(11/06/18 4:51am)
Election Day for the 2018 midterm election is on Tuesday, Nov 6. Voting has traditionally been one of the most fundamental ways for a citizen to affect their government. Despite this, only 31 percent of millennials are sure that they will vote on Election Day. This year features many close races, including the University’s own congressional district, emphasizing the need for students to vote. Students should create a plan to make an informed vote on Election Day by using the resources available to them, despite any barriers that may exist.
(02/20/18 5:03am)
The key to any democratic system of government remains constant no matter what size, shape or form that system may take. The success of a democracy rests on its representative nature. The actions of a governing body, even one as hyper-local as Student Council, must accurately reflect the interests of the people it represents. To establish this, a representative must foster communication with their constituents, and for this communication to occur, a representative must be accessible. Without this accessibility, there will be no way for citizens to express their concerns. However, these points are moot unless a representative can be held accountable, as communication holds no weight unless consequences exist. Therefore, communication, accessibility and accountability are necessary for effective representation, otherwise the representative body will degrade into an apathetic structure that fails to reflect student interest.