Political apathy has been a common characteristic of RPI students—until now. With 270 RPI students registering to vote in Troy, the student body has shown a new interest in political affairs, and rightly so. The task force on underage drinking stepping up enforcement and the threat of Troy imposing other restrictions which affect us, including charging students a fee for the Troy resources they use, has caused students to respond through political means. The large scale enrollment of student voters has caused several candidates who are seeking city council positions to say they may challenge the registrations.
Many people in Troy have taken the stance that RPI does not contribute enough to the community. However, there is no more empowering way to contribute to a city than by involving oneself in its political affairs. It is peculiar that people seeking office are balking even when students take the initiative to contribute to the community by taking part in the political process. Candidates seeking election should encourage political activism rather than suppress the student body by challenging its right to vote. Furthermore, the distinct difference in the politicians’ opinions on whether students have the right to vote in the district shows that the issue is strictly a means of political gain.
It is interesting that Troy politicians who on one hand talk about disenfranchising the student population, wish to levy “fees” on students who live in Troy. They cannot have it both ways. Some of this country’s founding ideals were based on having the right to vote so that one is not taxed unfairly. Similarly, students have started taking interest in the political affairs of the community because the issues affect them. Because these issues affect the students—residents of Troy—they must be guaranteed voting rights so they may decide on issues that have an impact on their lives.
Often students do not vote because they feel issues do not concern them or that they cannot make a difference. Then different advocacy groups try to persuade an apathetic constituency to take action. Now that there is action, politicians have decided that their constituency is, in fact, ineligible to vote. Many students pay rent to house and apartment owners who in turn pay taxes to Troy. As students live in Troy for about eight months of the year or longer and since it is their present intention to make Troy their home, they should have the right to vote in Troy. Troy is their place of residence.
