Dear fellow students,
I can understand how our country feels hopeless sometimes. This historic election is the time for students to speak out and make their voices heard. Several students have asked me if their vote can really make a difference in California, or even the nation. The simple truth is yes.
It’s about changing the culture of voting and representing our demographic. Every time a student votes, we increase our chances of being noticed, heard and represented by politicians.
For the past few weeks, Associated Students, Inc. has been registering students to vote at our “Raise Your Voice” campaign. We have been so thrilled at how many students are already registered and so passionate about November’s election.
If you are not yet registered, today is your last chance. Please stop by the AS Government office in USU-311 in the University Student Union to register, or register online at rockthevote.com. We will do anything and everything in our power to help you through the process.
There will be a polling location in the USU for those registered at this location. You can also drop off your absentee ballots there. Don’t forget to register absentee before October 28th. I registered to vote absentee online at govoteabsentee.org and my ballot came in the mail in just a few days. All I have to do now is walk over to the University Student Union polling location and drop off my absentee ballot. Easy!
A national focus on higher education is being overlooked and has hardly been mentioned in this presidential election. Rising tuition costs, textbook policies and outrageous student loan policies are just a few of the many issues affecting students that are being ignored.
Lt. Gov. John Garamendi said during his recent visit to Cal State Long Beach that a predicted $400 million tax is proposed to strike California’s most “apathetic” demographic — the student.
Do you want California’s budget to be balanced on the back of you and your family? I sure don’t!
The more of us students who get out and vote, the more we will be noticed and have our concerns considered. By voting, you can help prove that higher education must be a priority. When the state invests its dollars in higher education, it is raising an educated class of citizens who are well-trained to take on the state’s and country’s future problems.
For any who are interested in politics and/or lobbying for student issues, I would love to recruit you to join the Associated Students Lobby Corps team. Lobby Corps gives us the opportunity to meet with state and federal legislators about students’ concerns and teaches us to establish a working relationship with legislators.
To apply for Lobby Corp, fill out an application in the student government office in USU-311.
The student voice cannot stop at registration; the only way to be recognized by our city, state and country, as well as all others who regard our generation as “apathetic,” is to go out and vote. There is hope! Let’s make ourselves heard. Raise Your Voice with me on Nov. 4th.
— Erin Swetland
CSULB ASI president
