Dennis Michael Busch - Official Website
By Dennis Busch, collective opinion of the
University Journal Editorial Board
EDITORIAL: Elections do have an effect on students
Tuesday marks a day in which all Cedar City residents get to exercise their top right as Americans: casting their ballot for elected officials.
Many students choose not to take advantage of this right, falling into the trap of belief that what goes on in town has little effect on SUU.
This notion of isolation could not be further from the truth.
The Cedar City mayor and members of the city council can have great effect on the atmosphere at SUU as well as the lives of students who attend.
They play a large role in what businesses relocate to the area, and thus create more jobs for area residents including students.
The decisions of elected leaders can also have a profound effect on how the campus expands outward as more students attend and more buildings are needed.
They will also have an effect on what quality affordable housing will be available to students and other low-income residents of Cedar City.
The University Journal urges all students, faculty, staff and community members who are eligible to vote to do so Tuesday, and to be as informed as possible.
There is informaition about all candidates on our website: suunews.com/cedarelections.
Many students might argue that the reasons above will not have any effect on them before they leave SUU, and that is possible.
However, the direct impact on an individual is not the only reason to cast a ballot.
Voting is the No. 1 right of all Americans, and young people are written-off by many candidates for the fact that many simply do not vote.
That is why the Journal encourages all students and especially young people to get out and cast their vote tomorrow - it's your civic duty.
If young people were seen as a potential influence in an election, candidates would work harder to involve them more in the issues they talk about and decisions that they make, just as they do with senior citizens.
So even if it is inconvenient, or you just don't care, it's still your duty to get informed and vote.
Do it because you can, and because this is America.
Many students choose not to take advantage of this right, falling into the trap of belief that what goes on in town has little effect on SUU.
This notion of isolation could not be further from the truth.
The Cedar City mayor and members of the city council can have great effect on the atmosphere at SUU as well as the lives of students who attend.
They play a large role in what businesses relocate to the area, and thus create more jobs for area residents including students.
The decisions of elected leaders can also have a profound effect on how the campus expands outward as more students attend and more buildings are needed.
They will also have an effect on what quality affordable housing will be available to students and other low-income residents of Cedar City.
The University Journal urges all students, faculty, staff and community members who are eligible to vote to do so Tuesday, and to be as informed as possible.
There is informaition about all candidates on our website: suunews.com/cedarelections.
Many students might argue that the reasons above will not have any effect on them before they leave SUU, and that is possible.
However, the direct impact on an individual is not the only reason to cast a ballot.
Voting is the No. 1 right of all Americans, and young people are written-off by many candidates for the fact that many simply do not vote.
That is why the Journal encourages all students and especially young people to get out and cast their vote tomorrow - it's your civic duty.
If young people were seen as a potential influence in an election, candidates would work harder to involve them more in the issues they talk about and decisions that they make, just as they do with senior citizens.
So even if it is inconvenient, or you just don't care, it's still your duty to get informed and vote.
Do it because you can, and because this is America.
© 2009 Dennis Busch, University Journal
