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    ‘Danni Lin’


    By: Danni Lin

    Victory comes through us

    Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

    Young people are generalized more often than not especially when it comes to politics.  Since the 2008 presidential election when record numbers of young people turned out to vote, those who cast ballots for their first time have been dubbed “Obama Voters.”  While it is true that Obama’s success with young people was unmatched by any other candidate—in South Carolina alone, exit polls showed that Obama “drew more under-30 voters than all Republican candidates combined”— we can’t forget that young people support all different types of candidates.

    Although the Millennial Generation has grown up in such defining moments as 9/11, the Dot-com boom, Hurricane Katrina, and the economic recession, we all have different views, values, and desires, which translate into different party and candidate preferences.  In the most recent presidential election, Ron Paul’s young fans organized more than 40,000 members in 751 cities and towns.  Huckabee was particularly popular with conservative Christian youth.  And while we may be pegged as an overwhelmingly liberal generation, we can’t forget the GOP still has the support of 1 in 3 young people today.

    So what does this political diversity in young people mean for who we support?  It means that everywhere, young people are getting involved with the political process, making a difference in their communities.  They are identifying candidates they want to represent them and they are doing all sorts of things to make sure their voice is heard from voting to volunteering to tweeting and blogging. Many may ask, what is the secret to gaining those young voters?  Or will they always vote for one candidate or one party?  Heather Smith, Rock the Vote’s Executive Director, said recently, “I do think that in many ways, the party that they [young people] vote for is up for grabs and it will be the candidate who engages those voters who will win the youth vote.”

    When candidates pay attention to young people’s concerns and enthusiastically reach out to us, we often respond with an increased sense of ownership and a surge in participation. What issues do young people particularly care about?  What can you do to make sure your elected officials know what issues matter to you?

      Danni Lin
      Bio:

      Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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      Posted in young voters, youth vote | Comments Off


      By: Danni Lin

      Rocking the Global Vote

      Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

      With a 52% youth turnout rate under our belts from the 2008 presidential election, the Millennial generation has proved that we are worth courting, that we have opinions on issues that matter to us, and that we can be agents of change. Interestingly enough, the US isn’t the only country that’s responding to the changing demographics of our world, one in which the number of American Millennial voters is estimated to be between 60 and 75 million. Jordan and Australia are also pushing the youth vote in their respective countries.

      Let’s travel nearly 6000 miles to Jordan. In Jordan, 58% of the population is under the age of 25, ensuring that young people have a huge say in the direction of their country when they vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections in November. The government and various groups are doing their part to get out the vote, launching campaigns to educate young people on the voting process and stressing the importance of participation in government. Both the Higher Council for Youth and the All Jordan Youth Commission have plans to directly reach out to at least 4300 people through workshops, seminars, and debates that encourage young people to vote based on candidates’ merits rather than family ties or other social pressures. Like Rock the Vote, Jordan’s civic society is working on increasing youth participation and encouraging informed voting.

      If we travel another 9000 miles, we’ll arrive in Australia, one of 32 countries with compulsory voting. This month, the Australian Electoral Commission helped Google create Student Voice, a website which allows school students aged 15-17 to vote in a mock version of the upcoming elections in addition to offering educational resources and competitions. In partnering with Google, Australia is hoping to harness the power of the internet to give unprecedented access to young people on politics, government, and voting in order to better prepare them for their civic duties. As Australian officials work to make young voting more relatable to students, Rock the Vote’s very own Democracy Class is doing the exact same thing in the states but by mixing music and pop culture with information on elections and voting. When Democracy Class comes to your school, we also simulate a mock election with your peers as the candidates and hold a debate on issues you care about. Two initiatives in totally different countries both aim to get young people engaged in the political process early in their lifetimes.

      How are the needs of young people in politics similar everywhere? What do you think about the direction of youth voting in America? What are some ways young people can help to get out the vote? What do you think is the best way?

        Danni Lin
        Bio:

        Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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        Posted in young activists, young voters, youth activism | Comments Off


        By: Danni Lin

        Does it Pay to Intern?

        Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

        This past April, the US Department of Labor released new standards for internships, in particular with specific criteria for unpaid internships.  The new law states that an unpaid internship is fair if it passes a test with six criteria, which can be found here.   With the number of unpaid internships steadily growing as employees cut costs and students eager to gain experience, what does this mean for all of you currently working at an unpaid internship or looking to do one in the future?

        In the Chronicle of Higher Education, some campus officials voiced concerns saying that the new guidelines will scare off long-time employers, diminishing the number of internships available for students.  With tougher stipulations, employers may also feel pressure to make sure their training benefits the intern and thereby only allow internships for those who want to obtain credit.  This logic poses a problem because those who already have to cover their own living costs in order to hold down an unpaid internship now also face tuition costs for obtaining credit for internships.

