Get involved in IUSA to see its impact

I just wanted to address some things students might have overlooked regarding IUSA. Things might not have turned the way you expected ... but as for me, I am very happy.\nI agree with your point that many students do not care about voting, and that is a shame. I would say that the same people that decide not to vote are the same people who say IUSA does nothing. In fact, IUSA does do something, but people are just lacking sufficient knowledge about it. I know most people are more or less concerned with a few major things (making IU a wet campus, getting a fall break and improving residence hall food and meal points). \nIf we were able to get more student support backing us on these issues, IUSA could accomplish a lot more and have a very good chance at doing something about these issues. \nNo, we can't bring back Bob Knight, and the last thing we need is a wet campus. But the problem is some people just expect things to magically happen around here without doing anything. That is just terrible. If you want things done, you have to get involved. \nI can understand if people have other things on their priority list that they are paying a lot of money to be here for. I don't want to suggest that everyone should devote 100 percent of his or her free time to help develop IUSA. I'm just trying to get the point across to everyone that if you want to get something changed, you have to take that first step yourself and not expect others to do it for you.\nDon't listen to people when they say IUSA gets nothing done. Here is a small list of things that IUSA is working on and getting done right now under your noses:\nTax-free textbooks. You'll thank the people working to make this happen when you get to save $20-40 on your textbooks. Want to help? Come to the IUSA office in the Indiana Memorial Union and we have something you can do to help.\nHeard of IUBid.com that recently got going? Well, I think it is a great idea for students to get their old stuff sold locally (like furniture they don't want anymore).\nHave you been awakened early in the morning by construction on campus recently? That's right, you haven't, because IUSA petitioned and sent a resolution to the administration requesting that they limit construction in the early hours. The administration did it and now construction cannot be earlier than 8 a.m. near the dorms (with emergency exceptions).\nA lot of things about IUSA go "unsung" for various reasons. The Clocks on Campus and the L-pass plans are two examples of things that are in the works but taking some time and work to accomplish. If one is interested in attending a congress meeting, e-mail your vice president for congress at iusavpc@indiana.edu and he'll get some info back to you pronto.\nRemember, I will be working for you, the student.