With a presidential election coming up next fall, more students need to take an active role in following the views of the potential candidates.

By election time, most seniors and even some juniors will be able to vote in the presidential election. However, not enough students are taking the time to research the issues that will be the focus of the election or the opinions of those running.

Current seniors in high school especially need to follow the prominent issues in the upcoming election because the majority will be living on their own within the next year. Once they move out and go to college, they need to know what is going on in the government because it affects them directly, not just their parents anymore.

The president elected in 2012 will serve during all four years of college for current seniors and therefore will make decisions that will affect their education and lives. This is why following the presidential campaign is so important. These students will have to vote next year and need to be educated so they will choose the candidate who will benefit them the most.

“The economy will still be a huge issue, and the debt crisis will be a huge issue. From a student’s point of view, the government comes in handy with the Pell grants and scholarships,” Terry Geoghegan, government teacher, said. “This is why I like seeing both sides of an issue. Many people want a smaller government, but students really want those Pell grants. Oftentimes with a smaller government, Pell grants are the first things to go. This then puts it back on the students to pay all of their own tuition.”

Geoghegan said students will not be informed on the issues well enough if they only watch the news to find facts.

“When you look at the media, they have to make money, and the way they make money is advertising. The way they make money on advertising is viewership, and the way they get viewers is to sensationalize the news of it all. They show what we call the horse race, that part of the election,” Geoghegan said. “Sometimes I wonder: are they diving into the issues or are they diving into the race itself? They talk about who’s winning and who’s losing, but they’re not talking about why this person is winning or losing. The issues aren’t being talked about compared to who is winning now and who is close. Without a doubt, the issues [are more important].”

In addition to the news, some students find their information on television shows, such as the Daily Show. This might not be the most accurate place to find news, however.

“Some of these issues are complex and difficult to understand. They can’t be watered down,” Geoghegan said. “With shows like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show, they use sarcasm. What I like about those shows is that they show the inconsistencies of the Democrats and the Republicans, but again, if that’s where we’re getting our knowledge, we’re not getting knowledge about the issues as much as the inconsistencies of what the candidates might say or might not say.”

Geoghegan recommends looking at a candidate’s website for their specific views on issues. Even though the explanations may be complicated, students can talk to their teachers or look for other sources online for clarifications.

Knowing where to look for accurate information is important. When many juniors and seniors are going to be living on their own within the next two years, they need to know what is going on in the real world. Following the buildup to the 2012 election and then voting in it are the first steps in the right direction.