Special thanks to the GOP

Bloomington students: Your backs are against the walls, again, as your community credibility will be determined on Nov. 2.

Tuesday was the final opportunity to gain satellite voting on IU and Ivy Tech campuses, and with cameras rolling, Monroe County Election Board member Judith Smith-Ille admitted her “no” decision carried deep partisan roots.

The members of the election board as well as Bloomington resident Cindy McCullough said our involvement in Bloomington’s community runs as far as the doors of Kilroy’s.
“I don’t think any of these kids are so hurting for time that they can’t find a moment to take away from their studies. I mean they all manage to get to Kilroy’s,” McCullough said at Tuesday’s election board meeting.

Apparently, they didn’t count the students who study full-time, work full-time and still manage to volunteer their time to community involvement.

And if students couldn’t have been beaten anymore, the Chairman of the IU College Republicans stood by the decision, claiming students need to adjust their schedules for Election Day.

So for any student who has an 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. school day, doesn’t own a car or in some cases both, you are out of luck. See you in 2012.

We’ve been told our opinions do not matter and our turnout rate will determine our respect for this community. Our say has no say in Bloomington.
 
Wrong.
 
If there is ever a moment to prove our credibility as future leaders for this country, this is the time.
 
You don’t have to participate in a rally or canvas the city.
All I’m asking is for your vote on Election Day, and I don’t care if you’re a Republican or Democrat.

These ignorant stereotypes of college students need to end. The early voting issue aside, the focus should now be on not where to vote, but how to get there. And for some students, it will be their priority to help you bust this fiction.

Student organizations are already drawing game plans for the few early voting dates at the city’s Curry Building. Within the next month, bus stations will provide students and faculty the chance to get the ballot in when we’re best available.
 
This process will drain little time from the day. So use that 30-minute class break to “check” voting off your list. If you feel you may be late to your next class, let the professor know beforehand. They would much rather excuse your tardiness because you chose to vote instead of sleeping in the Union.
 
It’s a shame some Bloomington residents believe our opinions mean nothing to the community.
 
In a way, we should be thankful. Residents like McCullough have opened a Pandora’s box. It is a dose of reality the students needed to have before November.
Thank you. Now we can prove you wrong.


E-mail: dreander@indiana.edu