TheOtherView
Opinions from around the country

To vote or not to vote, that is no longer the question. The students of today’s generation are no longer concerned with politics, which is reflected in low voter turnout.

According to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale’s publication, The Daily Egyptian, only 43 percent of college students voted in the last presidential elections compared to the 75 percent of Americans in the 45-65 year age group. In fact, the statistics indicate the number of student voters has been steadily declining. The Daily Egyptian further reported that in the 2000 presidential elections only 33 percent of college students voted out of 39 percent who were registered.

What is the problem with our generation? Do we no longer care about the issues which result in our absence at the polls? The hot topics on most politicians’ platforms generally include social security or education. Consequently, these issues may neither affect the many college students who are childless nor the students who will be unable to benefit from social security when they are of age.

The campaigning/student-voter turnout is a vicious cycle. The politicians don’t campaign to college students because they automatically assume they will not vote. Furthermore, the politicians are supposed to represent the views of the people. Unfortunately, many politicians represent the people in power or the people who pay them. Unsurprisingly, college students don’t rank high on either list.

For instance, we may be facing another war against Iraq. Yet few, if any, discussion groups, open forums, panels with experts or rallies have been held on campus. Must we wait for another tragedy such as the World Trade Center and The Pentagon attacks for change to occur? The paradigm shift we are currently experiencing is having a noticeable effect toward our views on voting.

Of course, everyone can complain about the candidates once they have been elected to office, but how many of the complainers actually took the time to vote?

However, voting could be made so much easier if a voting station was located on campus. The college community is a valuable resource that has gone untapped by the two major parties. Unlike their larger counterparts, the Libertarians and Green Party are taking advantage of the prospective college members.

With so many students on this campus effective change can be made.

This is a staff editorial from the University Times at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. This editorial was distributed by U-Wire.