Throughout the semester, the DAILY NEWS has urged students tobecome acquainted with Muncie's candidates and the issues affectingthe city and to get to the polls on Election Day -- that'sTuesday.
You have two choices: vote or don't. But make sure either islegitimate. Pleading ignorance or apathy is a typicalcollege-student excuse. Choosing Tommy Rector because you thinkhe's good looking is not entirely democratic. Picking a partybecause your parents do is a start. But whether you drive to thepolls or stay home on Tuesday, have a reason for it.
Because Muncie is your nine-month host and Ball State Universityis such a significant part of the city, the actions of the cityofficials affect students. Likewise, your individual vote canaffect the election. The policies created by Muncie's mayor shapethe city, as Larry Riley wrote in his Nov. 2 column in The StarPress, "(A mayor's) biggest contribution is to make a communityattractive, with a vibrant downtown, decent streets, effectivepolice...."
Ball State students eat and gather downtown, drive on Muncie'sstreets and rely on its police for protection. That'srelevancy.
Still, you can exercise your right and abstain from voting.Whether you dislike the candidates or the Republican-Democraticparty system, you can make a statement by not voting. Avoiding thepolls is a powerful way to express discontent. But do not confusethe act with a failure to educate yourself or a failure toregister; laziness is not equitable to civil disobedience.
The elections are going to happen with or without you. Butwhether you vote or don't, or are satisfied or ready for change,let the city know by exercising your democratic right.
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