While most of their classmates were on vacation or studying in Firestone, a few University students traveled to a freezing New Hampshire last week to support candidates in the Democratic presidential primary. Princetonian senior writers Melisa Gao and Lindsay McGregor's stories chronicling the students' experiences began Monday and will continue through early next week. On a campus where students and faculty often complain about political apathy, the students' dedication to their candidates serves as a positive example.
It wouldn't be reasonable to expect everyone on campus to go campaign. Democrats are the only ones holding primaries. The general election is still nine months away. With the exception of Sen. John Edwards, whose daughter is in the Class of 2004, none of the candidates has visited Princeton. Aside from a table in Frist Campus Center or an occassional meeting, the campaigns' campus organizations have kept a rather low profile.
It's not surprising Edwards has had some pull on campus because of his personal ties. And all the candidates have tried hard to attract college students. But on campus, there hasn't been much debate outside this page and several other publications such as American Foreign Policy, Idealistic Nation and the Tory. And it's not clear what kind of impact our debates have had.
When students marched on Nassau Hall to protest the Vietnam War in 1968, they carried a sign declaring, "Even Princeton." There was almost universal opposition to the war on campus.
Now it's much more divided and dispassionate. Though a few students actively supported or opposed the war in Iraq, for the most part the conflict hardly registered.
With such concern about apathy, we should make a concerted effort to show we care. A good start would be for campus candidate groups to take a more public role. Perhaps the College Democrats could organize a debate among the groups.
The students, faculty and staff are going to have to take the initiative. The vote for president is the most important one we make. On this page, we'll try to help. We'll be open to supporters and critics of both parties.
But more than writing down your thoughts, we encourage you to follow the lead of the students who marched through New Hampshire, and get out there during Spring Break and this summer for your candidate.
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