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Thursday, 09 November 2006 |
Your vote counts, use it
An
estimated 600 to 700 people voted at the on-campus voting precincts,
Boone II in Plemmons Student Union and Boone III in Farthing auditorium
during Tuesday’s General Election.
While not all of the voters at these precincts were students, and though some students voted at home or in alternate precincts, these numbers do cover all of the residence halls inhabitants who are registered to vote in Watauga.
The Appalachian believes 700 is a fairly low number of on-campus student voters considering almost 5,000 students live on campus.
We have heard several comments about low voter turn out being expected considering it wasn’t a national election however, The Appalachian believes that local elections are the elections students should be the most active in.
Local elections directly affect the area students are currently living in, and the votes make a much bigger difference.
For example, in Tuesday’s election multiple races were decided by 1,000 votes or less.
In fact, two races were decided by less than 700 votes- the number of votes cast in the on-campus locations.
The race for Supreme Court Associate Justice between Ann Marie Calabria and Robin Hudson was decided by only 130 votes. The race for Watauga County Sheriff between incumbent Mark Shook and his opponent and winner Len (L.D.) Hagaman was decided by only 98 votes.
It is in close races like these that students need to realize their vote can make a big difference.
Respect American troops
With Election Day finally behind us, there is a lot of leftover political sentiment flying through the air.
The Appalachian encourages everyone, regardless of political
affiliation, to take time this Veterans Day to remember our troops
fighting in Iraq.
Amidst current events such as the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld
Wednesday and the off-color comment made by John Kerry last week, it
can be easily forgotten that there are more than politics involved in
foreign policy.
There are men and women risking their lives every day.
Whether or not you believe their cause is noble, the fact of the matter
remains that these troops deserve support in their homeland.
Though the Iraqi War may be highly unpopular, it does not mean citizens
have the right to disrespect the troops who are overseas fighting.
Unfortunately, American troops have traditionally been the scapegoat
for much of the anti-foreign policy feeling in the United States.
This Veterans Day, take time to remember that it is not the troops who are signing bills and negotiating with foreign diplomats.
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