Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the election of President Barack Obama, and while many youth voters across the country still remain positive about the president’s achievements, the majority of Utah Valley’s young people seem skeptical.

Obama soared into the presidency on the wings of overwhelming support and activism from Americans between the ages of 18 and 29, many of whom were impressed with his messages of positive policy change. While a recent Boston.com poll reports that most of these voters believe the president has lived up to his campaign promises, a majority of BYU students and other young adults in Utah County said one year later, Obama still has a lot of work to do.

“They stressed a lot about change and a lot about making a difference, and I haven’t seen it in fruition yet,” said Jaclyn Coleman, a BYU nursing student from Boise, Idaho.  “But I know it’s only been a year.”

Young voters in Provo’s surrounding areas expressed similar sentiments.
“Obama ran his entire campaign based on charged words that apparently hold very little real meaning,” said Kyle Jackson, a UVU student living in Orem.

According to Scoop44, a political Web Site geared toward younger voters, the issues young people are primarily concerned with are the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and health care reform.  Seventy percent of this group reported feeling the Obama administration had accomplished positive change in these areas, but once again, many youth in Utah seem to disagree.

“I don’t agree with Mr. Obama on most issues like the economy [or] health care,” Jackson said.  “And of all the promises [he] made, he has done nothing on most of them.”

BYU biology major Jocelyn Bennion agreed.

“I feel nothing has been done,” said Bennion, of San Diego, Calif.  “I have felt no effects of this administration.”

Others, like UVU student Shawnee Merrill, said they pay little attention to national politics.
“I don’t know very much about Obama,” Merrill said.  “I can’t really tell a difference.”

Still, there are young voters in Utah County who represent the larger voice of their peers. 

Mostly hailing from traditionally liberal areas of the country, these young people said Obama has put the U.S. back on the right path.

“I like Obama because I think he’s a good face for the country,” said Rob Perry, a 21-year-old BYU student from Kirkland, Wash.  “I like his personality, I like who he is and I have hope for him.”

BYU student Jonathan Spencer, whose home state of Colorado went to Obama largely due to youth activism, said some of Obama’s policies have benefited him personally.

“Honestly for me, [the Obama administration] has fulfilled their promises because lots of the technology policies have been very good,” said Spencer, an electrical engineering major.  “For the stuff I worry about, Obama’s been good.  He’s my president and I support him.”

Looking toward the future, most students said they remain hopeful despite their political differences.

“I don’t support his policies, but I like that he’s trying to be bipartisan,” said Stephen Richards of American Fork.  “I’m more impressed with him than I thought I’d be.”

Geoff Nelson, a chemistry major from Puyallup, Wash., is also optimistic.

“He’s followed through on his promises so far,” Nelson said.  “And he has lots of good ideas for the future.”

Jocelyn Bower contributed to this report.