THE NATION'S OLDEST ON THE WEB: COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL record.pingry.org NEWSPAPER VOLUME CXXX, SPECIAL EDITION The Pingry School, Martinsville, New Jersey NOVEMBER 2, 2004 SPECIAL EDITION: ELECTION 2004 MAJORITY OF STUDENTS SUPPORT BUSH, FACULTY BACK KERRY 51 Percent of Student Body Concerned About Draft, 52 Percent Oppose War in Iraq Which candidate do you most support? By NADINE REITMAN (V) dents classifi ed themselves with JULIA NOSOFSKY (I) as moderates (28 percent), 32 percent were “somewhat” More upper and middle or “very liberal,” and 28 school students support Pres- percent were “somewhat” or ident George W. Bush in the “very conservative.” Only 8 2004 election than support percent were “very conser- Massachusetts Senator John vative” and 10 percent “very Kerry, but only a minority of faculty members back Bush, the Pingry Recordʼs Election “I thought Bush 2004 poll shows. would win among Older students were also more likely to report their students 60 vote as still being “unde- cided.” percent to 40. I Of the 298 students in the was surprised it Upper School who respond- ed to the poll, which was was so close.” distributed through history – Dr. Jim Murray classes, 47 percent support Bush and 42 percent support Kerry in the election. In the liberal.” Middle School, numbers Regarding the campaign were similar, with 45 per- issues of terrorism, the war cent supporting Bush and in Iraq, the economy, health- 36 percent backing Kerry. care, jobs, national security, However, the 46 out of 104 and the environment, the faculty members who com- faculty picked Kerry as pleted their polls are at odds *Among likely voters, CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll, October 22-24, 2004 the better candidate for the with the student opinion; country. The smallest mar- 78 percent support Kerry Upper School - How do you classify yourself Faculty - How do you classify yourself gin of support Kerry enjoyed while only 17 percent sup- politically? politically? among the faculty was still port Bush. a 30 percent difference, in 14 percent of the Middle which 54 percent supported School, 8 percent in the Up- Kerry on national defense while 24 percent backed Bush. Upper school students “We don't need chose Bush as the better man to be in Iraq. We for terrorism, the war in Iraq, and national security, but should just fi nish picked Kerry as the leader and get out.” for the economy, jobs, and – Cori Hundt (IV) “I don't think the election affects me per School, and 4 percent of faculty are reportedly un- personally.” decided. The percentage of – Nic Meiring (I) undecided voters in Forms III through VI decreased as analogous to national num- healthcare. the age and form increased. should be legal except for in to do so. Three-quarters of those, 14 percent “strong- bers than teacher responses Comparing these results Third-party candidates the third trimester of preg- those seniors voting say ly approve” of Bushʼs job are. Among likely voters to national numbers, the did not draw overwhelm- nancy,” while only 7 percent they will vote for Bush, and as president, but a quarter nationwide, the October 22- student bodyʼs stances are ing support from either the of upper school students one-quarter will back Kerry. “strongly disapprove.” 24 CNN/USA Today/Gallup once again more in line with student body or the faculty. felt that “abortion should None will support Nader. Most Upper School stu- Poll put Bush ahead of Kerry responses nationwide. In Three percent of the Upper 78 percent of the faculty dents, 41 percent, purport- 49 percent to 47 percent. the previously referenced School and four percent plans to vote for Kerry, but edly affi liate with the Repub- Nader held only one percent. “We can't wait for CNN/USA Today/Gallup of the Middle School back of these, only 59 percent lican Party, 32 percent are However, the Gallup Poll Poll, majorities fi nd Bush to Reform Party candidate another attack profess to be Democrats. Democrats and 27 percent only polls .000735 percent Ralph Nader. No faculty 22 percent of teachers and are Independents. However, of Americans age 18 and before we realize a members or upper school administrators are Indepen- the largest percentage of stu- Continued on Page 4 older. females reported to support threat and respond dents and 20 percent are Student opinions are also Nader. Libertarian candidate Republicans. 69 percent of closer to national trends on to it.” Michael Badnarik drew one Kerry backers support him issues than faculty membersʼ INSIDE vote from one male senior. – Bess Rowen (VI) “strongly,” while only 50 are. 61 percent of upper Among Forms, Bush drew percent of Bushʼs supporters school students and 89 per- feel the same way about their more supporters in each in- never be legal.” However, cent of faculty do not support candidate. more faculty responded that a constitutional amendment 59 percent of the faculty “abortion should never be “'Under God' limiting marriage to hetero- said they were “somewhat legal” (11 percent) than sexual couples. According liberal” or “very liberal,” does not belong agreed “abortion should only to the National Annenberg and 26 percent said they be legal in cases of rape, in the Pledge of Election Survey, only 49 were “moderate.” 