Show Are you apolitically apolitically a apolitically politically informed individual Dean Cruff Staff Writer elections S are just around the corner and students must decide I whether they should or should not vote I I think the opportunity for fot students on college campuses campuses campuses cam cam- to participate in iti the voting process is extremely important said Grant Smart professor of Social Science He went on to say that the role of college is to allow students to practice many of the real life experiences experiences experiences ex ex- which they will face II Apathy in elections is unfortunately something that is experienced in many nations that use the democratic process said Smart He added that apathy is caused by the feeling that one vote doesn't count It is also caused aused by the fact some people feel political people dont don't respect them The individual individual individual in in- person feels the political person wont won't be responsive to their basic needs It lilt really doesn't make any difference whether its it's on a college campus or whether its it's the state or local election or a national election The percentage of the people who whore ire re eligible to vote to the percentage percentage percentage per per- of the people who actually vote would indicate apathy said Smart Smart said students should vote in a election because because because be be- cause they should become practitioners of the political process and should be aware of political issues II As As an informed informed informed in in- formed person a student ought ough t to be a voting person person person per per- son said Smart II One vote does count The one vote accumulation accumulation accumulation ac ac- ac- ac eventually brings about the voice of the majority on how they i I t Y I Ii I t j cm fv r v v. S' S 4 f t j NS ti tiM M w f fN N I 4 y 4 1 S. S j Photo by Ed Ule Students enjoy a break in the weather maybe spring is here would like things to function and without the one vote the majority majori y wont won't be able to be identified identified he he added Smart thinks people donot do donot donot not vote on campus because they do not understand what it means to be an active political person An active political person is someone who will give time to understand understand understand under under- stand issues He gives time and resources to either a candidate candidate candidate can can- or an issue People dont don't vote because they dont don't understand how to become a politically active individual They are uninformed uninformed uninformed formed and skeptical of people who are in politics because because because be be- cause they think they dont don't hear them or listen to them said Smart He believes that many political leaders are interested interested interested in in- in wanting to represent represent represent sent the general public When asked how important important tant he thought the officers were to the college Smart said I un un- un how important they truly are but I dont don't t believe that the majority of the 3 understands what part the officers can play in their lives said Smart He thinks the officers represent the students students students stu- stu dents the best they know how I III dont don't think the rank and file students work as ashard ashard hard at becoming politically knowledgeable as student- student body officers try to become effective leaders said Smart Smart said the officers are important important im im- n. n to the students for several reasons The president president president dent is a member of important important important tant tant- policy-making policy groups The president is a member of the Board of Trustees He speaks on behalf of the students students students stu stu- dents to the administration The officers are also in charge of the extra- extra activities |