COLUMN: Vote or die
So there was a pretty big football game that went down last week. Most refer to it as the Super Bowl. I choose to call it the modern American pastime. To begin the extravaganza, there was a tribute during which celebrities along with current and former NFL players read the Declaration of Independence. One of the key catalysts for the founding fathers’ declaration was the issue of taxation without representation. Today, every tax-paying American is represented in Congress.
Each one of us at this fine university is represented by elected officials that make up ASUSU. Sure the comparison was a bit of a stretch, but in our sphere of influence these elected officials are just as important to our future as students at USU as the elected members of Congress are for the citizens of their respective districts. So, with ASUSU elections upon us, the time has come to choose our destiny. If anybody out there had any problem with how things were run this year, this is your chance to do something about it.
To vote effectively, one must be informed. You will be seeing all sorts of candidates around campus handing out pamphlets, candy and even some awesome coupons. While this is fantastic if you are a fan of free stuff, it is also an opportunity to see what the candidates are all about. Ideally, everybody would attend the debates, take notes and ponder for hours, weighing the pros and cons of each candidate and how it compares to their personal views. I am aware, however, that students tend to be somewhat busy between classes.
While I do encourage everybody that has the time to attend the debates, the least you can do is look up their platform and see if you agree or disagree with anything. Because you are reading this article, I must assume that you have some shred of an opinion, so I can further assume that you will not agree with at least one of the candidates. The most important thing is to vote.
Many students share the concern that student elections are nothing more than a glorified popularity contest. While this is technically true, let us choose a better definition of popular. The most popular candidate is ideally the one whose stance on the issues is the best for the most students. I do not pretend to be the one who knows what’s best for the most students. If everybody votes, however, we can only assume that the best candidate for the most people will win. If this fails, consider my faith in democracy ruined. No pressure. Just don’t let me down.
Hear me out on what I am about to say. Be selfish. A selfless person would just let the election process pass by them and not interfere. This does absolutely nothing for the selfless. If you have a bone to pick with the common hour, see what the candidates have to say about it. If you don’t want a B.J. Novak-type of event to haunt this campus again next year, vote for a candidate determined to change the current, wasteful way of doing things. Perhaps you hate everything and just want to make everybody else miserable. Vote for whoever wants to double student fees, cut all athletics, and start charging for wireless internet to offset the cost of building an expensive parking terrace in place of the quad. Of all these options, the worst possible choice would be to abstain from voting.
If you haven’t been convinced to vote yet, this next bit ought to seal the deal. If you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to voice an opinion. Complaints you may have about anything on campus are entirely your fault. Anything ASUSU does that may negatively affect you or your friends falls completely on your shoulders. You fall into the category of the irresponsible and disloyal. Any display of school spirit is in vain, as you clearly do not have the school’s best interest at heart. The truth may fall hard on the ears of the wicked. Next week gives you the chance to do better. Fulfill the intent of a university and invest in your future. Vote, or die.
Tyler Barlow is a sophomore in computer engineering. He can be reached at tyler.barlow@aggiemail.usu.edu.