Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Feb. 28, 2002, edition 1 / Page 4
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Page 4 Qpinfons Feb. 28; 2002 Generation will lead the ‘charge to change’ Adonal Foyle KRT Campus The weekend before last, while some of my NBA colleagues traveled to Philadelphia for the All-Star game, I spent two days talking, debating and planning with a group of more than 70 college students about a new national organization I founded last summer. Democracy Matters. The organization helps give young people a voice in the growing movement to reform the financing of our political system by linking campaign-finance re form efforts in students’ commu nities. This event was our first chance to get together. Democracy Mat ters student organizers traveled from as far away as.Texas, Idaho and North Carolina to come to Colgate University, my alma mater, in Hamilton, N.Y. They defy the stereotype that today’s college students are apathetic and uncaring. Students engaged in serious de bates about the kind of financing that would be fair and would help give every American an equal chance to be heard. The disagree ments that emerged were not just tolerated, but respectfully seen as sources of insight and fresh think ing. For anyone concerned about student apathy, the weekend’s in tense discussions and planning would have provided an effective antidote. They have the desire to speak out loud and clear on important issues. Of course they are critical of, and even disillusioned with, the current system of financing elections - as are many of us. And why shouldn’t they be? The revelation of political quid pro quos associated with the Enron scandal is only the most recent ex ample. When elected officials be come beholden to special interests that make large financial contribu tions to their election efforts, it is obvious reform is needed. The up shot is that elected officials and candidates accord differences in “access” based on the level of con tributions donated. Politicians to- day'spend huge amounts of theu’ time raising money and are too of ten concerned more about not alienating their donors than about representing and serving their con stituents. It’s no surprise, then, that many students turn away from political involvement. But I believe they will lead the charge to change. Now that the Shays-Meehan bill has received initial approval in the House, I predict students will lead the push for more com prehensive reform—where all Americans can have a fair and equal chance to make their voices heard. (c) 2002, Adonal Foyle Distributed by Knight RidderlTri- bune Information Services. LETTERS^ ^ Thoughtful recycling processes can further Elon To the Editor: We’re really excited about Elon’s New Year’s resolution to start recy cling again! It’s definitely a step in the right direction to be recycling white paper, plastics and aluminum. White paper will be collected weekly in Long, Alamance, Duke, Powell, Whitley, Mooney, McEwen and Belk Library. However, we must keep in mind that recycling paper is just the first step to a more environmentally conscious campus. In order to truly recycle, we must go beyond simply putting our pa per in the designated bins. The next step is buying back the paper that we recycle. The library and computer labs combined go through 15 cases of virgin paper each week. This contributes to the fact that 25 percent of world’s population consumes 75 percent of the Earth’s wood. The appropriate alternative is to use post-consumer product in our computer labs and photocopi ers. This would only be completing the recycling process and taking Elon’s recycling program to the es sential level. — Rachel Della Valle Sierra Club To The Pendulum Have any suggestions, comments or complaints? Tell us. Write to The Pendulum at pendulum@elon.edu THE SGA EDITION or eUMoq sqiuniij^ Actual voter turnout was only J,177 students, just a small percentage of our4y000+ student body. you,^* As SGA elections were approachingy candidates sta tioned themselves around cam pus to meet voters. However, many of them approached people numerous times, each time saying, ^It is nice to meet The past two SGA elections have seen a large increase in voter turnout.
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Feb. 28, 2002, edition 1
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