The 18-25 year old demographic is often bemoaned for its apathetic nature when it comes to politics. Efforts like MTV's Rock the Vote or Sean Combs' Vote or Die campaign are specifically targeted at getting out the youth vote, thereby increasing their level of political engagement. It is fair to say that it appears that the American youth have been motivated by the 2008 election between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain. Therefore, it is only appropriate that a student group provide coverage of such an historic event.
On election night, JumboCast will produce a newscast, live from the campus center, the site of the Experimental College's Election Night Extravaganza (an event in which students can gather, watch various news feeds and discuss the election as a community). Our student-run production will feature a news desk, field reporters, interviews with students, student groups and faculty, a panel of experts discussing the election as the evening progresses, a continuously updated electoral map and a video package documenting the timeline of the election.
Primarily an organization devoted to webcasting Tufts athletics, JumboCast decided that, due to the importance of the 2008 election, specifically as it relates to the collegiate population, we would venture into new territory. When presented with this opportunity, the members of JumboCast were instantly enthusiastic and began devoting their time to making our election night coverage a success by doing research, sending out press releases and generating ideas to make our production better and better. The fact that these individuals would devote so much of their time to one project alone demonstrates that students on this campus care about this election.
I've been asked: "Why would you choose to watch JumboCast's election night coverage as opposed to one on national television?" The answer is that nowhere on your television can you find live coverage of a national event influencing individuals on such a local level. On election night, none of the national television stations covering the election — CNN, FOX, MSNBC — will be discussing what is going on at Tufts University, the place where we all spend the vast majority of our time. The economy affects Tufts students. Energy policy affects Tufts students. Foreign policy affects Tufts students. No major network will be addressing these issues; JumboCast will. There is no one better to discuss major topics relating to college students than college students themselves.
Furthermore, we aim to document history. The Experimental College has held this event several times in the past, but never has it been covered in this manner. JumboCast will be capturing student reactions to the most important election of our time. For many current Tufts students, this is the first time they will get to vote, the first time they have been active in a political campaign, or the first time they've taken an issue such as abortion, the environment or voter apathy to heart and have done something about it. It may even be the first time someone has cared about an election. We want to talk to these students about their actions, opinions and feelings regarding the election. And moreover, we want the community and anyone who tunes into JumboCast that night to see what Tufts students have to say about this election. There is no national media outlet, or even a locally based Boston outlet, that will be providing such coverage.
JumboCast is aiming to accomplish many things on Nov. 4. We aim to illustrate that student activism is alive and well on the Tufts campus, not just in the political realm, but the media realm as well. We are determined to provide informative coverage of the election throughout the evening until a winner is declared. We intend to show those who cannot be at the campus center on election night just what they are missing. We intend to record an important part of Tufts history for future generations. Perhaps most importantly, we want to give a voice to the Tufts community that anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can access. JumboCast is perfect for such a task.
JumboCast invites you to join us by visiting www.JumboCast.com at 7:15 pm on Nov. 4. Or come down to the campus center and get your voice heard —we want to hear it and will listen. We further encourage you to tell your family, friends, neighbors, employers — whoever cares about this election — that they will have the opportunity to see the Tufts student body in action as a community witnessing, discussing and taking part in one of the most important events in our lives. The decisions made by the American public on Election Day will have a profound effect on the students of Tufts University. This is your election, and who better to report on this important event than your classmates?
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Matt Kaufman is a senior majoring in political science and economics. He is the General Manager of JumboCast.
