigning all over the country, giving speeches, holding rallies, and of course, participating in the three very memorable debates. However, what proved to be much more powerful than the race itself was the excitement it caused amongst voters. In the months leading up to the election volunteers were out on the streets registering people and encouraging them to get out to the polls on November 6th. College campuses, in particular, were buzzing with pre-election activity. There were booths set up nearly every day on Temple University’s campus where students could register for the first time, or even change their registration address. Student organizations, such as the campus Democrats and Republicans, even held events in support of their candidates.

The city of Philadelphia was alive with energy and excitement when Election Day finally came around. People were lined up and waiting at their polling places as early as 7 am, while others rushed to get in line for their chance to vote before the polls closed at 8 pm. Some polling places, like the Penrose Recreation Center in North Philadelphia, kept long lines of voters entertained by inviting DJs to come play music for them. Mayor Michael Nutter even showed up to a polling place near Temple University to give a speech. After polls closed, viewing parties started. At Temple’s Tyler School of Art, students held an event that coupled election coverage viewing and a dance party complete with a DJ and over 10,000 balloons. At the end of the night, after polls were closed, parties ended, and the results were in, the energy of the day finally died down. Some were able to go to bed excited and hopeful for the next four years, while others may have been less so. However, at the end of the day it was less about who won the race and more about a city coming together and passionately exercising their right to vote. - Courtney Marabella

Introduction

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Signage

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Preparation

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First Time Voters

Kimberly Flood

“Growing up I always had social studies classes that taught us the importance of voting, and when I was younger my mom took me into the voting booth so I was always excited to actually do it myself.”

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Lindsay Vittek

“I don’t really like politics so much, I voted this election just to vote and maybe next time I’ll pay more attention. I want to have more care, but right now I just don’t have that passion.”

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Cory Haberkern

“I think its important to have my voice heard. I’m kind of disappointed about my first time voting that the person I vote for won’t win, but hopefully the more I vote libertarian, it will be picked up. I am excited I’m not voting for the republican or democratic party. I know it sounds cliché but I don’t like the two party system.”

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Amber Brown

“It’s a presidential election and I think its important obviously to our society and there wont be another presidential election for four years, so I feel like if I didn’t vote I would regret not doing anything or picking a stance on certain topics.”

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Sarah “Kitty” Conrad

“As a first time voter, I find the whole process very exciting. Growing up in a household where my parents pressed how important it is to vote. I’ve been waiting for this moment for 18 years. I just think its very important that everyone who can vote do so, because if you don’t vote you can’t complain.”

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Jackson Cruit

“This is my first time voting and I’m pretty excited, just because I feel like voting means giving back to my country and doing my civic duty.”

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Nora Holler

“I’m stoked to vote because I think it’s such an important thing that young people go out to vote, especially in this election because there’s so much riding on it and there is such a big difference between the liberal and conservative agenda.”

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Steve Pressman

“I honestly have no clue what political party my parents belong to, they never really express their political opinions on me. I’d say that they’re more moderate and not very conservative, so I believe they’re voting Democrat so I could be following in their footsteps, I’m just not sure.”

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Kim Nguyen

“Both of my parents immigrated to the US from Vietnam and always drilled into my head how important voting is. They never voted for anything in Vietnam as young adults and they have been voting ever since they became citizens. I never really got into elections before since we never had this much hype surrounding its but it’s my first presidential election and it definitely feels important.”

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Frank Arute

“Voting for me is going to be exciting this year. I’ve never actually used a voting machine since I’m from Connecticut and have never gotten an absentee ballot. Its probably going to feel like a normal day but I’m definitely going to remember this for the rest of my life.”

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Rosa Doherty

“I think it is extremely important for this generation to vote because I think younger people have a tendency to do a lot of whining but not take action to change anything. Many people tend to assume their single vote won’t do anything, and that’s a dangerous attitude.”

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Bridget Currie

“I don’t necessarily believe in politics or follow them, but I think it’s important because they actually affect where we’re going and what we have to do after college, especially with our age. They’ve been arguing about our loans and the economy and stuff that we actually have to deal with. At this age you’re going into a real-life situation when you start realizing that those issues affect you, so I think it’s important that you take part in it and vote.”

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Conor Mullen

“Isn’t the whole deal that the majority vote doesn’t matter? It’s more like a survey.”

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Alaura Knoble

“Why am I voting? I’m a woman, and women couldn’t vote in the past, because I don’t want someone making decisions that I don’t necessarily agree with at all.”

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Election Day

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The Results Are In.

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CONTRIBUTORSTeam Leader

Courtney Marabella

Book LayoutPatrick McPeak

Charlotte Jacobson

Photo CreditsMarissa Pina

Courtney MarabellaCharlotte Jacobson

Patrick McPeakAbi Reimold

Cara AndersonMike Wojcik

Shayna KleinbergNickee Plaksen

Jacob ColonMilena CorredorKelsey Dubinsky

Copy EditingJacob Colon

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