Thursday, Sept. 30, 1982/Kaleidoscope/2
e ditorial
Vote, then complain
Voting is a privilege and duty. Few people, however, take advantage of
the opportunity to take part in their political system. Saturday, Oct. 2 is
the last time people can register to vote in the upcoming election.
Some people feel voting in the congressional or local elections is a waste of
time. This is not correct. Congress has a tremendous bearing on the work
ings of our government. If people are not satisfied with the way the legisla
tion or administration of the government is working, they should vote for
the candidate that can best do the job.
Nothing can change without the vote from the constituents. The burden
for change is placed on the voters. Some people say that their vote will not
count. This is ridiculous. Every vote can make a tremendous degree of
change.
People complain about the government, the poUcies, or agencies but they
did not even take a few minutes to vote in the last election.
Students who feel strongly about cuts in grants and scholarships should
voice their displeasure. If these same senators and representatives remain
in office nothing will change. The congressmen will continue to passively
vote the way that Reagan wants them to vote.
Students should vote also because many issues that effect them are voted
on everyday. The draft, legal drinking age, and abortion are all issues that
greatly effect the lives of college students.
Many college students are more informed about poHtics and issues than
the average American citizen.
The same sense of responsibility should be felt in the university student
government elections. It was so discouraging to see how many people voted
last year. Only a small percentage of eligible voters participated in the elec
tions. How do the students expect to have any voice in the university ad
ministration without voting for another student who can represent them?
Some students feel that the student government of a university is just a
club or a group of students who enjoy politics. This is far from the truth.
The SGA can be a strong and powerful force in the workings of the universi
ty. It is virtually the only outlet for students to vent their ideas and prob
lems. However, the SGA is only as strong as the support they receive from
the student body. If the amount of voters is representative of the support
for SGA then we all need to work harder. Students can make a difference in
both their campus poUtics and national poHtics. The only way to do it,
however, is to get out and VOTE!
Allison Decker Whitt, Editor
Dana Murdock, Associate Editor
Kerri Pace,
Entertainment Editor
Tina Wolfe,
Features Editor
Keith Flynn,
Sports Editor
Jonathan Austin,
Production Editor
David Pickett,
Photography Editor
Janet Royster,
Business Manager
Catherine Mitchell, Advisor
Staff writers; Marty Cherrix, Carol Whitener, David Levin, Marla
Hardee, Karen Klumb, Elise Henshaw, Robin Sexton, Tim Riddle,
Lora Watson, Kari Howard, Hal Case, Leigh Kelley, Suzanne Booker,
Jennifer Blalock, and Dona Guffey.
Staff artist: Hai-Kang Hsu.
Unless otherwise indicated, the opinions expressed in the editorials,
editorial cartoons, and columns in the Kaleidoscope do not necessarily
reflect the viewpoint of the staff, staff advisor, UNCA’s Student
Government, administration or faculty.
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Drinking and driving,
are tiiere solutions?
Raise the drinking age? Many col
lege students would cringe at the
thought, but others would welcome
a reform in the legal drinking age.
Thousands of people lose their lives
in alcohol-related accidents each
year. A reform in the drinking age
might reduce the number of ac
cidents.
One week night last winter, three
college students, two young men
and one woman, went bar-hopping.
It was free beer night at a local bar.
These students went to this bar
primarily to drink. It was their
favorite pastime, like millions of
other college students.
When they had their fill they left
the bar in two cars. The two young
men, who had quite a lot to drink,
submitted to the temptation to race.
The curves on Merrimon Avenue
were not anticipated. The small
Honda hit a telephone pole and spun
into the path of another car. The
young man and woman had to be cut
from the crushed car.
The accident resulted in the
woman’s death. She was only 19
years old. The man was 20. The
mental anguish he faces is terrify
ing.
The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administrtion [NHTSA]
reported that each year 8,000 people
aged 16-24 are killed in alcohol-
related accidents. Likewise, 40,000
are disfigured. A Health, Educa
tion, and Welfare study reported
that 18 to 20-year-olds are one of the
heaviest drinking age groups.
Drunk driving accounts for half of
all auto accidents according to the
NHTSA.
These figures are startling, but
society continues to promote and ap
prove of drinking. Many drunk
drivers who have killed someone are
given light sentences or fines. They
are soon back on the road, drinking
and driving.
The problem is not alcohol. The
problem is the lack of responsibility
of the people when they drink. Twen
ty states have raised the drinking
age from 18 to 21, and others are
seriously considering it.
This action will not prevent all 18
to 20 year-olds from drinking, but
the effort will be worthwhile if the
number of accidents is reduced and
the death rate of innocent victims
decreased.
If people refuse to accept respon
sibility for their actions, restrictions
must be enforced. There is also a
need for reforms affecting all age
groups. This is only a beginning.