Write your congressman

I came to Bloomington with great expectations.\nFor some reason these expectations took shape under the assumption that this campus would be the exception to the "apathetic" rule prevalent in guiding our generation.\nIt is hard to say whether it was naive idealism that encouraged this vision of a campus teeming at the brim with political activism, interest and involvement, or if my expectations were a product of how I thought things should be. Either way, I've been left sorely disappointed.\nRecently, while examining the ever popular District 9 congressional race between Mike Sodrel and Baron Hill, I've found myself wondering if this really is so bad. Do we have a reason to care about this particular congressional election? Perhaps these candidates really offer nothing of interest to college students. Maybe the fault lies in their campaigning. Maybe they just aren't giving us enough attention. Or maybe they need to be striving to mobilize the student demographic in a bigger way. Let's blame the politicians for our lack of concern. It sounds easier than getting involved anyway. While these are easy conclusions to which to jump, my idealistic nature persuaded me to endure.\nIf I really want to know what these candidates offer, why don't I just ask them? So I sent Sodrel and Hill identical e-mails explaining my situation, how I've found involvement to be lacking in this race compared to student involvement in District 2, where I'm from. I asked a few basic questions. I asked them if the level of involvement at IU was thought of as pivotal to the district, what their campaigns offer to attract the vote of students and what they thought could be done to make this race more appealing.\nI can't tell you what Sodrel has to say about these queries because I was never contacted by him or a staff member (whether this is a coincidence, the fault of technology or the product of time constraints, I could not say).\nHowever, I can tell you that Melanie Morris, Baron Hill's press secretary, contacted me within hours of sending the e-mail, asking me if the next day would be fine for her to send his response. I can tell you what Hill offers to the college student. I can explain his intent to "fight to make college more affordable." I can even explain how "Mike Sodrel voted against an alternative higher education funding bill that would cut student loan interest rates and reverse cuts to student aid." I am now aware of the plans Hill has that would "encourage voter registration and participation and promote young political activism at IU." I do, after all, feel the student vote is critical especially in a district in which Sodrel claimed his 2004 victory "by less than 1500 votes" (1,365 votes to be exact). So if students are ready to get involved, I know there is at least one candidate who is looking to work for those "disappointed with our leaders in Washington," and I know another "who sides with the Administration over the people of Indiana"