Time to get involved

Party Y is a new way to get people under 30 involved in politics

Move over Generation X, here comes Party Y.

Advertisement

Party Y is a new coalition formed to help support young Americans with an eye on public office.

It is currently working with a growing network of youth groups across the country for the launching of this new project. Party affiliation is irrelevant, and the party will support candidates among all party affiliations in any election.

Party Y differs from other third parties, in that it is 21st century web and media-based geared toward representing people younger than 30. Its headquarters are located on the web.

More than 30 million voters under the age of 30 chose not to participate in the 2000 elections.

“We have three goals; to increase the number of young people running for office, young people winning and young people voting,” said Thomas Bryer, director of Party Y.

Out of 435 seats in the House of Representatives, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Florida, who is 28 years old, is the only person younger than 30. The age requirement for a House seat is 25.

Michael Jarard, USG president, said young people should get involved with politics by picking up a newspaper or watching the news.

Advertisement*

“After (young people) educate themselves on the issues that affect them, anyone who cares will get involved with the issues that affect them,” said Jarard. “I am enthused at (Party Y’s) concentration at the young generation.”

In order to be a Party Y member, a person must have a voter registration card and fall within the ages of 18 to 30.

D’Angelo Fletcher, 23, a biology major, does not follow politics for his own personal reasons, but believes young people do not vote because politics seem beyond their reach.

“I don’t follow politics,” Fletcher said. “I don’t know how much good it will do. I don’t think students and young people have a say for anything.”

Party Y would back anyone interested in a campaign. The first phase of the project is to announce its creation and launch a national recruitment drive. The next phase will be “The Party Y Roadshow,” which will be “American Idol” geared towards politics.

“The TV show is a strategy to bring attention to young people running,” Bryer said. “We are going to support them whatever they decide.”

The reality TV program will travel across the country from January through May 2004 looking for young Americans interested in running for Congress. The show will showcase the views and top issues each candidate is concerned with. Each candidate will be judged in a way similar to Simon from “American Idol.” Once the candidates are narrowed down to 10 people, their campaign will begin.

Because Party Y is nonpartisan, the last 10 candidates will be equally represented. There will be three Republicans, three Democrats and candidates from the Green Party and independents.

The party will represent what people younger than 30 can do in the political world. The formation of Party Y will allow for the young candidates to have exposure to the media and campaigning. The TV show will be focus on congressional races because it will be nationally aired.

“There is a lot of momentum around this issue right now,” Bryer said. “Everyone we’ve come into contact with is excited and want to see it succeed. I think we will see some definite progress.”

Reporter Jackie Keane can be reached at [email protected]