         
        Others, including school officials and students , support the new guidelines as a way to make sure employers don’t take advantage of eager and motivated interns as free labor.  To many, past violations—such as having unpaid interns displace regular employees without proper supervision or proper benefits—have made it necessary to issue new rules on intern labor.  The recent internship guidelines can be seen as a way to empower unpaid interns, often rendered voiceless and complaint-less for fear of putting their future career aspirations in jeopardy.  Supporters also point out that the new law increases opportunities for those who can’t afford to work without pay so that they can apply for previously unpaid internships that were more accessible to those who didn’t need to earn money.  All in all, the idea is that these new criteria can ensure that students who have unpaid internships will gain a truly educational experience.

            
        What do you think? Are these stipulations helpful to interns? Do you have an unpaid internship or do you have plans to look for one?

          Danni Lin
          Bio:

          Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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          Posted in internship | 2 Comments »


          By: Danni Lin

          Young People and the Job Market

          Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

          According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 14% of young people aged 18-29 are unemployed and seeking work. If we add this rate to the number of people who are unemployed but not seeking a job, the total is 37%, a rate many say is reminiscent of the same age group in the Great Depression. Yet, surveys show most millennials remain optimistic about their future in the workplace . So what are young people doing about such bleak prospects in the job market?

          Some have turned to their creative, entrepreneurial sides. A NY Times article from 2009 spoke to young people’s increasing interest in entrepreneurship, resulting in an “unleashing” of talent and ideas. A recent Duke alum, Alex Andon started his own company building jellyfish aquariums. Another recent grad was laid off from a PR agency and started working on Confoodant, a start-up website for food enthusiasts. In addition, FastTrac, an organization that provides training for entrepreneurs, says they expect participation to double this year.

          Facing a dismal job market, others have looked to the military to gain valuable work experience and give back to their country. Pentagon data shows that the number of new recruits with bachelor’s degrees jumped by almost 17% in 2010. Many recent college grads said that joining after school allowed them to receive benefits such as free medical care and housing immediately, something many private employers in this economy would not have been able to provide.

          Similar to those who have joined the military, young college grads took advantage of opportunities to give back to their country by applying for service programs such as the Peace Corps or Habitat for Humanity. City Year had a record number of applicants for the 2009 school year, 7000 for 1550 positions. Teach for America saw a 30% increase in applicants this year with many students citing the tough job market as one of the reasons as to why there was an applicant increase.

          Yet, there are still others who have decided to head to graduate school or have been forced to move back in with their parents. Do you have your own story? What do you think should be done by your community, elected officials, the federal government, or others to alleviate hiring troubles for young people? How does such a change in economy affect our generation?

            Danni Lin
            Bio:

            Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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            Posted in economy, employment, Uncategorized | Comments Off


            By: Danni Lin

            What’s the Real DC?

            Friday, July 9th, 2010

            The DukeEngage interns meet once a week with Duke Professor Kristin Goss to discuss topics like civic engagement, millennial generation, and voting rights.  This week, we talked about what “cultural immersion” means.  While most can imagine what those activities would be in foreign lands, how do we become engaged with DC?  What is the “real DC”?  Each person identified a person or place that embodied the “real DC” and they ranged from America’s founding ideas to today’s culture and people.

            Rachel, our Communication Intern, chose the National Archives as the “real DC.”  After her visit there this weekend, she realized that the people waiting in line were all extremely different yet they all subscribed to the American ideals established in the founding documents at the National Archives.  I chose Pierre L’Enfant, the original city planner for DC who envisioned the National Mall, a public area that has since been transformed into a civic stage.  Having spent July 4th at the National Mall, Jenn, our field intern for Ohio, picked the National Monument as the physical symbol of DC: the monument towers over every other building, serving as a constant reminder of our history.  

            While some of us focused on the national side of DC, other interns identified local symbols.  David, our Democracy Class intern, and Catalina, our field intern for Pennsylvania, chose local neighborhoods, Barry Farm and PG County respectively.   They pointed out that the real DC is as much about the local issues such as race and crime as it is about national issues often highlighted by the federal government.   Whereas some point out the unique aspects of DC, Joe, our field intern for North Carolina, discovered that the real DC can be like any other city.  Joe talked to our dorm’s security guard, Marvin, who said that while DC is special, it is also a normal city.  However, Marvin also humorously commented that living in DC is sometimes about dealing with the secret service while doing everyday things like grocery shopping. 

            Finally, Lauren, our field intern for Florida, said the “real DC” is about the people who work in the city.  In particular, she spoke to Rock the Vote’s staff as one of the ultimate DC experiences: people are dedicated to a cause that goes beyond them.  The “real DC” has a different meaning for interns like us, residents, and tourists.  What’s the DC to you?

              Danni Lin
              Bio:

              Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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              Posted in young voters, youth activism | Comments Off

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