High School Happenings
By Erin Brennan
It's not easy to find diversity at North Kingstown High School when it comes to the upcoming presidential election. It seems that most students support Barack Obama, but if you search deep enough, you can find a John McCain supporter.

But, it's an Obama world in the walls of the high school, and rightly so. With a candidate so charismatic, well-spoken and idealistic, it's hard for the younger generation not to get swept up with Obama fever.

"He stands for change," said senior Cory Zapatka. "Change is exactly what our country needs."

Why Obama? Students say his liberal stance, his welcoming demeanor and his fluid speech. Students like hearing about lower taxes, more affordable housing, and the other freedoms.

Senior Phil Gillette supports Obama. With no hesitation in his voice, he claims that the reason he is so attracted to Obama is "definitely his personality." "I can relate to him," Gillette added.

One thing that is practically impossible to do at is to find a student that supports Hillary Clinton. If students speak of the election, it is always Clinton that receives the brunt of the criticism.

"Unrealistic, confused" and "a little crazy" are the words students used to describe Clinton in a recent Current Issues class at the high school.

"It's partly because the press is just so negative on her," said freshman and islander Carla Aveledo. "Kids just like Obama because he's cool, he's new."

It also seems that the race and gender card are affecting students choices. "Hillary, even though she's a woman, is just not as interesting as Obama. We've never had a non-white male make it like Obama has," Aveledo said.

When asked who she supported, Aveledo said she was unsure, but wanted someone who was realistic. "Obama has all these promises that I know are just unrealistic," she said. "He's extreme, which attracts him to the younger generation, but it's just not going to happen. This election has just been so publicized to look down on Clinton."

Despite the avid dislike for Clinton among the more liberal students, there is a small outpouring of students who support McCain.

"I'm looking for a more stable economy," said senior Dave DiLustro. "I think McCain can do that.

When asked why he supports McCain, DiLustro replied, "I support the party. It is important to support the party. I'm looking for change, and I think that Mc- Cain can bring that. He knows what he's doing."

And there certainly are issues that students want to see changed. "The most important issue is the war in Iraq," DiLustro said. "I support it to a point, but now I think it has just gone too far."

There is something that students seem to have in common though, which is a dislike for the current president, George W. Bush. Even Gillette and DiLustro, who support two different candidates, agree that Bush needs to go. "This year is so important because everybody hates Bush," stated DiLustro.

"The reason that the election is so popular this year is because everyone hates Bush," Gillette said.

It is a good thing though, despite the division between the two parties, that the students at North Kingstown are getting involved.

"It's always hip to conform, so students are conforming now," said Gillette.

But the students all seem to be focused on one main thing, and that is what is to come. "It's our future," said islander Hannah Lee. "We need to be informed, and that's the only important thing."