The Government shutdown may further damage an already shaky relationship between college students and the federal government, reported USA Today.
In addition to a six percent decline in voter turnout among those ages 18 to 29 from 2008 to 2012, as per the The Center For Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, students like Steven Hammer may be representative of the new generation's views on government, according to USA Today.
"What we're seeing at Michigan State is a lot of students getting involved in civic duty but don't see the government as a viable option," Henninger, a senior at Michigan State senior said. "You see a lot of students going to community service events and wanting to make a difference, but don't see the government as a viable option for that."
Henninger told USA Today he's glad he decided not to pursue a government major as an undergrad. Henninger's beliefs are backed by research, according to USA Today's article. Based on her studies how high school and college students engage with their communities, Connie Flanagan, professor of human ecology at the University of Wisconsin, attributes the six percent decline in voter turnout among young people to attitudes held by students like Henninger.
"The belief in the efficacy of Congress is at an all-time low," Flanagan said. "When Millennials are active and engaged, it's in things they believe can do something."
USA Today's article does, however, point to potential positives resulting from student ambivalence toward the government.
Appalachian State University student Caroline Hartman, for example, wants to make a difference in the government because perceptions are currently so low. She embraces the challenge, but only if the job market supports her ambition, according to USA Today.
"The current state of political gridlock does not really surprise me. It has been this way for as long as I have been active in politics," Hartman wrote in an e-mail, as per USA Today. "The current state of politics does not affect my plans. The thing that may affect me is the job market. Will I be able to get a job if the economy does not improve?"
Others, like University of Florida Student Brandon Scott, hope the purported inefficiencies will inspire students to learn more and stay better informed about the federal government.
"The Millennial generation has become very displeased with government in general, and I'm hoping this and all the media attention it's getting ... will bring out a groundswell of Millennials to start getting more interested and wanting to vote in 2014," Scott said. "Nobody I know is happy with what's going on right now."
