Unless you have been living in a deep and cavernous hole for the past year, you probably understand the significance of the upcoming presidential election. Never before has an African American man stood but a general election away from the presidency, and never before has a vice presidential candidate threatened Americans with colossal stupidity and a dishearteningly high likelihood of stumbling into the presidency. Considering that we are all of voting age, and being the enormously intellectual Cornellians we are, the election has certainly made its presence known around here.

Not only is Cornell a fairly liberal campus, but Ithaca just so happens to be one of the most culturally liberal cities in the country. Anyone remember last year’s Bush Impeachment rally in the Commons? Ever notice the amount of dreadlocks and hemp necklaces down at Jabberwock and Maté Factor? Pick up on the fact that all disposable silverware is now compostable, biodegradable and made from potatoes? My point is that our liberal little community seems to have an affinity for all things democratic. As such, it’s no wonder Obama appears to have made such headway. But is our perception of Barack support representative of what’s really going on? Or is it merely amplified by where we are and those that surround us?

Presumably influenced by peers, townies and the general political predilection in and around Ithaca, some of us have proved to be somewhat substance-less supporters. Feeling the need to take a stand, despite political apathy or a simple lack of understanding, people have simply fallen prey to the infectious Obama spirit; after all, it is easy to go along with the perceived majority opinion. Obama Mamas that roam the streets in “Palin Is Gorges… And Not Much Else” tees and “Barack the Vote” buttons are happily received by their politically aligned peers. Without necessarily knowing about their chosen candidate’s policies, qualifications or arguments throughout the debate series, students join the democratic wave because it seems like the right thing to do. Is it Obama that they like? His principles, his programs? His kinda hot wife? Or the fact that his speeches make you feel warm, gooey and inspired inside? At times, it seems that people around here support the big guy merely because everyone else does.

Not only is the Obama bubble a factor here at school, but also exists in the hometowns of many Cornellians. Considering that four of seven of the undergraduate colleges here are New York State supported land grant schools, a high percentage of Cornell students hail from this blue territory. In addition, a large portion of the Cornell student body is from the northeast. As we tend to associate with similar others, democratic home values are echoed by our affiliations here at school. As such, it’s not completely abnormal that liberal students are shocked at the revelation of a McCain supporter.

Even in class, where talk of current politics is often prohibited, teachers are preaching for the Obama brigade. In fact, I first saw both Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin impersonation and Katie Couric’s mind-blowing interview with her in a certain communication course of mine. Between incriminating videos and snide remarks, Cornell professors are continuing to feed the growing Obama obsession. If administrators think their impartiality jargon has prevented the classroom from becoming a political forum, I would beg to differ.

So, do any of us know what we really want and who we are really voting for? Of course. Are there those who simply go along with the candidate most of us seem to support? Definitely. Given our liberal environment, it’s easy to forget that another side of the story exists; the solution lies in staying informed. While political influences may come at us from all directions, and definitely to be skewed in the direction of Senator Barack Obama, just remember to make decisions based on the information available — not the silly t-shirts.