Spring Break
A voting disgrace
By: Editorial Board
Issue date: 5/11/07 Section: Ed-Op
Originally published: 5/11/07 at 3:04 AM EST
Last update: 5/11/07 at 3:04 AM EST
Originally published: 5/11/07 at 3:04 AM EST
Last update: 5/11/07 at 3:04 AM EST
Human beings are natural complainers. We continually argue that our government isn't running correctly or efficiently. And as Drexel students, we do the same to the University.
In the upcoming week, many of us will have not one, but two opportunities to help push the local government and the University leadership in the direction that we feel is best.
The Philadelphia Primary mayoral election will take place May 15. Many Drexel students are either from the Philadelphia area, or have registered as citizens of Philadelphia. Now's your time to get out and vote for the candidate within your political party you think will do the best job running our city for the next four years.
The Undergraduate Student Government Association began holding elections May 10. This election will continue until May 17. It's unfortunate that only about 30 students were present during the Triangle-sponsored USGA Presidential Debate that was held May 8.
Students, and Philadelphia residents, need to realize that representative government won't represent them well if they don't take advantage of it. So often, people dislike the status quo, but yet they've never attempted to actively participate in the democratic process of voting.
President Bush's approval rating was recently measured at a generation-low of 28 percent. We wonder how many of the individuals that were polled actually voted for President of the United States in 2004. According to election statistics, only about 55 percent of eligible voters participated.
In the 1999 Philadelphia Mayoral Primary, only 40 percent of registered Philadelphia voters participated. And at Drexel, in last year's USGA elections, only 1,167 students participated. That's less than 10 percent of the undergraduate student body.
These numbers show that many Americans don't seem to care about who is leading their country, most Philadelphians don't seem to care about who is running the City, and just about all Drexel students could care less about who is representing them in student government.
These facts are unfortunate. Voting in national and local elections just takes a few minutes of your time. Voting in the USGA election literally takes a few seconds of your time. There's no excuse for individuals who don't take the time to vote, and yet continually whine. If you don't care enough to participate and contribute, then shut up.
You can make a difference. If you care, all you have to do is make an informed decision and vote.
In the upcoming week, many of us will have not one, but two opportunities to help push the local government and the University leadership in the direction that we feel is best.
The Philadelphia Primary mayoral election will take place May 15. Many Drexel students are either from the Philadelphia area, or have registered as citizens of Philadelphia. Now's your time to get out and vote for the candidate within your political party you think will do the best job running our city for the next four years.
The Undergraduate Student Government Association began holding elections May 10. This election will continue until May 17. It's unfortunate that only about 30 students were present during the Triangle-sponsored USGA Presidential Debate that was held May 8.
Students, and Philadelphia residents, need to realize that representative government won't represent them well if they don't take advantage of it. So often, people dislike the status quo, but yet they've never attempted to actively participate in the democratic process of voting.
President Bush's approval rating was recently measured at a generation-low of 28 percent. We wonder how many of the individuals that were polled actually voted for President of the United States in 2004. According to election statistics, only about 55 percent of eligible voters participated.
In the 1999 Philadelphia Mayoral Primary, only 40 percent of registered Philadelphia voters participated. And at Drexel, in last year's USGA elections, only 1,167 students participated. That's less than 10 percent of the undergraduate student body.
These numbers show that many Americans don't seem to care about who is leading their country, most Philadelphians don't seem to care about who is running the City, and just about all Drexel students could care less about who is representing them in student government.
These facts are unfortunate. Voting in national and local elections just takes a few minutes of your time. Voting in the USGA election literally takes a few seconds of your time. There's no excuse for individuals who don't take the time to vote, and yet continually whine. If you don't care enough to participate and contribute, then shut up.
You can make a difference. If you care, all you have to do is make an informed decision and vote.
