University of Virginia Library

Does Anybody Care?

Aside from the referendum, there is little
else of either interest or importance on today
and tomorrow's ballot. A total of 30
candidates are running for seats on Student
Council and the Judiciary Committee, with
the strongest competition in the College,
where 16 students are running for five
Council seats.

Facing the elections realistically, their
outcomes will, in just about every instance,
affect no one but the candidates themselves,
all of whose campaign posters pester the
University with the most insipid drivel
imaginable and instill in the potential voter an
apathy which can only be overcome by
amusement.

Cynicism, you say? Take a look at the
poster which reads "Facilities?...
Communications?...Expansion?," and then to
put it in its proper light imagine if you can a
poster in support of President Nixon which
might read "The Vietnam War?...The
Economy?...Drugs?" What this University has
gotten is questions instead of answers,
"coolness" instead of clarity and concern.

Or take a look at the poster which reads,
"...have gained vital insight into the real
problems confronted by Council and the
University." But what are the problems and
what sort of insight have they gained?

The candidates have not provided their
electorate with any solid criteria on which
they should be judged superior or inferior to
their opponents, and thus most students will
either not vote or vote blindly. Sad to say, it's
a case of Tweedle Dee versus Tweedle Dum.
Ho-hum...