WRGW News Midterm Election Polls

On November 2^nd millions of Americans will go to the polls to cast their ballots in the 2010 Midterm Elections. For students here at the George Washington University, however, many have and will be mailing out absentee ballots. Over the course of the week beginning Sunday October 24^th, WRGW News conducted an unscientific poll of students here on campus, tabulating their opinions and how they will be voting in the upcoming election.

The surveys were dispersed among all undergraduate students, 169 in total, and of those students, 51 percent identified themselves as Democrats, 15 percent consider themselves Republicans, while 34 percent are independent, nonaligned, or none-of-the-above.

Much has been made recently about an enthusiasm gap among Democrats and Republicans. Our polling shows that 80 percent of Republicans will be voting, with the Democrats trail five points behind at 75 percent. Interestingly, only 60 percent of Independent voters will be casting ballots.

Party loyalty remains strong; 98 percent of Democrats will be casting a ballot for their party, while 95 percent of Republicans will remain loyal too.

The most telling results, however, comes from the Independent voters. While, Democrats have a modest lead, yielding 35 percent of Independent support to 27 percent for the Republican Party, 38 percent of support will go to a third party candidate.

Polling was conducted October 24-28. Of the 169 students polled, there were 51 freshman, 53 sophomores, 37 juniors, and 28 seniors. This poll was conducted by WRGW News associates Jeff Jacobson and Michael Fische, with assistance from WRGW News associate Ahna Olson, and GW Mitchell Hall resident Erika Grohoski.

GW Students React To Makeup Classes

For students here at The George Washington University, this past week has been very unusual. Instead of the normal “Reading Week,” where students are supposed to catch up on their reading and prepare for finals, many have had class. As part of the makeup schedule for time missed because of the “Snow Week” in February, some students even have class on Saturday!
“It’s terrible… I wish I could have a whole week to get prepared for papers and final exams,” Peng Fan, a disappointed freshman stated. He emphasized the fact that the teachers didn’t do much teaching, but rather reviewed instead.
Erika Grohoski concurs with Peng. “It’s been hell,” she stated. “Ridiculously crazy.” She explained that she has had two papers due this week and has four finals next week, but not enough time to study for them.
Vignyanand Penumatcha feels differently though. “It hasn’t affected me much actually,” he explained. “I’ve been regularly keeping up [with my work].”
Neither has Sara Saab felt any effects; she didn’t have any makeup classes this week.
Other students, like Tanuj Joshi, Brenna Markle, and Mike Searway, however, are more ambivalent.
“It sucks,” Tanuj explained. “But you get to learn new things, so you have a reason to party.”
For Brenna Markle “it hasn’t been too bad” because she has “no makeup classes on Saturday,” but she admits that this makeup week was “not the best plan.” Though she is “a little upset,” she’s “accepted it” already and has moved on. She is going to do all her studying this weekend.
For Mike Searway the only problem has been “a lot of reading” and having “the same class three days in a row,” though he too admits it hasn’t affected him much.
Though there are mixed feelings about the makeup week, it’s clear that this week is much less popular among students than the Snowmaggedon.