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Show Page The Dixie Sun 4 November; Editor: Fred Moesinger Students should use right to vote i It took the Vietnam War to show Congress that if an U.S. citizen could fight and die for his or her i j country, he or she should also have the right to vote. This right is possible by passage of the 26th Amendment. A democracy requires an active and informed citizenry. Without it, democracy suffers. It has been said that democracy also works best at the local level at city hall. So, when an elected body make decisions in public meetings, residents residing in that city are affected, whether they are short-teror long-terresidents. elections a are few votes. Take decided Many by just Rutherford B. Hayes for example. He became president, of the United States by defeating Samuel Tilden by only one electoral vote. The right to vote is important in a democracy. Yet, students at Dixie College traditionally do not vote in general municipal, county, state or national elections. Washington County voting statistics show a dismal turnout of six percent of the eligible voters in District 1 (encompassing Dixie College boundaries) showed up at the polls during the recent primary election. Only 27.5 percent of the registered voters cast their ballots during the 1994 general election, according to the Washington County Clerk's office. That is a sad trend for a community of residents who pride themselves on furthering their education. This year, five candidates are running for St. George City Council. Additionally, voters will be given the opportunity to cast a yes or no vote on Initiative A. If passed, the initiative would impose a three percent per year cap on issuance of building permits. If passed, the initiative could affect the cost of future housing projects, including student housing. Proponents and opponents alike, believe the initiative will affect what kind of growth will be allowed in Southern Utah's m i I witwit v I ? m largest city. Students have a right and a duty to vote in this election and in all future elections. If you don't vote, don't expect to have a right to complain about decisions made by elected leaders. The opinions expressed above represent the collective voice of the Dixie Sun editorial board. The board meets each Tuesday at 12:30 p.tn. in the Student Publications office. Visitors are welcome. liALElBACCI Right to vote hard to get; use it After all the trouble our ancestors went through to have the right to vote, doesn't it seem just a tad incredibly lame that hardly anybody bothers to use that privilege? Voting (as a good example of democracy) is one of the base elements that America is built upon. It was a pain in the revolutionary buttocks just for the white male citizens to have a say in how our country was run, not to mention the minorities and the huge ruckus the women went through. Well, now that most of us are 18 or over and have this privilege (more like a responsibility to not let all those past efforts go to waste), a fine chance to use it will be had today. This is when city council elections will be held. This conveniently brings me to my main point. Those of you from out of state may not be aware of this, but the number-on- e issue in the St. George area is development versus moderate growth. Basically, St. George is boom- - (Leimeeis Strange Days city council will be voted Some of them are for the growth limit and mostar: opposed. At the very lea vote. Voting is like food. Dave Johnson half-eate- ing, and the Citizens for Moderate Growth (CMG) would like to cut the current growth-ratput a 3 percent cap on growth in St. George before e, we exhaust our water supply, up the crime rate, and basically bum ourselves out. The opposing side (a.k.a. evil developers) would like to make more money by covering every inch of the fine scenery (that everyone is moving here for) with houses. Therefore, they don't want the limit. This pertains to today's elections because members of the short-sighte- David Johnson is a You kept asking for a letter to the editor. Well, here's one for you. am a Powder Puffer of two years, and last year I remember 1 that someone wrote about the game. It stated that the freshmen had made the first touchdown, and tiit-r- were pictures of the action of the game. I was so excited that we won this year that I seriously waited impatiently for The Sun to come out this week. Well, to my amazement, there was nothing about the game. Not even the score! My fellow teammates worked hard for this game. Thanks to our coaches, Derek Naegle and Jeff Barlow, they made it happen for us. We would like some recognition for what we accomplished out on that field. We played hard and the freshmen put up a good fight; heck, we got the bruises to show for it. I would appreciate it if you would write an article about the Powder Puff game and print some pictures of it (I saw some photographers out on the field). I am supported by fellow Powder Puffers and classmates. - We do, however, strive toj vide accurate and concise nii. of events which are of iinpndi Dixie College students, fncull staff. We regret not being able c vide coverage of the game on spoke of. Letters Policy Letters to the editor must be and must include the nnmeai telephone number of the auth Only the name will be print:: Names are not withheld any circumstances. The Sun reserves the right Mary Ellen Enter:. .edit letters for length and tail. Letters yiust be submitted bi In this business of nezvspaper on Thursday. have space and time conIxtteis may also be sent w ; straints. Internet: suncc.dixie.edu Are you going to vote in the election? Why or why not? Darrell Hineman, Freshman, 21, Structural Engineer, Riverside, CA: "Yes. I will vote Each person can make a difference. Sherman Stanley, Sophomore, 21, Science, Provo, UT: "Yes, it is important that our personal cote is given. If we don't vote then we ha e no right to complain about hat is going on j in the gov ernment." also feel have the right to vote so IT use that privilege." I colnn. for The Dixie Sun. to the Edstoh Disgruntled RPuffer We make life hat we want it to be, including ho we support because thev represent us. If thev are good or b, ad. Thi people in other countries would kill for the privile, an Ethiopian would fori n Royale hambu-witcheese (quarter-pou- r hamburger with cheese k Pulp Fiction impaired). Oh, and the over-al- l in. tive is called initiative "A your not convinced yet, b. stubborn or maybe this will change vt mind. If you've driven du George Blvd. anywhere between noon and 7 p.m, you'll have noticed St. Gt receives a six on the one-- t ratings scale of crappy dr habits and traffic (ten beir crappiest). Does anyone n want to deal with more re couples on our roads? should come to the campus and give speech or something." a i u: |
