Harvard University’s Institute of Politics recently released a poll showing that 41 percent of college students nationally approve of President Bush, but students say that the figure would be even lower at BU.
Many students on campus said they sided with the majority opinion and were surprised by the number of students who did approve of Bush nationwide.
College of Arts and Sciences junior Jennifer Childs said she does think that Bush is doing a sufficient job and said the approval rating seems high for his public mistakes.
“Forty-one percent seems a little high to me,” she said.
CAS freshman Oscar Ingham said he does not support Bush and that the approval rating in Boston’s liberal college scene would probably be less.
“I’m sure at least in the Cambridge [and] Boston area it would be a lot lower,” he said.
College of General Studies sophomore Alexandra Borek said she does not side with either the majority or minority opinions.
“I don’t put myself in a category,” she said. “I don’t agree with everything [Bush] is doing, but I don’t think he’s the negative dictator that everyone makes him out to be.”
Among the concerns of the students who did not approve of Bush were the War in Iraq, foreign policy and stem cell research.
Law student Justin Ledden said the war in Iraq is a major reason for the disapproval of Bush from college students.
“He’s really got himself in a bit of a quandary over Iraq,” he said.
Childs said she cannot find a valid reason for the U.S. to still be in Iraq.
“The fact that we’re still in [Iraq] to me seems ridiculous because weapons of mass destruction aren’t even there,” she said.
CAS freshman Erica Appleman cited “his policy on stem cell research” as the main reason for her disapproval of the president’s actions.
“I’m not a Bush fan at all,” she said.
Ingham, who was born in the Middle East, said Bush’s foreign policy is his main complaint against the administration.
“I find his foreign policy very unsettling,” he said. “My elementary school [in the Middle East] is now U.S. barracks.”
CAS senior and president of BU’s chapter of College Democrats Peter True said the low approval rating among college students reflects Bush’s stance on issues that matter to college students.
“I would say that’s evidence of his poor stance on college student issues, issues like the war, and issues like student loans,” he said, “It’s pretty clear that college students don’t find him an effective leader.”
True said the College Democrats hope to take advantage of this low approval rating by making sure students are aware that there is an alternative to Bush.
CGS sophomore Amanda Hellman said she was not surprised by the 41 percent approval rating.
“In general, college students tend to be more liberal, so that would make sense,” she said.
The BU College Republicans could not be reached for comment.