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The war on apathy
Whatever happened to impassioned student activism?

By Morganne Pollie
Princetonian Contributor

While it is true that the stereotypical college student is blissfully liberated from adult reality, Princetonians are known to be ambitious, active and responsible. For one thing, we have all that independent work. Also, given the level of competition in admissions, some of us got started on extracurriculars and SAT prep shortly after exiting the womb. Yet, given the political turmoil that currently characterizes America, the Princeton campus appears almost rebelliously docile. Aside from the Frist Filibuster and Princeton Pro-Life's display on Frist lawn, Princeton students largely read the newspaper, pop their collars and go about their daily lives fuss-free. Where is the passion? Where is the activism of our campus and of our generation?

Though 18- to 20-year-olds flooded the polls after gaining the right to vote in 1971, only 58 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds registered to vote in the 2004 election and only 47 percent of them showed up. Apparently, the thrill of enfranchisement has worn off. Did our poor showing make a difference? A solid majority of voters between 18 and 29 years of age — 54 percent, according to CNN's election result tabulations — supported John Kerry. In case you've been heavily medicated for the past two years, he didn't win.

I don't mean to blame Kerry's loss on the low student-voter turnout, but I do want to remind you that the current administration has accumulated the largest deficit in history. We're the ones who are going to have to pay it off, and we didn't even vote for the guy responsible for it. This is the essential reason that young people need to vote. They have the longest future ahead of them and therefore the greatest stake in every decision that the government makes.

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http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2006/04/27/arts/15435.shtml