Voters will elect the next president of the United States in just 19 days, and some may be overwhelmed as they prepare to cast an educated vote. Jason Lupuloff, a third-year public policy and industrial engineering major, hopes to ease the process of learning about candidates and issues for other students. 

With peers from Tech and other universities, Lupuloff started Why Gen Weekly, a website devoted to educating students about politics.

“It’s for and by college-aged students and is done in a simple way,” said Lupuloff. New content each week is devoted to a specific political issue, with a news section complemented by columns from conservative, liberal and libertarian students. Articles are kept concise because Lupuloff knows students are busy. The site's name comes from the "Generation Y" moniker given to the college-aged demographic and the spirit of inquiry Lupuloff hopes to inspire. 

“I learned that the majority of my friends and peers aren’t that informed, and our age group isn’t as active as it should be,” he said. “In the 2008 election, nearly 50 percent of the college-aged demographic voted, but that’s not enough.”

Andrés Celedón believes it’s important for students to be politically aware regardless of voting status. The fourth-year public policy major from Colombia is not eligible himself, but that hasn’t stopped him from being involved with Georgia Tech College Republicans (GTCR) and campaigning for his party’s candidates, including presidential candidate Mitt Romney.  

“There’s no excuse not to vote if you’re eligible,” Celedón said. “You should do your own research or get in touch with GTCR or College Democrats at Georgia Tech to learn about the issues.”

On Monday, Oct. 29, GTCR, the African American Student Union and Jackets for Obama will collectively host a debate on which party should be more appealing to minorities. A week prior, at its Monday, Oct. 22 meeting, GTCR will host a guest speaker to discuss a proposed charter schools amendment, which Georgia voters will also make their voices heard on come Nov. 6. An amendment regarding multiyear lease agreements for the General Assembly will be on Georgia’s Nov. 6 ballot as well.

In all their efforts, students are encouraging their classmates to become educated on current politics and decide on a candidate.

“Issues that may not seem like a big deal now are going to be big once you enter the workforce,” said Andrew Mullins, GTCR chairman.

Students can keep up with Why Gen Weekly as it posts new content each Monday at 5 p.m., as well as on Facebook and Twitter. Wreck the Vote will gather students for the last presidential debate viewing party on Monday, Oct. 22, at 9 p.m. in the Student Center Theater.