This past Monday, Mississippi State students realized just how important it is to vote.
The Student Association hosted a debate between incumbent Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and challenger Haley Barbour. The debate was the second of four and was held in McComas hall, which has a capacity of about 500. Of roughly 500 tickets, over 300 went to the campaigns and another 100 went to the president and other university officials.
After all the calculations, only 47 tickets were left for the people who made the debate possible in the first place-the students. MSU has over 16,000 students. One hundred is a very small percentage of 16,000. The scarcity of student tickets for this event left many feeling disenfranchised.
It was great that the leading institution in Mississippi had a chance to host this debate. I commend SA President Josh Blades and all others who worked tirelessly to have this debate hosted here. It is absurd, though, that only 47 tickets were handed out to students.
The campaigns for both candidates should be ashamed at the massive number of tickets that they required. A debate is supposed to be a chance for people to take a closer look at both of the candidates. They answer questions about what they plan to do if elected.
I guarantee that everyone working for the campaigns already knows what their candidate is going to say. Let some people who are not so sure what the candidates stand for have a chance to be educated. They may have even picked up a few votes.
However, the candidates are not entirely to blame. Unfortunately, students have brought this overlooking upon themselves. Voter apathy and cynicism are two of the issues that plague college students and other young adults.
You cannot fault politicians for ignoring a group that does not vote. Interest groups like the American Association for Retired People have mobilized the vote and become one of, if not the, most influential organizations in America.
It is simple as this: If you don’t vote, then no one cares what your opinion is. The politicians who have the power to pass legislation and make substantial changes have and will continue to cater to those who support them by voting.
Politicians like Musgrove and Barbour will continue to ignore the needs of students until we stand up and let our voice be heard.
Both candidates have pledged to put more money into schools and education. That is great, but who holds them accountable if eligible students do not show approval or displeasure by voting? When students decide to take a more active role in the political process, their power will rise.
Until then, students can expect to be ignored continually. Unlike many others, students do not have the huge political contributions or other forms of power that other voters may hold. No matter what someone else may be able to give or contribute, the equalizing factor is that everyone only gets one vote.
No one voter is more important than another. Keep that in mind and students will not be on the outside looking in at the next debate.
Nyerere Tryman is a graduate student in public policy and administration. He can be reached at [email protected].