By Vishweshwaran Gopalakrishnan
There are a lot of differences in opinions as to why Barak Obama won. Many say it''s because of eight years of failed government while others say that he had better policy ideas. But there are those who suggest that he won because he is black.
'That''s a good assumption because 95 percent of all African Americans who voted, voted for Barak Obama,' said Peter Johnson, faculty advisor of the Black Student Union at BYU. 'My feeling is that it is a historical event, one that should be celebrated because 40 years ago blacks couldn''t even eat in the same restaurant as whites ... 40 years is not that long ago.'
But is this a valid reason for why Barak Obama won? Some suggest that it''s not so.
'Did I vote for Obama because he is black? Yes, that''s one of the reasons why I voted for him, because we both have similar experiences,' said Kevin Giddins, director of Diversity Recruiting at the Marriott School of Management. 'He understands me, but if it was the only reason why I voted for him, then that would be a problem.'
'The reality is that we do vote for people because we can identify with them and they can identify with us,' Giddins said. 'If Mitt Romney was running, people would vote for him because he is Mormon ... because they have similar values.'
Ami Gnatiko, President of the Black Student Union said, 'yes, of course the fact that he is an African American did play a big role, at least in the African American community, but I don''t think that''s the main reason why people voted for him.'
'I think it''s a little ignorant for people to assume that I voted for Obama,' Gnatiko said. 'People would ask me who I am voting for and some one will jump in and say duh! She is voting for Obama, and I would be like, yes I am but why would you say that?'
Gnatiko''s experience is not singular. Many black students and faculty members at BYU have had similar experiences with stereotypical assumptions.
'Its sad that this happened at church,' Giddins said, recollecting a personal experience. 'My wife and I were at church and a woman said that if anyone voted for Obama, it meant that you are not good members of the church ... and that''s ludicrous.'
Peter Johnson said 'shortly after the election, there was a faculty meeting ... and a professor assumed that because I am black, I voted for Obama and he made the same assumption that all Mormons voted for Mitt Romney.'
'We shouldn''t stereotype people and put them in groups or clusters ... we are very individualistic and we all have our own ideas and identity,' Johnson said.
But these stereotypes haven''t curbed their enthusiasm for President Obama.
'I am energized and I believe he is someone who has brought hope to our country when we were faltering,' Giddins said.
Johnson agreed with this sentiment and said, 'I think they (students) are excited as it renews our desires and commitment to be successful. It speaks volumes that anyone in this country can rise above any challenge and succeed, no matter what obstacles are placed before them.'