To this day, I still can’t understand how a college student could possibly support Mitt Romney’s campaign for the presidency. Across the board, Mitt Romney does not support issues that are important to us. Instead, he focuses on benefits to the upper class and the perpetuation of the divide that exists between the rich and the poor; college students fall through the cracks.

One of the most important issues facing us in this election is the expansion or contraction of aid to college students. President Obama fought to cap federal student loan repayments at 10 percent of income and successfully ended a plan to double interest rates for more than 7 million students. Romney’s solution is to “borrow money from your parents.” Obama is working to reform the excess of some teacher unions, while Romney wants to just “cut back” on teachers. Last, President Obama passed the “Race to the Top” campaign that spurred 46 states to raise standards. Romney, on the other hand, wants to increase private school vouchers, a plan that doesn’t help low-income families and just perpetuates the massive gap between public and private schools. As a public school student myself, I know that the government’s presence in schooling allowed me to attend this wonderful university. I would hate to see schools like mine disappear because the president didn’t see the value in a public school education.

Not to exclude half of my readers here, but if you’re a woman you should be paying close at-tention to what follows. A vote for Romney is a vote against the right for you to choose what to do with your own body. Romney’s running mate, Paul Ryan, sponsored a bill that redefines rape, allowing some rapists to be punished less severely. In his pledge to end Obamacare, Romney would allow your employer to decide whether or not your insurance covers common forms of birth con-trol. Romney believes that Roe v. Wade should be overturned, and he backed a proposal to outlaw abortions even in the case of incest and rape. And finally, you can be sure that a Romney presidency wouldn’t stand against the insanity that is the Republican party – where senators believe that God intends for pregnancies caused by rape.

The Democratic party has pledged to protect the reproductive rights of women; a vote for Romney is a vote to limit your rights. And while we’re on the issue of equality, let’s talk about the ramifications of a Romney presidency on LGBTQ rights. Mitt Romney stood on a stage during the Republican national primary debates and was silent as the crowd booed a gay Army service-man. Romney doesn’t support gay marriage, civil unions, domestic partnership, equal pay or open service for gay Americans. He also supports the Defense of Marriage Act – a controversial bill that defines a marriage as between a man and a woman. President Obama is the first president to openly support gay marriage. He ended “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and supports full, equal rights for gay Americans. Is there really a discussion to be had?

If you don’t know about Obamacare, get out from under that rock and learn about the most comprehensive reform and improvement of social welfare in American history. As a college student, we gain incredible advantages from this amazing law; you can stay on your parents’ plan until you turn 26, regardless of your job situation after Colgate.

When you eventually have to find a plan of your own, you can’t be denied based on any pre-ex-isting conditions. And even later down the path of your illustrious career, when you finally become of age, you will actually be able to join Medicare. The Ryan plan (that Romney supports) would change Medicare to a voucher system, taking almost $6,000 a year from your pocket for normal health care costs. And not to beat a dead horse, but under a Romney plan politicians, employers and insurance companies have the ability to limit the health choices of women. If you value your health and your wallet, you’ll vote for President Obama.

So let’s make the smart decision on November 6. Do we want the “Etch-a-Sketch” president: a man who can’t hold one view on any given issue for more than a few weeks? Do we want a presi-dent who only cares about the rich in this country and states that 47 percent isn’t worth caring about at all? Really, do we want a president who controls the right of a woman to choose what to do with her own body? I hope some of this resonates with Colgate students because truly, we can’t afford four years of Mitt Romney. I support Obama for President, and if you care, you should too.

Contact Andy Philipson at [email protected].