“I believe you are the next great generation,” Political Science professor John DiIulio said last night in his keynote speech for Penn Political Coalition’s annual Political Action Week.
DiIulio — director of Penn’s Robert A. Fox Leadership Program — was speaking on the topic of the involvement of American students in politics.
“I like to compare [your generation] to the AARP membership,” DiIulio began. He explained how after voting rights were extended to all citizens over the age of 18, the American public expected a marked rise in voter turnout among young people.
However, he said the current generation’s involvement in voting is “one third [that of] senior citizens,” a phenomenon which he compared to an “election party” that no one attended.
Related: Political Action Week to tap political passion
DiIulio identified three main issues with young people’s involvement today in politics: problem identification, problem education and problem solving.
The predicament begins with those already in government failing to identify the issues at hand and leaving them to the next generation. In turn, he explained, this generation is under-informed on legislation, and therefore unable to fully comprehend the problems.
But DiIulio placed the greatest emphasis on the issue of problem solving.
Look out for the DP’s coverage of Political Action Week events this week. Find out more about the events here
“There are problems that can be solved short of changing the way Washington works,” he said. This sentiment struck at the core motivation behind the event.
Related: Penn Political Coalition launches nonpartisan fund
“Part of [Penn Political Coalition’s] mission is to encourage students to feel passionate about politics,” College and Wharton senior and PoCo Co-Chair Urja Mittal said. “[Dr. DiIulio] provided the call to action.”
Indeed, students were inspired by the talk to identify ways in which both they and others could make a greater impact in politics.
“The biggest thing [Penn students] can do is to go outside their one issue [by] talking to friends and colleagues about what gets them excited,” Engineering senior and PoCo Secretary Scott Danielsen said.
DiIulio touched on some of these motivations behind young people’s involvement in politics both today and in the past. He noted that politics used to be viewed as a forum that directly influenced the daily lives of citizens. Now, he contended, it has become more a form of self-expression.
Related: Fox Leadership receives $5 million gift
“Your self-expression is wonderful,” DiIulio said, “but translate your interest in policy into an interest in problem-solving action.”
DiIulio compared volunteering and politics to the old adage about lighting a single candle versus “cursing the darkness.”
“You should never not light a single candle where you can, but you are also responsible for figuring out how to sustain the electric company,” he said.
Look out for the DP’s coverage of Political Action Week events this week. Find out more about the events here
