(January 24, 2008) — “If I can get drafted and fight for my country, I have the right to choose the next leader,” senior Chris Mangasarian said. With the 2008 Presidential elections just around the corner, seniors at Clark are being caught up in the political wave led by U.S. Government teacher Nick Doom. In many aspects, this year’s election will be very special. By Nov. 2008, most of the current seniors will be eligible to vote. By then, they will have learned about American government and politics in either a semester or yearlong course. “Without Mr. Doom’s AP Government class, I would have no idea about anything that is going on right now,” senior Dikran Manoel said. “Now I want to vote because I will be exercising my right as a citizen.” Students are more informed about politics than before their senior year, and now they will have a say in the future of our government. The controversial issues over race, gender and religion of candidates also seem to grab the attention of many voters, mainly because this year’s election will be a year full of firsts. Hillary Clinton is the first woman to run for President, though it hasn’t even been a century since women gained their voting rights with the passage of the 19 th Amendment; Barack Obama will be the first black to be President if elected despite intense racial segregation that has lasted for centuries; and Mitt Romney will be the first Mormon man to be President if he wins. This may mean that it is about time to prepare for a non-white male Protestant for president. With primary elections and caucuses going on nationwide, Clark students are also paying closer attention to these differences as well as each candidate’s positions on issues. Senior Adriana Valencia has already decided on whom to vote for in the coming elections—Barack Obama. “I absolutely support his idea of building up the middle class. We need that,” she said.