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Tuesday, 17 October 2006 |
Students’ right to vote: a basic U.S. freedom
Regardless of your political affiliation, the right to vote is something every American should hold dear.
The
act of voting is the basic foundation for civic involvement and allows
the gap to be bridged between the public and its government.
However, at the political candidate forum in Plemmons Student Union
Oct. 11, two of the four candidates openly voiced concern about
Appalachian State University students’ right to participate in local
politics.
David Blust, candidate for N.C. Senate, and Gene Wilson, candidate for
N.C. House, both said Appalachian students should not be able to vote
in local elections.
These comments transcend political affiliation.
First off, a student has the right to vote where they attend school, as protected by the 1979 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Furthermore, the influence of Appalachian State students on the Boone community is paramount.
The right for students to vote in Boone should be openly and graciously supported.
Fortunately, Cullie Tarleton, candidate for N.C. House, and Steve Goss, candidate for N.C. Senate, both have shown that support.
It is nice to know at least some local politicians enjoy Appalachian State’s influence in the Boone community.
Most students will live in Boone at least four years. They should have
their voices heard about tuition raises and funding issues during that
time.
Blust and Wilson both say students should have the right to vote in the Presidential elections.
While this may seem like a politically correct statement, the actions
of local politicians will most likely affect Appalachian students more
so than the decisions of the President.
Recent criticism of college students’ lack of civic knowledge has surfaced in the past few weeks.
College students need to prove to government officials that apathy is not plaguing our nation’s schools.
However, how is this trend going to reverse itself if the student right to vote is openly suppressed?
How can politicians blame American’s youth for a lack of knowledge if they are attempting to block civic involvement?
In the wake of these comments, students must be even more determined to
prove local officials wrong about their involvement in the political
arena.
Every Appalachian State student who votes locally in the upcoming Nov.
7 election should remember the candidate’s comments and judge
accordingly.
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As for 'don't self-hate on students' - are you getting your money's worth on your higher education? This sounds and reads as juvenile at best. Terrorists threatening to blow you up? Exactly where are the terrorist cells in Boone? You're hyperbole is embarrassing as are your insults towards your elected officials by calling them - and by inference the people who voted for them - imbeciles and nutjobs. Who are you, as a liberal, to judge? Where's your tolerance and the right to choose? Or does that only apply when homosexuals want to marry and mothers want to kill their unborn children?
And exactly what do you mean by 'underfunded'? Underfunded by whom? Well, if you're speaking of the government funding, then you must mean on the backs of the residents - you know, those pesky folk who pay property taxes. So you're afraid that the local government won't confiscate enough tax income from the residents and business owners both large and small? Believe me, if the Dems win you won't have to worry - only the residents and businesspeople of Boone will.