This semester, I've had the privilege of writing a weekly column for the Tufts Daily. I'd be lying if I said it's been an easy ride; it is a surprisingly tough job, requiring a lot of research and a fairly sizeable time commitment. My reward, however, is watching my peers react and respond to my columns. Every time a
column sparks a political debate in a dorm's common room, or, on occasion, a written response to the Daily, I feel even more motivated to find the next hot topic and bring it to the reader's attention.
Tufts is one of the most politically active campuses: a fact that we don't get enough credit for. As college students, we have enough on our plate already; we're mostly preoccupied with our classes, work, clubs, internships, jobs and, of course, our social lives. It's often easy to overlook what's going on in the world outside of college. We, as students, should be commended for staying "politically active" amidst all of our other involvements and commitments.
That is one of the main reasons I wanted to write a column for the Daily; it would force me to stay informed about news and politics. My goal has been to relay the most interesting stories I find to the Daily's readers. Every week, I hope that that my column will spark a response. I am always pleased to read a Viewpoint contribution about one of my articles, whether it's arguing for or against my stance.
It is very important for people our age to take an interest in the future of our country. The decisions that our government makes today will affect not only our generation, but our kids' lives as well as the generations that will follow them. We are repeatedly told that we are tomorrow's movers and leaders. We don't have to wait until tomorrow; we can make a difference today.
It was much easier for our parents to be politically active. Their generation was pushed into the political arena by the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War. We, on the other hand, must make more of a concerted effort to stay involved. It's hard to get motivated about taxes or Medicare, things that might not directly affect us. Although today's issues may not seem as pressing as those our parents fought for, they are no less important.
It depresses me to see how few people our age have voted in the past. Unfortunately, democracy, particularly when it comes to campaigning, is a reactionary process. Candidates will cater to the people that come to the polls. Those demographics that vote the most are rewarded with the most political attention. Young people are traditionally seen as apathetic, and it shows in our voter turnout. If we want our voice to be heard, we have to show politicians that we too can control their fate.
I remember hearing how young people would swing the vote in the 2004 Presidential election. Many experts believed our generation would make the difference, and I was encouraged to see a large increase in voter turnout among youth. Roughly 50 percent of people aged 18-29 voted, and our generation made up almost 20 percent of all voters. In the 2000 election, that demographic made up less than 10 percent of voters.
This increase in youth participation has forced politicians to spend time courting our votes. One telling example has been the battle over Social Security. President Bush and Congressional Republicans have repeatedly targeted young people in their campaigns for reform. They have made speeches at college campuses and have stressed how they believe the President's plan will make the biggest difference for our generation.
The 2004 election was a great start. However, we need to continue to increase the youth turnout and force elected officials to pay attention to our views. As I said before, we do not need to wait for tomorrow to take an active role. I encourage you to debate among your peers, make your opinions known, submit a Viewpoint to the Daily about an issue that moves you. Discussion is the first step towards participation, and what better place for fostering new ideas than a politically active campus.
