There is a Japanese proverb that reads, "Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare." Lately, I've been thinking about the role that vision plays in changing the lives of others and, ultimately, changing institutions that have an impact every day. Most politicians run on a platform of extensive experience with the vision to match, but somewhere along the way that vision gets lost (if it ever existed to begin with). I talk about the vision of a leader as not simply an idea of what the future should be, but as the capacity and determination to actually bring about the results that they list in their speeches and websites. Anyone can say, "I believe in an equitable, affordable, enjoyable Tufts and I believe we can achieve it now," but when TCU presidential nominee Andrew N???±ez says it, I believe him.
I could talk about the meat and potatoes reasons for why I support Andrew's campaign for TCU President - the institutionalization of a lending library, an overhaul of sexual assault policy and his commitment to push for the expulsion of rapists, the expansions of Tufts study abroad programs and gender-neutral housing - I could go on and on. And I wish I could. His platform is not a laundry list of student complaints or vague buzzword-filled catch-all phrases like "campus diversity." Instead, one of the first responses from his campaign, on fossil fuel divestment, hit home hard and, plainly speaking, knocked my socks off: "N???±ez stands in solidarity with those at the front lines of the global struggle against global warming, namely people in the post-colonial world who have struggled for centuries against Westernization and industrialization."
That's the guy I want to be my TCU President. N???±ez is the real deal.
Not only does N???±ez have a detailed record of ingenuity and action throughout the past three years as a member of the Senate, but he also has the intellectual fortitude, energetic charisma and cooperative spirit to represent all Tufts students with an ear constantly to the ground.
The thing about vision is that it is as much shaped by internal hopes as it is by external realities. We need someone who isn't blinded by denial goggles. As I've said before in my column, "Denial can take many forms, from not tackling an issue directly or honestly to simply not giving a damn." Andrew has consistently tackled some of the most pressing issues students face on campus and gives a damn even when that damn may be unpopular - that is what vision is. It is not supporting common-sense solutions that happen to be "politically correct". Vision is being politically erect in the face of discriminatory policies, erect on issues of affordability and accessibility and erect on making Tufts a university where everyone cannot just get by, but can thrive and feel at home - whether we're in Dewick or the Latino Center or a dorm room.
As the election kicks into high gear, you'll hear lists of positions and proposals, you'll overlook YouTube links and overwhelmingly "liked" Facebook photos. That's all right. That's the beauty of it all. We get to decide for ourselves who is best fit to lead. And we get to throw our support behind them 100 percent, not because they're our friend or our classmate but because they have a vision... and that vision is reflected every time we look down on campus from the President's Lawn or take in the beauty of Boston from the roof of Tisch.
So you decide - what do you see? I know what's right in front of me and that, my friends, is a vote for N???±ez. Now.
Jonathan Moore is a freshman and is majoring in political science and American studies. He can be reached at Jonathan.Moore581594@tufts.edu
