Daily Lobo: What aspect of fine arts are you concentrating on?
Ben Schmitz: I'm not entirely sure yet, actually. I want to do something within the two-dimensional design realm. I am a photographer, but I'm doing painting and drawing - things I'm not good at - because I want to learn.
DL: Do you have any other hobbies?
BS: Longboarding and rock climbing.
DL: What interests you about rock climbing?
BS: Everything. It's the purest form of physical expression. It's the only thing I can do that every part of my body gets used for.
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DL: Why do you like longboarding?
BS: That's freedom. It's my sense of freedom, aside from the fact that it's my transportation to school - it's an expression of me. If I get on a board, I ride the way I want to, and I do what I want to do. I get from point A to point B in the funnest way possible.
DL: Have you ever had any longboarding or rock climbing accidents?
BS: Longboarding accidents are sadly pretty commonplace. I actually have had quite a few interesting ones, but the one that comes to mind was rolling for 20 feet after bailing off my board in a downhill incident. I still have and wear those pants, although one knee is missing. No notable rock climbing injuries - yet. Realistically, when done intelligently, neither sport really leaves a lot of room for injuries.
DL: Do you have any other likes, or are you involved in anything else?
BS: Well, I don't like politics, but I'm involved in politics.
DL: So why are you involved, and how do you feel about the upcoming presidential election?
BS: I'm involved because it affects my life. I'm afraid - deeply, deeply afraid.
DL: So do you know whom you're voting for and why?
BS: Obama, because he exemplifies my ideals of freedom, liberty, and he wants to put this country back on track. He's actually environmentally friendly, and my concern is the environment. I always vote Democratic parties because they stick with environmental issues. If McCain did that I would side with him, but he doesn't. I don't like the way his policies are turning out. I really don't like his performances in the debates so far, and Palin frightens me.
DL: Why are you environmentally conscious?
BS: Because it's the world I live in. If you don't pay attention to the world you live in, what point is there? You're alive, you live here and you have responsibility to the society you live in. Even as my responsibility to society, I don't want my society wiped out in 20 years because of my screwups.
