XCD

Voting time for America's apathetic youth.

The student body at Plattsburgh State University (PSU), as well as other universities across the nation, appears to be engaged in the latest pastime of today’s young generation: Extreme Civic Disregard. The idea of this sport is simple enough and doesn’t require much effort. In fact, one participant best summarizes the philosophy behind Extreme Civic Disregard by stating, “If your disregard involves any effort whatsoever, it is not true disregard.” However, XCD does involve a tremendous commitment to individualism, self-centeredness, and, above all, total non-involvement.

On February 26, the Plattsburgh Room at the Angell College Center became an arena for this new sensation. On this day, it was to be classic XCD at its best.

The opposition — politically active members of the student association — showed up in good form. Packing an arsenal of various points and concerns about student non-involvement in civic affairs, along with some noteworthy guest-speakers, the SA seemed to be a formidable match for the XCD. But, in the end, and initially unrecognizable force would take the day. A force so opposing that one could conclude from the beginning that the SA never had a chance: An empty room.

However, before this conceptual entity can be realized in terms of its dominance, it first becomes necessary to examine the straight-forward, play by play coverage. So, prepare for the ultimate clash of ideals and ethics. It’s time for the SA to take on XCD in “The New Student Politic”.

Angell College Center, February 26, 4:00 p.m.

The Center for the Leadership Development and the Plattsburgh State Democracy Project, in conjunction with the Student Association, presented a forum on student civic engagement named by the above title. In attendance were members of these various groups, along with a handful of professors and an unannounced appearance by the mayor of Plattsburgh, Dan Stewart. The format involved viewing a live, via satellite transmission of an open format discussion. A variety of people were selected to the panel, including university professors and deans, along with student volunteers in the areas of community and civic service. However, as the whole purpose was to foster political interest within the student body, it was the students themselves that were, in a sense, to be the main attraction.

The degree of political interest among PSU students seemed conspicuous by its very absence; only nine people in the audience were actually students and, among these nine, five appeared to be organizers for the presentation. If, based on the law of averages, it’s possible that the remaining four were mandated to attend by their professors; then, it might be safe to assume that student disinterest in the event was absolute. However, there could be a number of students unaccounted for who, in their earnest to attend the meeting, were derailed in some sort of high speed car accident. Also, another possibility that warrants consideration might involve a misinterpretation of the event itself. Could the organizers have inadvertently alienated students not in their first semester here at the college by having the words “new student” within the title? While these possibilities cannot be ruled out, the fact remains that the actual number of genuinely interested students that turned out for the forum can be no greater than four.

Ironically, this bleak turnout was in total correspondence with the panelist’s underlying contention that would ultimately pepper every topic brought under discussion: Young Americans are apathetic, apolitical, and uninvolved, with a characteristic disregard for civic responsibility that is apparently matched only by their ignorance of the system in which they live. In the face of this unflattering depiction, a student might be inclined to respond by sarcastically replying: “Now tell how you really feel”.

While the discussion featured some interesting points about student disinterest in political matters, the fact that the panelist’s message was being echoed through an empty room became a far more interesting dynamic of the gathering. If baseball games can be canceled due to heavy rain, the organizers of the New Student Politic people need a similar plan to cancel their meeting due to heavy indifference (What’s the forecast? Apathy with periods of heavy civic disregard, followed by increasing non-involvement and ignorance? Better call off the forum.). Of course, it goes without saying that this suggestion is not likely to be well received by this group.

First, the event commenced with its televised segment. Featured were a diverse selection of college professors and administrators, along with students involved in different youth advocacy groups and program directors of various civic engagement organizations. The format entailed questions being offered for discussion among the panel members, with this members being randomly selected to respond. While the broadcast was live and a phone number was displayed that allowed for interaction with the program, no provision was made to facilitate this activity. Perhaps the message here was: Instead of voicing your worthless, uninformed opinion, just sit back and listen. If you’re good, maybe later we can go register you to vote.

The more noteworthy participants in this portion of the forum were the student members of the panel. It appears these students know all too well the degree of voter apathy among college students and their discourse reflected this. For example, Sarah Long, a Providence Community Health Corps member and college student, elaborated on certain issues and suggested a potential course of action to counter this lack of student interest.

Sarah felt that reliance on voluntary student involvement in civic matters is a non-reactive, idealistic position that has proven ineffective with the young generation of today’s universities. Instead, Sarah’s plan incorporates a more forceful method of getting students involved: Term requirements. The idea here is that once students have the exposure, they well see the importance of their vote and, ultimately, see they can make a difference. While this method of inducing political interest has vague political overtones, Sarah appears to have the social conscience to make decisions based on the better good of society. Mandatory course requirements in the area of politics will serve, in Sarah’s estimation, as a catalyst for civic engagement.

Ernie Boone, Executive Director of the Black Child and Family Institute, discussed mostly on the ground political realities, like the widening gap between the rich and the poor. While Boone’s efforts to make students understand the importance of their vote seemed impassioned enough, the message he carried reverberated throughout the empty room.

It would be this same barren Plattsburgh room that would steal the show. With its eerie silence and numerous vacant seats, the room gave the appearance that the forum was in a state of rehearsal. Surely this cannot be the meeting itself. But, how does one account for the mayor’s presence or the fact that the telecast was transmitted live? It was at this point the empty Plattsburgh room, by virtue of its haunting emptiness, reflected an unspoken social commentary on the true extent of the political disinterest among today’s young generation: Not only do they not care, but they aren’t interested in hearing about the fact that they don’t care.

Mayor Dan Stewart, equally undaunted by the bleak turnout, spoke of how most government officials actually don’t want young, radical 18-22 year old people to vote in the first place. The fear, particularly at the federal level, is that this group would be the most likely to vote them out of office. However, if this forum is any indication, these concerned government officials can rest easy.

While the New Student Politic featured some interesting conjecture of the civic responsibilities of young Americans, its most striking feature was the atmosphere of the spacious Plattsburgh Room. Why? Aside from anything your narrator found personally amusing, the idea that so many personalities would convey a message of widespread indifference and its ramifications to a room so empty almost transcends all reason. It also makes all the sense in the world (That is, the world of XCD).

Do you think students care or are they a lost cause? Tell us why!