Students weigh in on recall

During one of the most entertaining political events since President Bill Clinton's sex scandal, many Duke students hailing from California are actively involved in the gubernatorial recall in their home state.

Although many have sent in their absentee ballots for the recall election, California students generally agree that the recall renders California politics a national joke.

"It's almost a game it is so ridiculous," said freshman Brian McGinn, who said he will vote against the recall.

The recall election is being held today. If Governor Gray Davis is recalled, 135 candidates from eight parties will be running to replace him. Among the candidates are a number of celebrities, including actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gary Coleman and publisher of Hustler magazine Larry Flynt.

The election also includes a number of lesser-known candidates such as porn star Mary Carey, "Hollywood Billboard Queen" Angelyne and comedian Leo Gallagher, who is best known for smashing whole watermelons and other fruits during his acts.

"I was in England this summer and it was a joke there," she said. "I'd always hear people making fun of [the recall]. They think it makes sense to have Arnold Schwarzenegger ruling the state that has Hollywood in it."

Cormano said the money California has spent on the recall election could have been put to better uses.

"I think it's ironic that they're after Davis because of the debt, but the amount of money that they've spent on this recall election would've brought California out of the debt," she said. "If they'd just put it toward schools and the energy crisis, it would've solved a lot of problems."

If the recall goes through today, Cormano said she will support Cruz Bustamante, the leading candidate from the Democratic Party.

Mindel said she does not think "that Davis has done a good enough job to vote to keep him in, but I don't like the system that is trying to kick him out. I think we should wait until his term is up to replace him."

Some students, including Cormano, fear the possibility of Schwarzenegger--who has emerged as one of the front-runners in the election--in office. "He hasn't really shown himself to be politically intelligent," Cormano said. "He used being in movies as a plug in the last debate."

Mindel said she does not believe Schwarzenegger will win. "I don't think we'll put him in office, especially after his sexual acts," she said. "If we do [put Schwarzenegger in office], I am just that much more embarrassed."

Despite scandals that recently emerged regarding Schwarzenegger's past, in which he allegedly groped women on movie sets and spoke of drugs and orgies in a magazine interview, some students said they support Schwarzenegger for governor.

Disappointed in Gray Davis, freshman Julia Riley said she supports Schwarzenegger because she agrees "with most of what he is doing."

Junior Chris Sundberg said he voted for Schwarzenegger because, "there basically is no good person to run for governor."

Although the political issues have little effect on students living outside the state, students said they are still subject to jokes directed at what Cormano calls her "crazy home."

"Being here, it hasn't affected me that much," she said. "I always get in conversations with other Californians about it and we're like, 'Oh man, what's our state doing?'"

"When I tell people I'm from California," Mindel said, "people immediately joke about Arnold or something about that situation. I try to maintain my distance from what is going on."

Senior Jeanne DeWitt said she faces similar teasing. "If it's brought up, it's usually to laugh at California."

Despite making California appear as a circus, some Californians can maintain a sense of humor about the recall. "The ballot is pretty funny," Cormano explained. "It has over 130 candidates on it from sumo wrestlers to porn stars."

Although McGinn said his parents are "outraged that [Schwarzenegger] has any shot at all," he said he and his friends think the recall is "pretty ridiculous" but also "pretty funny."

Despite the absurdity, some students said the recall election will be significant in the long run, not just politically but also culturally.

"My neighbors just moved from California to Virginia and they want to move back just to vote," Riley said. "I think a lot of Californians just want to say they voted because this is going to be history."