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A political debate will take place in the Memorial Union on March 22 featuring students with little formal political experience that will have absolutely no effect on national policy or the nation’s future, and we think every student available should be there.
University of Maine students have not been taking advantage of recent opportunities to engage in important decisions like the Tobacco Free Campus Initiative. Fewer than 60 students showed up at two public forums this month to voice support or opposition for this policy. Guest lectures, art exhibits and other public events focused on learning or culture are typically poorly attended as well. One would think UMaine students aren’t interested about seeing anything but hockey games or Dierks Bentley concerts.
Apathy is inconsistent with the ideals of education, that students would come to learn more about their world and grow into the people who impact it in a positive way.
The debate will not showcase high-profile politicians, but it will display a group of our peers actively seeking to understand and improve the variegated and acerbic U.S. political landscape. One doesn’t need to be a political science student to benefit; all students who can be there should be to learn some of the complexities of the two parties that drive our nation’s government. We encourage attendees to research the issues they find important beforehand and challenge the representatives on their stances.
At UMaine, where numerous opportunities for involvement and learning exist, there is no excuse for ignorance or lack of engagement. An apathetic, uninformed populace is ultimately a weak one. Students should start doing what they can to change this today.
