Student defends voting and taking political action
 
Contrary to what The Daily Reveille’s opinion section will tell you, voting does matter. And you should care.
 
In his recent opinion section, Scott Burns said that if we don’t like what’s going on in Washington, we should not vote this November.
 
Yep. You read that right.
 
The situation is just too far gone, Burns said.  
 
Let’s pretend Burns is right. Let’s assume, for the heck of it, that all of Washington is corrupt. What would we do if all the people, all the policies, all the channels of communication and the entire system is riddled with ineptitude and sleaze?
 
Let’s suspend reason for a moment and forget how improbable and cynical that sounds.
 
I’m asking a legitimate question here.
 
In that sort of sordid political landscape, we would have three options.
 
1. Not do anything — on the basis that it wouldn’t matter anyway.
 
2. Move out of the country — hey, beats having to deal with the system, right?
 
3. Get off your derriere and do something about the madness —  too logical.
 
Sure, not doing anything is an option. But it’s also an easy out. If you don’t like what you see in the world around you, what good will twiddling your thumbs do?
 
Really, anyone can complain. Anyone can write off politics as just another “silly little game.” And who hasn’t heard that Washington is out of touch or out of control? I mean, really. We could at least be more imaginative in our criticism.
 
In all seriousness, it’s not that I necessarily disagree with any of the premises made. In many respects, government has lost its way. It feels like every day we hear about another politician entangling himself in some scandal – whether it be taking bribes, passing time with prostitutes or my absolute favorite, “going hiking.”
 
Burns said, “Your silence this November may just be the loudest statement you ever make.” Really? Because something tells me the corrupt folks up in Washington aren’t going to hear that.
 
I am neither blind to the corruption nor am I condoning it. I, on the other hand, won’t stand for it. But I won’t sit on the sidelines either.
I am going to vote, because it’s proactive and productive.
 
 
Aly Neel
Mass communication senior
 
 
 
Why I choose to defend higher education at LSU
 
I choose to join Proud Students and defend our flagship University from the oncoming devastating funding cuts because, quite frankly, I love LSU.  
 
This school has been good to me. It has provided me with a plethora of scholarships like the Chancellor’s Alumni, TAF Study Abroad and, most recently, the Ernest L. Hill Memorial Scholarship, which have allowed me to be a student first and foremost.  
 
It has allowed me to do interesting research with my mentor, Prof. D.G. Homberger, broadened my horizons and experiences through two study abroad trips, and it has provided me with a high-quality education that has already proven itself outside the ivory tower.  
 
My education from LSU has allowed me to compete and be accepted via the Early Decision Program into medical school, a prestige bestowed on only a handful of total accepted students at each medical school. I would not have been able to accomplish that which I have without the efforts inside and outside the classrooms of the great faculty at the University and the multi-faceted experiences offered here.
 
I believe what we have at LSU works, and I would like it to be here for my younger colleagues and friends. I would like them to enjoy the same quality of education as I have and be able to go above and beyond what I have accomplished.
 
I consider myself an understanding person, and, indeed, I have been able to understand and rationalize the cuts the school has experienced up to now. After all, we are in a recession, so it makes sense that we should have to “tighten our belt” a bit, perhaps limiting printing and other services, as some departments have done, or freezing hiring. These cuts, however, largely did not affect the academic core of the university.
 
What is being proposed now, in contrast, will drastically reshape the identity of the university, literally causing entire departments and programs to disappear.
 
While a picture speaks a thousand words, I believe a few specific examples will suffice to give a taste of the difficult times ahead if actions are not taken. I am a double degree candidate for biochemistry, which is in the department of Biological Sciences, and German, which is in the department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.  These two departments, verily, are like a tale of two cities, but the effects on both have nevertheless inspired me to take action.
 
Let me begin with the program in the more dire straits, which is German. Twenty years ago, this was a proud, PhD-granting program with more than a score of graduate students. Over the years it, along with most of the other foreign language programs, has been cut and allowed to atrophy to the point of only having two tenured faculty, one visiting professor and a group of dedicated instructors.
 
It is this last group, who proportionally do a majority of the teaching in the program, which will feel the cuts. Both the instructors in the program will be terminated at the end of this semester.  Thus the German program, which as it is can barely sustain the undergraduate degree, will certainly be unable to be a degree-granting program in the future. In fact, it is not entirely certain if I, a senior, will be able to complete my degree in German this year due to the dearth of classes offered next semester.
 
My other department, one might think, is doing just fine. After all, isn’t it a “safe” department that “has its own money?” Indeed, just a visceral look at the department gives the impression that it will be able ride out the storm, but on closer inspection the frayed ends begin to show.
 
First of all, while the department has largely been able to avoid layoffs, it also has allowed some important classes to be canceled. A particularly painful example of this is the elimination of Histology, which has the reputation of being one of the best preparatory undergraduate classes for medical school, especially the first year.  
 
Another effect that someone unfamiliar with this department might not catch is the toxic environment beginning to form among the faculty. Keep in mind that our department has quite a few brilliant and nationally recognized researchers, who represent our University well and are an invaluable addition to it. Their loyalty, however, is not to the school per se but to their research, which is becoming increasingly harder to do in the current atmosphere. In “salon” conversation one hears that many are contemplating leaving, and some have already decided to leave. A part of our University’s reputation will leave with them.  
 
These cuts, therefore, have begun to cut so deep that I can no longer accept them or their consequences to the University that I love. Just as LSU has provided me with so much, I now choose to give back to the University and join the fight to help save its academic core.
 
I urge all students, first, to inquire. I found out the situation in my programs by asking around, speaking with faculty and staying informed. If you find that you, too, cannot reconcile the your continued silence with the future of your program, I urge you to join us, Proud Students, in defending the quality of our education at LSU, both for us and those that come after.
 
 
Mateusz A. Tapucha
Biochemistry and German senior
 
 
 
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