Students care. Despite some remarks to the contrary, all students care about at least one issue and stand by their opinions, their experiences and their personal knowledge. That is how they show they care deep down: they share ideas on social media, throwing themselves into heated conversations or arguments and saying, “Well I know, for me, I think…”
Across the country, students are finding their voice. They engage with their representatives and their fellow Americans, and to engage, in this case, is not being thrown around here as a good buzzword. They are asking more of their representatives: protect us, meet us and advocate for us. The old shall wilt away, and every baby boomer will see their sun set. Still, too few politicians see the use of listening to a student.
A politician will only ever stick their neck out for student issues, such as college tuition, healthcare availability, gun rights, marijuana or transportation, if they know the students stand behind them. A politician is more powerful than billions of dollars if students just vote from their hearts for the candidates who take stands on their behalf. Is there a candidate who represents students? Prove to them that if they help students they can also count on students voting, and voters voices will rise above the highest pile of campaign cash.
Yet even if students register to vote and participate, so many representatives face safe elections. Nothing will move these safe politicians, even if a few more students going to school out of county vote, because the election is still safe. So why not engage where it counts? Oswego has the benefit of competitiveness. It swings back and forth, red or blue, one way or the other, election after election. How students vote in the 24th Congressional District could easily change the makeup of the city, the state and the country. Dana Balter is the Democrat challenging sitting Republican Congressman John Katko, and the election could swing one way or the other with student votes.
Here is a call to arms: register to vote here. Student votes can matter here. Oswego State adds 8,000 new voices to the district each election, and when the election can be decided by thousands of votes, candidates will listen. They know Oswego and the 24th District can easily slip out of the hands of any candidate for office here, so it removes the safety of running without student support. They know they have 8,000 voices all crying out to be heard and willing to put all their electoral power against the person who refuses to listen. If home elections are too safe, then use your voice as a student to register, and register for Oswego.
Our country is holding the door open for us, here, now. Step inside, register to vote here, and, for once, have control of the future in a world that gets crazier by the day.
Photo by Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian
