DeKALB | DeKalb and Sycamore are neighboring towns, but the recent election showed they are worlds apart — at least politically. This past midterm election ballot included a referendum asking residents whether or not they thought immediate withdrawal from Iraq was necessary. The results showed DeKalb and Sycamore residents’ opinions were completely opposite.

Of DeKalb voters, 58.3 percent were in favor of withdrawing soldiers from Iraq. In Sycamore, 52.5 percent of voters opposed immediate withdrawal of troops.

Matthew Streb, assistant political science professor, said the cause of this contrary position is the two towns’ vastly different populations.

“[DeKalb and Sycamore] are very close, but the demographics are completely different,” Streb said.

The primary reason for the difference, he said, was because DeKalb has a large state university full of young people, whereas Sycamore is primarily residential with an older and more conservative population.

“The university makes a big difference,” he said. “College towns tend to be a lot more liberal.”

An NIU sociologist drew the same conclusion as Streb.

“People in academia tend to be more liberal,” said sociology professor Fred Markowitz.

The recent results surprised one active resident.

DeKalb resident Ingrid Inboden, whose brother is in Iraq, didn’t think the results accurately portrayed her community and that the average resident was not knowledgeable on the situation.

“I’m not sure if we have the knowledge to make that decision,” she said.