Dennis Michael Busch - Official Website
Original Post at SUUNews.com
By Dennis Busch, collective opinion of the
University Journal Editorial Board
EDITORIAL: Elections serve role in the lives of students
With the primary election just around the corner on Tuesday, Cedar City is again gearing up for an election, yet many students at SUU are blissfully unaware of this.
Countless signs, banners and stickers for city council and mayoral candidates fill the lawns, windows and vacant lots across the city.
Despite this saturation of the town, many college students choose to not get involved in local politics, citing that it does not affect them.
The University Journal Editorial Board thinks that nothing could be farther from the truth.
Elected city officials make decisions that can ultimately affect where student apartments are allowed to be constructed and what businesses choose to locate here.
This can have a direct impact on the availability of quality affordable housing and jobs for SUU students.
Students also argue that issues are not directed at them and that they feel disassociated from politics in general.
We think that young people must take the initiative to get out and vote to change that.
If college students are seen as an influential voting bloc, issues will begin to involve them more.
As residents of this city, all people, including students, have a right to cast their ballots and we strongly encourage each eligible person to do so.
However, with the right of voting comes an assumed responsibility.
It is the obligation of the voter to register and to educate himself or herself before they head to the polls.
There are numerous routes to find out information, though it may require a bit of effort on the part of the voter.
Attend an open forum or debate of the candidates, pick up a newspaper or track them down at a local event.
Still, if none of these reasons truly entice you to vote, the Journal still encourages that you vote simply because you can.
It's the No. 1 freedom we have in the United States, and it is wasteful to squander it in ignorance and apathy.
The primary eletion is Sept. 15, and early voting for the primary continues today and Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. The general election is on Nov. 3.
Countless signs, banners and stickers for city council and mayoral candidates fill the lawns, windows and vacant lots across the city.
Despite this saturation of the town, many college students choose to not get involved in local politics, citing that it does not affect them.
The University Journal Editorial Board thinks that nothing could be farther from the truth.
Elected city officials make decisions that can ultimately affect where student apartments are allowed to be constructed and what businesses choose to locate here.
This can have a direct impact on the availability of quality affordable housing and jobs for SUU students.
Students also argue that issues are not directed at them and that they feel disassociated from politics in general.
We think that young people must take the initiative to get out and vote to change that.
If college students are seen as an influential voting bloc, issues will begin to involve them more.
As residents of this city, all people, including students, have a right to cast their ballots and we strongly encourage each eligible person to do so.
However, with the right of voting comes an assumed responsibility.
It is the obligation of the voter to register and to educate himself or herself before they head to the polls.
There are numerous routes to find out information, though it may require a bit of effort on the part of the voter.
Attend an open forum or debate of the candidates, pick up a newspaper or track them down at a local event.
Still, if none of these reasons truly entice you to vote, the Journal still encourages that you vote simply because you can.
It's the No. 1 freedom we have in the United States, and it is wasteful to squander it in ignorance and apathy.
The primary eletion is Sept. 15, and early voting for the primary continues today and Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. The general election is on Nov. 3.
© 2009 Dennis Busch, University Journal
