The political pulse of the University pumps more than the steady beat of politics as usual as Election Day approaches, some students say.

“Liberals are nice and want to hold your hand but don’t get squat done,” said Brent Patterson, a junior from Lawrenceville. “And Republicans don’t care about your feelings.”

For a student who views Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as “incompetent” and Republican presidential candidate John McCain as “old and temperamental,” Patterson said he finds himself at a crossroads with millions of other Americans who are “looking for the lesser of two political evils.”

“It really doesn’t matter which one’s elected, either way it’s going to the crapper,” he said.

But how do other students and faculty define “Republicans” and “Democrats”?

“Democrats traditionally favor using the government to help solve problems,” said Paul-Henri Gurian, associate professor of political science.

“And on civil rights and affirmative action, Democrats tend to support civil rights for all minority groups,” he said. “Republicans tend to believe that people should solve their own problems and favor a color-blind approach that doesn’t favor or disfavor any group.”

Students polled about the terms democrat and republican often define the words with their political viewpoints.

“Democrats are liberal and more open-minded to certain issues, and Republicans are one-way or no way at all,” said Imann Gad, a senior from Athens and an Obama supporter.

Brittany Arthur, a junior from Kennesaw who likes McCain, focused on economic policy.

“The Democratic Party puts a lot of emphasis on creating programs to have a person help themselves,” she said.

“The Republican Party is about trying to change the larger picture so that the person doesn’t have to pull themselves out of the problem.”

Michelle Dookwah, a freshman from College Station, Tex. said Obama demonstrates what she thinks Democrats believe.

“Obama will create more fairness for the working class and change some policies that are going on in America right now such as the war,” she said.

Ashley King, a sophomore from Alpharetta, said, “If McCain gets elected he will give Americans more hope in government and the country.”

With historical racial and gender breakthroughs, Brandi Brocker, a junior from Woodstock, said she sees merit in both parties.

“I think the terms ‘democrat’ and ‘republican,’ are two separate avenues to the same goal – the American dream.”