Democracy with horsepower

Come November, putting your ballot in the box could land your foot on the gas.\nThe IU Student Association will spend $60,000 on a Corvette to encourage students to vote in November's general election.\nWith Project Vote Hard, IUSA hopes to help achieve a stronger voice for the University in the state's General Assembly by increasing the number of registered voters in Monroe County.\nStudents who can prove they voted will be entered in a drawing for the sports car.\nMoney used to purchase the vehicle will come from excess interest payments from IUSA credit cards, not student fees, according to IUSA vice president of administration Judd Arnold, a junior.\nThe bill passed through IUSA Congress Thursday, 25-4.\nOpponents of the bill immediately questioned whether buying a Corvette was a wise use of IUSA funds.\nThose opposed said the meeting was called hastily and with only a fraction of the full 72-member IUSA Congress present.\nBrock Boston, an IUSA senator from Foster Quad, said he was concerned the impromptu meeting was called just so the motion would pass.\nArnold said nothing about the meeting was out of the ordinary.\n"(The bill) would have passed regardless," he said. "Whether we waited two weeks, it wouldn't have mattered. We have a majority in Congress."\nThe IUSA congress normally doesn't pass bills without more members present, but an emergency session requires only 20 members, Arnold said.\nJeff Wuslich, a senior and former IUSA vice president of administration, said he was concerned about how the money is being spent.\nWuslich said credit card proceeds usually go to the Grass Roots Initiative Fund, which provides assistance to student groups on campus.\n"It seems somewhat alarming that $61,000 is going to one student, instead of many students," Wuslich said.\nSam Hill, a former IU student and once-member of IUSA, said increasing the number of IU voters could influence only the two representatives who serve Bloomington.\nHill said IUSA's priorities are in the wrong place.\n"I would like to see some fiscal responsibility being taken," he said. "A Corvette is not in the interest of students."\nBut Arnold said someone will always be opposed to his ticket's ideas.\n"The people who oppose it have voted against everything we've pushed," he said. "But every person I've talked to is not only like, great job, but thank you. On something like this, it's nice to have that support."\nBill Stephan, IU vice president of public affairs and government relations, said the administration supports IUSA's campaign.\n"We certainly endorse their efforts for taking part in the civic process," Stephan said.\nThe voting campaign was first introduced at a May 3 trustee meeting by IUSA president Bill Gray.\nAt that meeting, Gray said last year's tuition increase was, "brought about because state legislators really don't have any vested interest in listening to us. So, one of the first initiatives that we are going to do is the Vote Campaign. We are going to get 10,000 registered voters here at IU next year ... and (legislators) are going to actually pay attention to us down here"