Political voice created by Student body

In the past weeks, it has become impossible to escape national and local efforts of political awareness and activity. National organizations like MoveOn.org and Act04.org are sending out daily emails urging action. Vassar student groups like the College Democrats are advocating political activism and participation through events like Democracy on the Quad, where students use their free cell phone minutes to make important calls to policy makers, and Dorm Storming, where students “storm” dorms, registering others to vote. From every media giant we are hearing that “Decision 2004” might just be the most important one we as Americans will ever be called upon to make.

The close nature of the election has polarized the country, and regardless of partisanship or lack there of, every U.S. citizen capable of voting is implicated in this political climate. Here at Vassar, the situation is no different.

Despite the oft-noted liberal bent of the Vassar community, one unified voice from our small College in Poughkeepsie remains to be heard.

However, there will be no official stance administered by the College. Vassar is an institution with non-profit status and as a result of federal financial aid funding, cannot endorse a candidate in any election. The College is limited in its political action from Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 18 USCA Sec. 610, and the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, Public Law No. 92-225. The best way to understand this qualification is to take the example of a faculty member living in a Vassar-owned house. Since the College owns the land on which the individual’s house sits, the resident is not permitted to post any political signs on their lawn. However, as they are renting the house from the College, they are allowed to post a sign on the physical structure of their house. Thus it is up to the individuals or individuals living in the house to either make or not make a political statement for themselves.

Our collective voice is thus determined by the individual opinions of each member of our community and not dictated by an elected or hired adminitrative filter.

We now have a unique opportunity to fully understand what ideas drive the Vassar community. After all, we are made up of individuals, who each have their own value set and opinions. We often tend to generalize the mindset and ideology of the community as ‘liberal.’ However, we then have the resulting analysis that the campus needs to promote a greater dialogue among differing opinions and foster a stronger sense of acceptance for those individuals that actively do not fall under this liberal generalization. However, organized campus bodies can only be as strong and active as its size and membership base allows.

Vassar’s Moderate Independent Conservative Alliance (MICA) is often cited as the group that ‘takes the other side’ in political debates. However, this student group cannot be involved in every single political conversation on campus. Student activity during this election year is directly proportional to the amount of interest that exists here and now at Vassar. This situation provides us with a unique opportunity to reflect on our ideology as it really is and not as we generalize it to be. It is interesting to see the considerations that groups have made in trying to represent the needs of the politically aware students on campus. Hip Hop 101 wisely renamed their intended “Bush Bash,” held on Sept. 25, to “Da Partie,” demonstrating sensitivity to all political views. It seems that in the struggle to promote a sound political voice, students automatically consider ‘the other side.’ It seems our collective voice is in self-check in an effort aimed at political sensitivity and consideration of opposing views.

Although the voice heard by the College is not all-inclusive, it is representative of those who wish to be heard, and is not the result of any coercion by the College as an instituion. And, based on the conduct of our political organiztions and activists, it seems we’re doing a pretty solid job at covering our bases.

Unsigned editorials represent a two-thirds majority opinion of the editorial board.