Electionapalooza
It’s that time of year again.
No, this has nothing to do with the impending start of regular season baseball (the Yankees and Devil Rays may have already played two games on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, but we all know those teams hardly count as legitimate). Nor does it have anything to do with four o’clocks, those dreadful midterms that manage to show up not once, but rather an illogical two times every semester. And this isn’t about Spring Pacing Break either, because, as much as we love it, it’s just not going to make a triumphant return.
It’s actually that time of year during which the campus finds itself coated with a layer of fliers promulgating candidates for the upcoming Student Senate elections.
We know; the whole situation is ridiculous. Students abuse the WIRED printers to run off hundreds upon hundreds of copies of their self-advertising, and then the rest of us panic when we go to print our essays and discover that tray two is empty and the toner needs to be replenished.
The fliers are decidedly entertaining, at least. Instead of promising “no new taxes” or pledging to lower gasoline prices, these aspiring politicians fabricate celebrity endorsements and conjure up witty slogans that don’t actually mean anything. Failing that, they resort to the old standard of “Vote for Jane Lehigh, ’05” coupled with a giant, blown-up head shot.
Heh.
Anyway, it’s time for you all to vote. Taking part in this election shows dedication to civic duty, an important trait to have. With the presidential election coming up in the fall, now is the perfect time to begin caring about politics. Making an informed decision this month about someone who is going to represent you may inspire you to do the same come November.
It’s a sad truth, but you may think that Student Senate is composed of a bunch of bland do-nothings who just want to add some “leadership experience” to their résumés. Au contraire, this year has been one of the Senate’s most prolific in recent history.
Take, for example, the Academic Integrity Statement they released last month. We love it. Many other reputable institutions, such as Washington and Lee University, have honor codes that all students are expected to abide by. This statement is only one small step toward an official Lehigh code, but it’s great to know we’re headed in that direction.
The possibility of a student-run diner, for which they’ve recently created a task force, is also intriguing. We positively adore diners, and would love to have one within walking distance of campus. We’re deathly afraid, however, that this new 24-hour grease-apalooza will be a diner in the same way that Jazzman’s is a café; that is, that it will be a corporate establishment devoid of character.
We’ve already championed the Senate’s readership program, but it deserves another mention. Reading is cool, as are current events, so we’re grateful that the Senate gave us this opportunity to be culturally literate.
So go out and thank the Senate this April 6 and 7 by voting for next year’s members. Choose your representatives however you want — if you aren’t up-to-date on the candidates’ platforms, vote for your friends and roommates, or take the middle school route and vote for the most attractive people. But, whatever you do, please vote.
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