Christopher Hill urges students to vote.

Campus react to election results

Many hope change in leadership will be positive

By: Cierra Robinson

Posted: 11/17/06

Christopher Hill tried to urge fellow students to go to the polls to cast their vote in the Nov. 7th election.

When the day was done and the ballots tallied, the Democratic Party had regained control of the country's legislative branch of government. This has not been the case since 1994 when Bill Clinton was in the top office. The Democratic Party gained 15 House positions that were held by Republican Party.

Judging from local reaction, the election results will continue to be a topic of discussion.

"I was pleased with the results of the election. It has been a long time coming. This was a great take over after 12 years of republicans," Dr. Emmanuel Nwagboso, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Jackson State.

He added: "We would hope to see some positive changes, such as health care, minimum wage, education policies, and especially what is happening in Iraq. I hope the Democrats will take quick action and bring our troops back."

JSU student Latoya Willis, a junior political science major from Chicago, Ill., who considers herself a Democrat, said: "The Democratic Party gained a lot of respect with this win, especially due to all of the bad press that the Republicans have been receiving from the Florida Republican Mark Foley issue and his scandal."

The main question being raised now is what message did America send to the President of the United States, based on the way people voted. Political analysts contend many question President George W. Bush's direction on the Iraq war.

Jackson State student Shermeika Thornton from Jackson, Miss., a senior broadcast journalism major, said: "If Bush has not yet heard America, I sure hope he is listening now because this is a message to the masses it's time for a change. Hopefully, the Democratic Party will bring that change. I'm not going to point the blame, because we as America voted him (Bush) in office, now we as Americans must get him out of office."

In local elections, Mississippi Republican Yvonne Brown, mayor of Tchula, Miss. and Democrat Bennie Thompson from Bolton, Miss. battled it out for his current seat in congress.

Once again, Thompson came out on top with the victory. His supporters sent him back to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he has been for the past 13 years. His return will likely place Thompson in powerful positions on influential committees, especially homeland security.

"With the seats in favor of the Democratic Party, what will be the news headlines come 2007," said Willis.

The president of the JSU student chapter of the NAACP Andrell Harris, said: "This was a great for U.S. citizens because the Republican's views and the Democratic views are totally different on the issue of Iraq. The Republicans have had a totally different path in Iraq. It's time for a new path and that's were the Democratic Party comes in. This year showed a change. Everyone needs to take pride in voting; a lot of people have died for this right and we must use it to our fullest potential."

Harris is a junior business finance major from Terry, Miss.