The city of Binghamton received national attention on Monday morning when presidential-hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders came to hold a rally. Thousands packed the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena to see Sanders, a major competitor for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
The first presidential candidate to visit the city in 16 years, Sanders drew in not only cameras and a large audience, but also an enthusiasm from students about involvement in the democratic process. We love that students headed Downtown in the early morning to wait on line for admittance, long before they’d ever fathom waking up for 8 a.m. classes.
Some students might have gone because they “feel the Bern,” while others might have stopped by just to experience the political process firsthand. Regardless of their reasons for going, the phenomena of having a presidential candidate in the area is significant, and plenty of students found a spot in history Monday morning.
While this engagement in the presidential election is essential, it’s important that students don’t lose momentum: this passion must extend throughout the election season. Students should educate themselves on the issues and vote responsibility, whether it is on April 19 in the New York state primary, or Nov. 8 on Election Day. Binghamton’s moment in the spotlight appears to be continuing, as Republican candidate Ted Cruz is set to visit on Friday, and students should come out again to see all sides of the issues. Enthusiasm is important, but understanding the issues is vital and carrying out our civic duty — going out to vote — is imperative.
Central to the rally — and Sanders’ philosophy — is the idea that individuals are the vehicles of social change. It was clear that Sanders saw young people as the center of this fight, speaking directly to the demographic throughout much his hour-long speech. He spoke at length about fracking and the fight for a $15 minimum wage, two issues that our own governor has stood up and organized for, forcing the hand of the state.
Sanders argues that, “if voter turnout is high, we win. If voter turnout is low, we lose.” Regardless of political affiliation, Sanders drove the point home: it is vital that young people stay engaged in the political process, because we have the ability to moderate the conversation of our nation’s future.
There is evidence and hope that the Binghamton area might become a pit stop on the way to the White House for many candidates, as they seek to grow their support and constituency. We hope students attend any and all events in the same numbers they did for Sanders and that civic engagement among students will grow in the coming months.