I'm not going to disclose my party affiliation; I've learnedthat's not an efficient way to persuade. I am part of the media;deduce what you will. I don't want to try to convince anyone who tovote for. This is an attempt to encourage the bright, intelligentfuture teachers, future businessmen and women and future leaders ofall professions who feel like voting is pointless and their votesdon't matter.
Ask Ben Tietz or Jason Manship if voting matters. Ask theresidents of Florida who were the deciding factors of the 2000presidential election if voting matters. Ask citizens of nationsrun by dictators if voting matters. Ask the U.S. soldiers stationedall over the world what they think about voting.
It has recently been brought to my attention that many informed,up-to-date students on this campus aren't planning to vote thisyear -- in the presidential or any other race - because they feellike they don't know enough about the candidates or the issues. Thetruth is college students are perfectly capable of making informeddecisions. They've already proven it.
Almost all of us had to do a little bit of research before wedecided on a college. We had to look at cost, academic programs,sports, location, size and quality of education. Some of thosefactors were more important than others in our college decision,but the fact is that we all know how to find answers to ourquestions; it just takes a little initiative.
Some students say they just don't care. I don't believe that.There are plenty of issues out there worth caring about. Maybecollege students aren't affected by every campaign platform, butsooner or later we have to grow up and take a look at policies thataffect us. I'm sure that the 35 million members of the AARP weren'ttoo concerned about social security, Medicare and prescriptiondrugs when they were 20. Leaders in government are making decisionsthat affect us now as college students, and they're makingdecisions now that will affect us in our life after college. Wemight as well try to start paying attention to public policydecisions now.
Another view some students share is that they are making somesort of political statement by not voting. All right, so you'rebent out of shape because you aren't happy with about the war andyou think politicians are crooked. The reality is that votingdoesn't always necessarily mean something, but NOT voting meansnothing. You aren't making a stand by not voting. You're incollege. You're too young to be a cynic. If you don't think you'llmake a difference, you won't.
Indiana is not a swing state in the presidential election thisyear, but that doesn't mean our voices don't count. No judgment;I'm all for young voters exercising the right not to use theirconstitutional liberties. I typically don't exercise the right to aspeedy trial or the right to petition the government for a redressof grievances, but I don't think thousands of people gave theirlives, spent time in jail or marched down Pennsylvania Avenue forsomething that wasn't important. Anyone can register to vote bygoing to www.IN.gov to the "voter registration" section. Absenteeballots are listed under "forms." Don't be lazy this year. Careabout something.
Write to Alyssa at
akmiller@bsu.edu
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