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To the Editor:

The restructuring of graduate student government has been reported in the DP ("Merger in Grad Gov't Sparks Criticism," DP, 12/1/07; "Future of grad groups still hazy," DP, 12/12/06), but one aspect of this story hasn't been covered.

Currently, both governments only allow representatives based on schools or departments. However, campus-wide student organizations (Black Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, Lambda Grads, etc.) aren't associated with a school or department. These groups should have their voices heard in the government, but the current structure has no place for them.

GAPSA and GSAC leadership have been more than willing to work with these campus-wide groups to resolve this oversight. These talks sparked the idea of a diversity committee underneath the newly proposed Vice Chair for Pluralism, where a representative of this committee would have a seat in the assembly to give the groups some representation.

This example illustrates how restructuring the two governments will ensure that all aspects of graduate student's lives are represented. Unifying the government is the most efficient and effective way to make sure that things get accomplished within the graduate-student community, whether we are black or white, gay or straight, Ph.D. or master's student, or however else we identify.

Mahlet Mesfin The author is the chair of BGAPSA

Vote responsibly

To the Editor:

In response to "An empty campus forecasts low turnout" (DP, 2/6/07) -

Voting responsibly is challenging and quite different from voting for one hot issue or because someone on Locust Walk pressured you. The absence of college voters, such as those who will be away from campus in May, may not be a bad thing for any election.

I cast responsible votes, finally, in my thirties after I had been working in the real world and had seen the results of well intentioned but misguided public policies. Only then did I have a solid feel for the hidden forces, the unions, businesses, lobbyists and political parties supporting candidates and of the unintended consequences and cost of candidate's benevolent sounding policies. Things are not as they seem in politics because someone is always behind the curtain and that is what makes politics so devilishly interesting.

Voting requires knowing who is behind the curtain, knowing the recent past of issues and of the candidates, knowledge of whose money is supporting the candidates and what they expect for their money and it requires a clairvoyant optimism about which future to seek.

A college education is a base to become a responsible voter. Colleges and students are isolated and, often, unaware of the influences that make public policy and of what makes a beneficial politician versus a scoundrel. The privilege of a college education imposes an obligation to become a responsible voter so that your vote is a worthy vote.

So when you vote: ask yourself, am I a responsible voter or am I just voting?

Gardner Cadwalader College '70, School of Design '75

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