67 percent incest, and/or endangerment percent of citizens nation- “strongly disapprove” of to the motherʼs health” (7 Allegiance.” wide do not support the Bushʼs presidency. percent). proposed amendment. Upper school students – Greg Selover (V) 100 percent of the 46 On the issue of abortion, are nearly split on their ap- faculty members surveyed both upper school students proval rating of President are planning to vote on No- and faculty support a more Bush – 46 percent “strongly” Courtesy of JibJab.com dividual form except Form vember 2. However, of the 5 liberal-minded policy. 56 or “somewhat approve” of Students face off on the issues and the election. See pages IV, which backed Kerry. percent of the upper school percent of upper school re- President Bush, while 47 2 and 3 to read their political opinions. Also, Danielle Generally speaking, stu- student body that is eligible spondents and 78 percent of percent “strongly” or “some- Peretore (VI) comments on the culture of the 2004 elec- dent responses are more to vote, only 86 percent plan faculty agreed that “abortion what disapprove.” Among tion. P. 4 2 THE PINGRY RECORD ELECTION COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 2, 2004 EDITORIAL Kerry: Whereʼs Bushʼs Budget Going Beyond the the Money? Woes The presi- Hayden Reich (VI) according to Sound Byte dential race is the Associated A l t h o u g h Adam Goldstein (V) projects (the a close one this Americans dis- Medicare drug Every major media outlet in the country has covered, surveyed, Press. Even year, and it seems agree on Iraq, benefi t and the tracked, polled, analyzed, and editorialized the 2004 presidential though there the countryʼs abortion, stem- creation of a election ad nauseam. are other poli- economy will cell research, Department of That said, the editorial staff of the Record decided that such cies that might turn out to be a and polygamy, Homeland se- an opportunity for in-depth political reporting and polling comes have provid- very large factor most agree on curity, to name along only once every four years, and we anticipated that this ed a greater in this election. one thing: the just two exam- special edition issue would yield interesting results. POINT stimulus to the So, the question government COUNTERPOINT ples) are paid The Record created three polls in mid-October – a short, four- economy, the is, how does the record of the should spend for by foreigners. question survey for middle school students, a comprehensive presidentʼs tax cuts, temporary Bush administration match up no more than it earns. Unfortu- Why is this a problem? 13-question poll for upper school students, and a comparable unemployment benefits, and to the proposed policies of John nately, by this measure, George It means that the U.S. under ten-question poll for the faculty. All polls were voluntary and corporate tax cuts did in fact Kerry? The answer has been Bushʼs first term has been a George Bush no longer con- anonymous. Teachers in the History Department distributed the stimulate the economy signifi - the topic of much heated debate miserable failure. trols its own programs. If the polls during their middle and upper school classes, while faculty cantly. during the fi nal weeks of this In order to provide essential United States cannot afford its polls were circulated through faculty mailboxes. 65 percent of Without the tangible numbers presidential race. services such as education and essential programs in the future middle school students, 58 percent of upper school students, and of President Bushʼs economic George W. Bush came into defense, the government must – an increasingly likely scenario 44 percent of faculty completed the surveys. Based on our sample record, it is hard to predict what the Oval Offi ce at an inoppor- somehow pay for them. In given the exploding defi cit and size, our results refl ect a 95 percent accuracy. lies in store for the economy tune time economically. The general, the government looks forthcoming retirement boom The pollʼs fi ndings suggest the Pingry student body may not be under a Kerry administration. country was just beginning to tax money as its main source – foreign investors will hold the as polarized as the nation is. Needless to say, there has been a great However, the policies that Kerry to fall off the back end of the of revenue. Of course, there is only key to our governmentʼs deal of debate over the election throughout the school in recent has proposed are dubious at best business cycle, coming down disagreement over the balance solvency.