Electoral energy
Hopkins student involvement in the current election season has generally been disappointing. Student activist groups on campus have been unable to attract more interest in the elections, which in turn makes these groups more irrelevant. This cycle is discouraging, particularly for a university with such intelligent students.
The problem is two-fold: Our activist groups have not done enough to engage to students, and students have not taken the initiative to get involved, whether on their own, on campus or in Baltimore.
The student groups have strong, generally well-formed opinions, but they have not always been effective at getting their messages out. These groups should campaign for their causes both on campus and throughout the city. Participation in the democratic process is not a partisan issue. All opinions and parties should participate fully and visibly.
In such a pivotal election year, now is as good a time as any to get involved. With international conflicts and crises at every turn, the environment in peril, economic instability and our country's broken health care system, it is beyond frustrating to see indifference among so many students at Hopkins and across the nation.
We can do so much more to get involved. We can make informed, thoughtful decisions about whom to support, and we can actually vote. We can volunteer for our preferred candidates. Maryland's primary is next Tuesday, Feb. 12 - this weekend is the perfect time to go canvassing in Baltimore for your candidate of choice.
Furthermore, it is impossible to be well-educated without being well-informed participants in our society beyond the walls of the classroom or the lab. We are attending Hopkins to receive a well-rounded education, and that should include being active citizens in our democracy, rather than uninformed bystanders.
The problem is two-fold: Our activist groups have not done enough to engage to students, and students have not taken the initiative to get involved, whether on their own, on campus or in Baltimore.
The student groups have strong, generally well-formed opinions, but they have not always been effective at getting their messages out. These groups should campaign for their causes both on campus and throughout the city. Participation in the democratic process is not a partisan issue. All opinions and parties should participate fully and visibly.
In such a pivotal election year, now is as good a time as any to get involved. With international conflicts and crises at every turn, the environment in peril, economic instability and our country's broken health care system, it is beyond frustrating to see indifference among so many students at Hopkins and across the nation.
We can do so much more to get involved. We can make informed, thoughtful decisions about whom to support, and we can actually vote. We can volunteer for our preferred candidates. Maryland's primary is next Tuesday, Feb. 12 - this weekend is the perfect time to go canvassing in Baltimore for your candidate of choice.
Furthermore, it is impossible to be well-educated without being well-informed participants in our society beyond the walls of the classroom or the lab. We are attending Hopkins to receive a well-rounded education, and that should include being active citizens in our democracy, rather than uninformed bystanders.
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