It's been pretty tough to walk anywhere on this campus recently and not notice the campaign posters plastered on walls in just about every building. I personally make it a habit to check out the bulletin boards every so often in order to stay updated on all the goings-on at Dartmouth. But some of the campaign posters I've been seeing lately disturb me, and they're indicative of an even greater problem.
Vote for (fill in whatever name you chose). Is this what elections for leaders of what is supposedly one of the most intelligent student bodies in the world have come to? Perhaps, being a naive little 'shman, I'm allowing my ideals to cloud reality, but I really thought that a group of such bright, intellectual people would want to judge a candidate on something more than the font they used on their posters. Yet, I haven't heard too many people complaining about the fact that most candidates hang posters that say "Vote for So and So" or "So and So for President," but do not give even the slightest reason why we should vote for this person. I feel that by plastering the campus with such meaningless posters, some of the candidates are insulting the very people whose vote they are trying to gain. We live in a free society. I do not want to be told who to blindly vote for. I want to be given information on where the candidates stand on important issues and what previous record they have of serving the student body so that I can make my own informed decision.
I certainly hope that students do not make voting decisions based upon who had the snazziest posters, the best photograph in the election packet or the most chic outfit at the candidates fair. But they just might, if they don't realize just how important these elections are. Students of Dartmouth: Wake up! Get your nose out of the books (or the beer bottle, take your pick) and open your eyes to the fact that we have a whole new administration taking office in the next year. This means that there is an enormous potential for change on campus. You might not chose to believe me now, but sooner or later you'll realize I'm right, and if you don't make the right voting choices now, you may wake up one morning at a Dartmouth you barely recognize.
Imagine a Dartmouth completely void of student social space, a Dartmouth where the primary focus is on graduate research instead of undergraduate education, a Dartmouth in which trustees and administrators make decisions that will affect each and every one of us without ever considering the student body's opinions. Scary, isn't it? This is the Dartmouth that may well become reality if we do not have experienced, visionary student leaders who not only have the courage to fight the administration for students' rights when necessary, but who also have the ability to win such battles.
I must admit, I am not writing this column out of the goodness of my heart. I have a vested interest in who becomes our next set of student leaders. What is it, you ask? I'm an '01, and I have three more years to spend as a Dartmouth student. So I want to do everything possible to make sure that this college does not turn into that mess I described earlier. I want to be represented by someone who truly cares about representing the entire student body, not just his friends. I want my rights to be defended by someone who knows from experience how to win the best possible outcomes for students. Most importantly, I want to be led by someone who cares about Dartmouth as deeply as I do.
So, when you're trying to decide who to cast your vote for this Wednesday and Thursday, please, don't look at the meaningless campaign posters hung by some of the candidates. Instead, go right up to the candidates and look at them. Ask them about their views, their experience and how they see Dartmouth in the future. Don't just listen to their words, either. Listen to the way they speak, and watch the look in their eyes. Then vote for the candidate who radiates a love for Dartmouth.
